THE VOICES OF SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA

I love how we come together to help each other out in times of need! My community does a great job of encouraging each other in building each other up!

I love the natural beauty of it. I appreciate how much greenery there is.

My dreams for the community are that we stay together, work with each other and try our hardest to make the town a safer place for the adults and children living here.

Roads and bridges are terrible. I’m afraid I’m going to harm myself or someone else every time I get on the road.

Clean up is needed! Drainage is well below standard, and our beautiful parks need regular maintenance.

Enhance the sectors that make the region unique (seafood industry, quality of life, etc.)

Beautify and develop the I-10 Corridor.

Clean sturdy buildings, more plants in the environment, easier work access, easier roads to travel, less struggles for my family and the ones around us.

Improve hurricane protection.

I hope that one day we will recover fully and will prosper bigger and better than before.

I wish for everyone to be able to return to their lives in better condition than they had before.

Build strong neighborhoods with bike lanes and connected sidewalks.

Recreate a beautiful community that has enriching amenities for families.

WHAT WE HEARD I STEP 2 — TESTING

During the Testing Step, participants evaluated the 10 Catalytic Projects and identified projects they were most interested in.

As a part of the Testing Step public meetings, residents and stakeholders had an opportunity to hear about the proposed 10 catalytic projects, talk with members of the project team in an open house format, and evaluate those projects based on the following questions:

• What ideas do you like? (green dots)

• What ideas do you not like? (red dots)

• What other ideas do you have?

Following the public meetings, a survey was released with the intention of replicating in-person conversations. Each catalytic project was a separate page in the survey, where survey-takers could skip through and answer questions only about the projects that directly interested them. These survey questions were also made available on the interactive map. While questions varied slightly on a project-by-project basis, a few of the same questions across all projects were:

• Do you think this project will benefit Southwest Louisiana?

• Would you visit this project?

• In which of the following ways do you think that this project would positively impact the region? (Select all that apply)

– This project would increase walkability, create more destinations, and/or promote a better quality of life for residents of SWLA.

– This project would promote a more resilient SWLA, with improved infrastructure and drainage.

– This project would provide needed housing — increasing choices and making housing more resilient and affordable.

– This project would improve access to natural spaces and cultural amenities.

– This project would bring much needed jobs and economic diversity to SWLA.

Across all engagement methods in the Testing Step, there were over comments and ideas

1,320

The breakdown of comments and participation by engagement methods is as follows:

Guiding Group

• 55 Guiding Group members

In-Person Public Meetings

• 175 In-Person Meeting attendees

• 540 comments received from attendees

Online Interactive Map

• 342 Interactive Map survey responses

• 23 comments on the Interactive Map

Catalytic Projects Survey

• 359 survey responses

Hello Lamp Post

• 60 interactions with Hello Lamp Post Ambassadors

• Used their network to provide information and gather survey responses

Coastal Flood Risk Reduction

I would visit a protected beach with amenities like parking, public restrooms, and accessible walking trails.

In which of the following ways do you think that this project would positively impact the region? (Select all that apply)

Increase walkability, create more destinations, and/or promote a better quality of life for residents of SWLA.

Promote a more resilient SWLA, with improved infrastructure and drainage.

I think this project will benefit SWLA.

Waterfront Development

I would visit a protected beach with amenities like parking, public restrooms, and accessible walking trails.

I think this project will benefit SWLA.

Improve access to natural spaces and cultural amenities.

Bring much needed jobs and economic diversity to SWLA.

None of the above.

In which of the following ways do you think that this project would positively impact the region? (Select all that apply)

Increase walkability, create more destinations, and/or promote a better quality of life for residents of SWLA.

Promote a more resilient SWLA, with improved infrastructure and drainage.

Provide needed housing — increasing choices and making housing more resilient and affordable. Provide needed housing — increasing choices and making housing more resilient and affordable.

Improve access to natural spaces and cultural amenities.

Bring much needed jobs and economic diversity to SWLA.

None of the above.

NELLIE LUTCHER DISTRICT 3 4

MID-CITY NEIGHBORHOOD TRANSFORMATION

I think this project will benefit SWLA.

In which of the following ways do you think that this project would positively impact the region? (Select all that apply)

Increase walkability, create more destinations, and/or promote a better quality of life for residents of SWLA.

I’M NOT SURE of respondents said of respondents said of respondents said of respondents said 6% 12% of respondents said of respondents said YES NO

I think this project will benefit SWLA.

Promote a more resilient SWLA, with improved infrastructure and drainage.

I’M NOT SURE

I would visit a Nellie Lutcher District with food, gathering, and entertainment options.

Improve access to natural spaces and cultural amenities.

Bring much needed jobs and economic diversity to SWLA.

None of the above.

Increase walkability, create more destinations, and/or promote a better quality of life for residents of SWLA.

Promote a more resilient SWLA, with improved infrastructure and drainage.

Provide needed housing — increasing choices and making housing more resilient and affordable. Provide needed housing — increasing choices and making housing more resilient and affordable.

Improve access to natural spaces and cultural amenities.

Bring much needed jobs and economic diversity to SWLA.

None of the above.

Mcneese Area Resilience District

I would visit this project

In which of the following ways do you think that this project would positively impact the region? (Select all that apply)

Increase walkability, create more destinations, and/or promote a better quality of life for residents of SWLA.

Promote a more resilient SWLA, with improved infrastructure and drainage.

I think this project will benefit SWLA.

I would visit a protected beach with amenities like parking, public restrooms, and accessible walking trails.

I think this project will benefit SWLA.

Improve access to natural spaces and cultural amenities.

Bring much needed jobs and economic diversity to SWLA.

None of the above.

In which of the following ways do you think that this project would positively impact the region? (Select all that apply)

Increase walkability, create more destinations, and/or promote a better quality of life for residents of SWLA.

Promote a more resilient SWLA, with improved infrastructure and drainage.

Provide needed housing — increasing choices and making housing more resilient and affordable. Provide needed housing — increasing choices and making housing more resilient and affordable.

Improve access to natural spaces and cultural amenities.

Bring much needed jobs and economic diversity to SWLA.

None of the above.

Strong Downtowns

I would visit downtowns that implemented designs to enhance streetscapes and public spaces.

In which of the following ways do you think that this project would positively impact the region? (Select all that apply)

Increase walkability, create more destinations, and/or promote a better quality of life for residents of SWLA.

Promote a more resilient SWLA, with improved infrastructure and drainage.

I think this project will benefit SWLA.

I would use a resilience hub during and after a disaster.

I would use a resilience hub as a community center during nondisaster times.

I think this project will benefit SWLA.

88% 4% 8% of respondents said of respondents said of respondents said

YES NO

I’M NOT SURE

Improve access to natural spaces and cultural amenities.

Bring much needed jobs and economic diversity to SWLA.

None of the above.

In which of the following ways do you think that this project would positively impact the region? (Select all that apply)

Increase walkability, create more destinations, and/or promote a better quality of life for residents of SWLA.

Promote a more resilient SWLA, with improved infrastructure and drainage.

Provide needed housing — increasing choices and making housing more resilient and affordable. Provide needed housing — increasing choices and making housing more resilient and affordable.

Improve access to natural spaces and cultural amenities.

Bring much needed jobs and economic diversity to SWLA.

None of the above.

RESILIENT HOUSING TOOLKIT

I would use the Resilient Housing Toolkit.

I’M NOT SURE DOESN’T APPLY

I think this project will benefit SWLA.

In which of the following ways do you think that this project would positively impact the region? (Select all that apply)

Increase walkability, create more destinations, and/or promote a better quality of life for residents of SWLA.

Promote a more resilient SWLA, with improved infrastructure and drainage.

I think this project will benefit SWLA.

9 10 90% 5% 5%

I’M NOT SURE