Charting Eunice’s future

The Eunice Board of Aldermen by April may have a contract before them that would launch an 18-month process and provide a map to the city’s development. 
The Eunice Economic Development Committee, a volunteer group of citizens, were presented a proposed agreement for the city with South Central Planning and Development Commission. 
Mayor Rusty Moody, said, “I think it is needed if are going to continue to grow. Eunice already has a lot of positive things going for it. I think this would just put the icing on the -- matter of fact it would put another layer on the cake and the icing to boot. It is needed. We are sort of like the flag flopping in the wind.”
Don Reber, chairman of the committee, presented the proposed agreement, which outlines the process for developing a comprehensive plan. 
The plan would include infrastructure, public safety, utilities, neighborhoods and business development. 
“All of this stuff needs to be tempered with the $85 billion and growing that is being invested in southwest Louisiana and down the Mississippi River,” he said. 
Other factors for consideration include the completion of Interstate 49 from Lafayette to New Orleans and changes of La. 13. 
Reber stressed it is a plan that will, in part, spring from citizens. 
“It really needs to be a plan put together by the citizens in the city of Eunice and community of Eunice, which would go beyond the city limits,” Reber said. 
The proposed agreement has a $95,000 price tag, but that would be spread over the 18-month production period. 
Reber said a steering committee of up to 18 months would be needed for the project. 
Bill Rodier, executive director of St. Landry Parish Economic Development, said Sunset is paying $225,000 for a master plan, but he said South Central Planning and Development is hungry for success stories. 
“I feel like the timing is really good,” he said of Eunice’s effort. “In a year or two they may not need this win.”
Rodier cautioned, “One of the ironies in economic development is everybody wants growth and everybody wants progress, and everybody wants jobs, but only as long as there is no impact to them.”
Rodier said one focus of the newly formed One Acadiana, a regional chamber of commerce, is to push for shovel-ready, certified development site. 
Some sites have been identified, including in Eunice, and the state has money to pay for certification work, he said 
nclude Reber, Celeste Gomez, David Pulling, Francine Hughes, Dr. J. D. Miller, Kenneth Elliott, Lance Pitre, Launey Griffith, Lloyd Antoine, Missy Grimmett and Tony Baltakis.