Economic panel to provide recommendations Friday

After several days visiting and interviewing people in Morgan City and Berwick, a panel of consultants will provide its economic diversification and development recommendations at a Friday morning public presentation.

The Advisory Services panel with Urban Land Institute, a global non-profit education and research organization, will provide its recommendations from 9-10:30 a.m. at Morgan City Municipal Auditorium, 705 Myrtle St. The public is invited to attend.

Their assignment was to perform an analysis of local market conditions and making recommendations on how to leverage the revitalization and redevelopment efforts in Morgan City and Berwick, a news release said.

The seven-person panel has expertise in real estate, tourism, natural resource and community development, architecture, project financing and city planning.

Local community organization, St. Mary Excel, commissioned the study after raising over $135,000 from public and private entities to look for ways to diversify the Morgan City and Berwick economy beyond the oilfield sector.