St. Mary Excel reports on second-quarter activities
(Editor’s note: The St. Mary Excel citizens group submitted this report on the citizen group’s second-quarter activities.)
St. Mary Excel continues to implement recommendations of the Urban Land Institute panel, Morgan City and Berwick Louisiana: Building the Foundation for a New Economy Along the Atchafalaya River.
St Mary Excel :
•Continued work with the Water Institute and facilitated meetings and interviews 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, the Governor’s Office, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, the Port of Morgan City, CTAC, USACE, USCG, the LSU AgCenter, NOAA Sea Grant, Cajun Coast Visitors and Convention Bureau, industry and business leaders and university oartners (LSU, Nicholls, South Louisiana Community College, Tulane and the University of Louisiana-Lafayette.
The work has taken place in coordination with LUMCON, the designated ANERR state agency. A strategic plan for a resilience hub is due for release in August 2025.
•Continued in advocacy for a coastal residential high school by remaining in contact with state legislators since receiving a letter of support from CPRA board Chairman Gordy Dove and Executive Director Glenn Ledet.
•Received updates on grant approvals impacting the 17-miles of biking-hiking grants that would connect Morgan City to the six miles of Berwick trails to the west and planned trails in the Amelia area.
•Collaborated with city of Morgan City and town of Berwick administrators for grant funding for youth activity recreation projects coming from high school students at the Rotary-hosted New Generation forum.
•Supported the marsh grant planting activity for Patterson High School and Morgan City High School coastal club students through the collaborative efforts of St. Mary Levee District, SeaGrant, LSU Ag Center and multiple state agencies.
•Attended the opening of the H&B Young Foundation Morgan City Youth Center that provides junior- and high- school-aged youth activities in after school and summer offerings.