Central Louisiana

Written By Christen McCartney, Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center

The Strand Theatre in Jena, Louisiana, was originally built in 1937. After closing down in the 1970s, the theater sat vacant until 2013, when the long journey of renovation started. In 2021, with the help of several businesses, organizations, and individuals in the town, including the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center (CLIPC), The Strand made its grand reopening. The Strand reopened as a town-owned venue for performances, events, and programs. Fast forward to today, and The Strand is still used for up-and-coming performers, town events, plays, and much more. It is also the location where CLIPC hosts its community relations luncheons. CLIPC takes pride in its ongoing donations to help with the upkeep of the building, and during the first quarter, it was able to donate $1,000 through The GEO Foundation in order to help keep history alive.