St. Mary Excel reports on 1Q activities

St. Mary Excel continues to implement recommendations of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) panel, Morgan City and Berwick Louisiana: Building the Foundation for a New Economy Along the Atchafalaya River. See https://2os2f877tnl1dvtmc3wy0aq1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uplo...
St Mary
Excel (SME):
Supported St. Mary Chamber of Commerce, SeaGrant, and LSU Ag Center in hosting a local meeting on roof fortification for contractors, realtors, and the public.
Hosted a Community Update meeting on March 19, 2025. The agenda included presentations by leaders of the: Hospital Service District #2; St. Mary Parish Chamber; St. Mary Parish Levee District; Louisiana University Marine Consortium; Morgan City Main Street; Berwick Downtown District; and St. Mary Excel. Evan Boudreaux, St. Mary Parish Economic Development Director facilitated the meeting and KQKI 95.3 broadcast the meeting. You can watch the meeting here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVHcGnQuOdQ&t=6s
Worked with the Water Institute and facilitated meetings with key stakeholders for resilience planning. Stakeholders include: St. Mary Parish Government, St. Mary Levee District, City of Morgan City, Town of Berwick, City of Patterson, LA Governor’s Office, CPRA, Port of Morgan City, CTAC, USACE, USCG, Cajun Coast Visitors and Convention Bureau, Industry/Business Leaders and University Partners (LSU, Nicholls, SoLACC, Tulane, and ULL)
The outcome of the planning work is expected in late summer.
Received a letter of support in advocacy and internships from CPRA board chairman Gordy Dove and executive director Glenn Ledet and made an industrial appeal in support for a coastal studies residential high school similar to the school in Natchitoches, LA. State Senator Robert Allain’s office has remained updated on the outreach.
Noted infrastructure upgrades that support bike/hiking trail grants connecting Lakeside subdivision through the Cajun Coast and Auburn subdivisions to Brashear Avenue and continue to track progress of the state for: 1) placing pedestrian head crossings on three intersections identified as dangerous (Brashear/Federal; Hwy 182 Myrtle; and Hwy 182/Roderick), 2) and placing trails from downtown Morgan City to South Louisiana Community College.
Explored opportunities for exercise stations along the Bike Morgan City trail.