EQUITY GOALS & OBJECTIVES
GOAL 1 – Address Economic Disparities in High-Poverty Areas
OBJECTIVE
Reduce poverty levels and improve economic opportunities in high-poverty parishes such as St. Helena, Washington, and East Feliciana by creating sustainable economic programs.
ACTION 1.1
- Enhance Strategic Planning for Rural and Underserved Communities:
Assist in the development of comprehensive plans for rural and underserved communities, specifically targeting areas like St. Helena and Washington Parishes.
ACTION 1.2
- Assist in the implementation targeted economic development programs such as the Northshore Capital Ready Initiative and the STartUP Northshore Initiatve focused on St. Helena (25% poverty rate), Washington (24% poverty rate), and East Feliciana (20% poverty rate) parishes
ACTION 1.3
- Collaborate with businesses to incentivize investments in underserved areas by promoting tax breaks and grants for job creation in high-poverty regions.
GOAL 2 – Enhance Support for Households Receiving Income Assistance
OBJECTIVE
Provide comprehensive support services to reduce reliance on income assistance and improve self-sufficiency.
ACTION 2.1
- Establish job training and vocational programs for households receiving income assistance in St. Helena and Washington parishes, which have the highest rates of households reliant on support.
ACTION 2.2
- Create a financial counseling initiative aimed at helping residents in high-poverty areas manage finances, reduce debt, and build savings.
GOAL 3 – Promote Equity in Rural Development
OBJECTIVE
Improve access to resources and infrastructure in rural parishes like East Feliciana, West Feliciana, and St. Helena, where rural-urban divides limit economic opportunity.
ACTION 3.1
- Prioritize infrastructure investments in fully rural parishes such as East Feliciana and St. Helena to improve access to essential services, transportation, and economic opportunities.
ACTION 3.2
- Assist in the development of digital skills programs as rural broadband expansion progress in partnership with federal and state agencies that provide high-speed internet access to underserved areas in rural parishes.
GOAL 4 – Increase Workforce Participation in Economically Distressed Parishes
OBJECTIVE
Address barriers to employment in economically distressed areas by providing targeted workforce development and child care services.
ACTION 4.1
- Assist in establishing a workforce pipeline in St. Helena and Washington parishes to create clear pathways from K-12 education to technical college programs, focusing on sectors with high job demand, such as healthcare and IT.
ACTION 4.2
- Address childcare access in economically distressed areas by developing affordable, high-quality childcare centers to support working parents in East Feliciana and St. Helena.
GOAL 5 – Improve Access to Affordable Housing
OBJECTIVE
Increase the availability of affordable housing in parishes with high poverty rates to ensure that residents have stable, affordable living conditions.
ACTION 5.1
- Assist in the development of affordable housing units in Iberville, Washington, and St. Helena parishes or areas with that are jobs rich focusing on areas with high housing costs and limited options for low-income families.
ACTION 5.2
- Assist in providing rental assistance programs for low-income households in Tangipahoa and East Feliciana to reduce housing instability and prevent evictions.
GOAL 6 – Strengthen Partnerships with our Local HBCU
ACTION 6.1
- Prioritize infrastructure investments in fully rural parishes such as East Feliciana and St. Helena to improve access to essential services, transportation, and economic opportunities.
ACTION 6.2
- Engage Southern University and other educational institutions in developing curricula and training programs that meet the needs of local industries and communities.
ACTION 6.3
- Identify and Engage Tribal Lands: Research the presence of tribal lands in St. Helena, Washington Parish and other applicable areas to consider partnerships with recognized tribes to strengthen grant applications.
ACTION 6.4
- Incorporate Equity Metrics into Planning: Develop and implement equity-focused metrics for resource allocation, ensuring that funds are directed to areas with high unemployment and low per capita income, as identified by criteria similar to those used by the DRA.
ACTION 6.5
- Identify and Engage Tribal Lands: Research the presence of tribal lands in St. Helena, Washington Parish and other applicable areas to consider partnerships with recognized tribes to strengthen grant applications.
STAKEHOLDERS
Southern University, Delta Regional Authority, Louisiana Office of Rural Development’s Regional Infrastructure Accelerator Program, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LA DOTD), St. Tammany Corporation, Local Governments, Community Organizations, Private Sector Investors, Economic Development Agencies, Louisiana Workforce Commission, Local Non-Profits, Community Colleges, Local Banks, Credit Unions, Financial Literacy Organizations, Broadband Providers, Connect Louisiana, Federal Broadband Programs, Louisiana Community and Technical College System, Local School Boards, Childcare Organizations, Federal Grant Programs, EBR Housing Authority, Housing Developers, HUD, BRAC, Local Chambers of Commerce, Baton Rouge North Economic Development District (BRNEDD), Build Baton Rouge, Economic Development Administration (EDA).