Message from the Executive Director

I am pleased to present our federally mandated Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the Capital Region Planning Commission (CRPC). This document represents our collective thoughts, goals, and objectives forming the basis for a regional economic vision for CRPC’s eleven parishes. That vision is articulated as ‘we recognize the need to live with water. We believe in smarter planning and utilizing waterways as economic drivers while reducing flood loss.

The 2024 CEDS builds on a solid foundation of shared knowledge and experience gained through previous regional planning efforts that include: CRPC’s 2019 CEDS, the CRPC Long Range Metropolitan Transportation Plan MOVE2046 (2022), Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce’s (BRAC) Annual Reports, and the Louisiana Watershed Institutes Region 7 Watershed Planning Effort. CRPC leveraged these recent planning documents by incorporating and integrating goals and objectives where appropriate and by utilizing and normalizing data for regional growth and development trends. The base data used to form the 2024 CEDS leaned heavily on data and analysis developed from StateBook International, Inc. and other reputable sources. StateBook allows us to modernize our final document as a digital output with dashboards and other interactive features. The dashboards allow baseline data to be tracked to illustrate progress or not. The digital CEDS is the first of its kind in the State of Louisiana. The process of developing a CRPC’s 2024 Digital CEDS affords the opportunity to build regional leadership and collaboration, and to foster public support and enthusiasm. The 2024 CEDS planning process brought together a diverse set of stakeholders to participate in a SWOT analysis and to consider key economic issues and goals for the region.

CRPC intends to continue regular stakeholder engagement to track progress with our Digital CEDS and update its goals and strategies as priorities and conditions change, especially as our Watershed Plan matures. I personally want to thank all of the individuals and groups that participated in the development of CRPC’s Digital CEDS. I know that your valuable input and consideration has made for a better regional vision. Your continued participation will allow us to collaboratively improve the prosperity of the Capital Region.

– James C. Setze, Executive Director

This document was prepared with funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA)

Address inquiries regarding this publication to:

Capital Region Planning Commission

14734 S Harrell’s Ferry Rd, Ste B

Baton Rouge, LA 70816

Email: Info@crpcla.org

Tel: (225)383-5203

Fax: (225)383-3804