Plans for parish show expected growth

From the Bossier Chamber of Commerce’s annual State of Bossier event, a couple of memorable and meaningful observations ...

“Right now Bossier Parish is strong and trending in the right direction,” said Dr. Dave Norris, Louisiana Tech University’s chief innovation officer, as he concluded his review of Bossier’s economic conditions and performance.

“We are so fortunate in Bossier Parish to have all of these groups work together – that’s how we are able to get so much done, it’s what makes this city and parish tick,” said Bossier Parish Police Jury President Jack Scaggs as he wrapped up his presentation of the parish’s activities and advancements.

Bossier’s consistent population growth is a significant indicator that local governments are successfully providing an environment fostering growth. Scaggs said Bossier Parish’s population has grown from 98,536 in 2000, to 116,979 in 2010, and 126,345 in 2014. Norris said U.S. Census Bureau statistics show Bossier’s population increased 6.9 percent in that same period, exceeded Louisiana’s growth of only 2.6 percent. And that wasn’t the exception as Bossier Parish exceeded the state’s standing in a variety of economic, education, crime rate and health measures. Norris said statistically, Bossier Parish performs better than Louisiana, and more along the lines of U.S. standings.

Both Scaggs and Bossier City Mayor Lorenz “Lo” Walker provided overviews of parish and city planned, underway and completed projects. The parish’s work includes long-range planning for transportation to alleviate congestion, but just as important, to open up new areas of the parish to development. Thus, the heavily worked 2004-15 transportation plan is soon to be continued by the 2015-20 plan.

Another indication of the growth was evident when Scaggs said the police jury had recently hired its first parks and recreation director. That shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who’s followed the jury’s development and construction of parks and recreation facilities, along with improvements to existing facilities, all over Bossier Parish.

Addressing that growth includes the parish’s development of a sewer district, and Scaggs said the East Highway 80 corridor will likely be on line by the end of the year. And he said the $50 million Central Bossier Sewer plant is 80 percent complete. This effort will provide modernized wastewater treatment for the parish – another reason for growth.

Scaggs and Walker discussed the impact of Barksdale Air Force Base, with Scaggs saying Bossier Parish is the only parish in Louisiana in which the largest employer is not a school board. Barksdale’s importance to our community cannot be understated, and appointment of a four-star general to command Global Strike Command will mean more growth for the community.

Walker pointed to a number of transportation projects, underway and planned, to accommodate new growth – specifically pointing to new Airline Drive area roads and the northern extension of Arthur Ray Teague Parkway to Benton Road. The city’s dramatically improved utility system, including a new water treatment plant and Red River wastewater treatment plant, easily position the city for new commercial and residential growth.

Walker said the economic growth for Bossier City and Parish is occurring on a number of fronts from Cyber Innovation Center’s expanding campus, to new retail along Airline Drive and other areas of the city, to redevelopment of old downtown Bossier – to name just a few.

While the Bossier Parish School Board wasn’t a contributor to the State of Bossier discussion, this entity is a heavy contributor to Bossier’s growth. New schools in north Bossier and renovations/expansions to others are filling about as soon as the doors open in north Bossier – where significant growth is occurring. The Bossier school system has a reputation for delivering excellence in education, and that’s a major draw for Bossier’s growth. And Bossier Parish Community College’s contribution to the parish’s growth is yet another part of the synergy that brings people and businesses to our corner.

Then there are the collaborations between city, parish and state that made CIC possible; the results when the city, parish and school board created the North Bossier Park; the road projects like the city’s ART Parkway extended by the parish to Parkway High School – and in the future to Taylortown. And there’s the Kingston Road improvements underwritten by the developer, school board and parish. Collaborative efforts constitute a long and growing list.

In his opening remarks, Norris listed factors that “matter most for economic prosperity in the 21 century,” including public support for innovation and entrepreneurship, high quality basic local public services and health care, leading edge public infrastructure and successful public private partnerships.

Those aren’t just “factors” – that’s the mix work, collaboration, planning and execution – or what Scaggs simply defined as “what makes this city and parish tick.” And it shows.

Marty Carlson, a freelance writer, has been covering local news for the past 17 years. She can be reached via email at martycarlson1218@ gmail.com.