City panel to focus on business growth

The Eunice Economic Development Committee will return to a focus on business development said its chairman, Don Reber.
Reber, who announced his intention to step down as chairman on Aug. 20, remains with the committee.
On Tuesday, Reber said he is encouraged by the city council naming a committee focused on developing a master plan for Eunice.
“It gets the citizens involved,” he said.
“I see it absolutely as a positive. I think once they are exposed to what is going on in the region of southwest Louisiana, I think they are going to make the right decisions for the city,” he said of the master plan committee named at the Sept. 8 city council meeting.
Reber has been a leading voice in urging the city to develop a master plan that charts city growth.
The lack of a master plan is a “huge handicap” for the economic development, he said.
The Eunice Economic Development Committee will focus on retaining and developing business, he said.
“We just need to focus on bringing some business in and helping the businesses that are already here,” Reber said.
Reber said the economic panel will meet at 8 a.m. Oct. 1.
Besides Reber, members of the Eunice Economic Development Committee include Celeste Gomez, David Pulling, Francine Hughes, Dr. J. D. Miller, Kenneth Elliott, Lance Pitre, Launey Griffith, Lloyd Antoine, Missy Grimmett and Dr. Tony Baltakis.