Chris Masingill, President & CEO of Louisiana Central, earlier this month announced that Louisiana Central has launched a regional initiative to create a strategic plan aimed at driving investment and supporting long-term economic growth across the ten parishes it serves: Allen, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Vernon, and Winn. This regional effort builds on Louisiana Economic Development’s (LED) March 2025 release of Positioning Louisiana To Win (https://www.opportunitylouisiana.gov/strategic-plan), a comprehensive statewide plan focused on strengthening the state’s economic competitiveness.
“Our state is entering a new chapter for economic growth, and Central Louisiana is ready to capitalize on this momentum,” said Masingill. “Now is the time for action and investment in our region and our people as we work together to elevate our regional economy. Over the next 100 days, our team will travel across our 10-parish region to ensure that every voice is heard and that this plan reflects the true spirit, scale, and opportunity of Central Louisiana.”
As a major component to the strategic planning process, Louisiana Central’s team will kick off a “We Make Good Stuff” 10-Parish Economic Development Roadshow, traveling across the region to meet in-person with business and community leaders, engage local stakeholders, and gather feedback and perspectives from across the region’s communities. The Louisiana Central team will also host regional and parish-level listening sessions to discuss current economic and workforce conditions and opportunities for growth.
“Part of our call to action for our community and business leaders is to share with us your unique perspectives on our region’s key strengths, needs, opportunities, and areas for improvement to help inform this strategic plan, which will be our roadmap over the next three years to creating jobs and attracting new investment in our regional footprint,” said Masingill. “The ‘We Make Good Stuff’ 10-Parish Economic Development Roadshow is an opportunity for us to hear directly from leaders who have their finger on the pulse of these local communities as well as reintroduce our team and reinforce that we are here to be an accessible advocate, resource, and partner to them.”
As an additional part of this commitment to broad engagement, Louisiana Central is conducting a survey to gather input on the region’s economic opportunities and strategies that can support positive economic outcomes. The survey is available here – see QR code in graphic.
Over the coming months, Louisiana Central will review data, research, trends, and community input gathered through the survey, parish-level conversations, and other outreach efforts to guide the creation of a new five-year strategic plan. The plan is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025 and launched in early 2026.