Acadia Parish is no longer a part of the Acadiana Planning Commission. This after a 4-3 vote by the police jury.
The Acadiana Planning Commission is responsible for planning and implementing community development throughout seven parishes, including economic and transportation projects.
Acadia Parish has been part of the APC for three years.
Police Jury President David Savoy said, it's not for the smaller communities.
"It's about population, and population centers... its either about Lafayette, Lake Charles, New Orleans." Savoy said.
In that time more than $20 million have been granted for road safety and drainage projects throughout Acadiana.
"That 25 million has not been handed out yet," Savoy said, saying that it works as a reimbursement fund.
Savoy says for their projects they need the finances up front.
"We have to have shovel ready projects, and pay for these projects, then we get reimbursed." the president explained.
To be a part of the APC, Acadia pays $11,000.00 in yearly dues. The jurors voted to save their due for the parish.
"We'll keep fighting for what we need," Savoy said.
APC released this statement; “APC has strong relationships with many of the cities and mayors in Acadia Parish and will continue the important work including watershed projects, community and economic development and local road improvements in Acadia parish. The APC has secured funding outside of the Police Jury for the ongoing projects and will see them to completion with the mayors. The Acadiana Planning Commission recognizes and respects the decision of the Acadiana Police Jury to shift their funding priorities away from economic development and will be here should the jury change its mind.”
Savoy says he wouldn't mind continuing to work with the APC but the vote was not in his favor.
According to a list provided by APC, Projects including Acadia parish include:
- $150,000 2019 LOCAL ROAD SAFETY PROJECTS
- $18,000 LA 95 AT LEXINGTON ROAD ROUNDABOUT STUDY
- $2,800,000 LA 95 AT LEXINGTON ROAD ROUNDABOUT 2019 MPO Application
- $166,000 REGIONAL TRANSIT PILOT PROJECT, Acadia-Lafayette Parishes, USDA
- $90,000 2017 LOCAL ROAD SAFETY PROJECTS
- $1,900,000 EVANGELINE PARISH DETENTION POND, Evangeline, FEMA/GOHSEP HMGP
- $4,500,000 CAMERON SUPERIOR CANAL EAST END LOCKS CONVEYANCE, FEMA/GOHSEP HMGP
- $25,000 EPA Building Blocks Technical Assistance Grant
- $30,000 CREATIVE PLACE-MAKING GRANT, DRA
- CHURCH POINT OPPORTUNITY ZONE RECOMMENDATION AND DESIGNATION, IRS
- $20,000 EPA Brownfield Planning
- $180,000 Opportunity Zone Prospectus Development, DRA, pending
- $180,000 USDA Regional Broadband Baseline Assessment, pending
- $3,800,000 REGIONAL GAUGE NETWORK, FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
- $600,000 REGIONAL GIS REPOSITORY, US Economic Development Administration
