Louisiana Delta Initiative Summit, April 2, 1:00-3:30 p.m. at the Rayville Civic Center

On April 2, 2009, 1-3:30 p.m. at the Rayville Civic Center located in Rayville, Louisiana, board members of the Louisiana Delta Initiative will present the results of a planning process to develop best practices that can be implemented in the 12 parish, Louisiana Delta region to address such poverty issues as improving access to healthcare, education, jobs and strengthening infrastructure development in the region, especially that of broadband connectivity.


One Voice: The Louisiana Delta Initiative

AGENDA

1:00 to 1:30 p.m.
Registration

1:30 to 1:45 p.m.
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Dr. James Barnes, Assistant Professor and Director, LSU Agricultural Center’s
Delta Rural Development Center
Rev. James Smith, Economic Development, City of Rayville
The Honorable Harry Lewis, Mayor, City of Rayville

1:45‐2:00 p.m.
Authoring Legislation for the Louisiana Delta Initiative
The Honorable Francis Thompson, Senator, District 34

2:00‐2:20 p.m.
Louisiana Delta Initiative: The Right Time, The Right Reason
Glenn Dixon, Community Development Agent, Southern University Agricultural Center
Tana Trichel, President and CEO, Northeast Louisiana Economic Alliance

2:20‐3:00 p.m.
Committee Presentations
Moderator: Don Terry, Economic Developer, Entergy Louisiana, LLC

Jobs/Entrepreneurship:
Miriam Russell, Northeast Regional Director, Louisiana Economic Development
Education:
Mary Ann Newton, President, West Monroe-West Ouachita Chamber of Commerce
Health Care:
Heather Smoak-Urena, Executive Director, Kisatchie-Delta Regional Planning and
Development District
Infrastructure:
David Creed, Executive Director, North Delta Regional Planning and Development
District;
Millie Atkins, Senior Analyst, Governmental Relations, CenturyTel

3:00‐3:10 p.m.
Questions and Answers

3:10-3:20 p.m.
Luke Letlow, Special Assistant to the Governor, Inter-Governmental Affairs, State of Louisiana
3:20‐3:30 p.m.

Wrap‐Up and Next Steps
The Honorable Francis Thompson, Senator, District 34

(A special thanks is extended to Entergy Louisiana, LLC for providing refreshments)