Village of Folsom, LA

office space, just a fraction of the projected space needed in the
next decade. xx
To ensure that economic growth in these and other industries does
not contribute to the weaknesses in the economy and the region,
the region can simultaneously promote affordable and executive
level housing near land developed for these industries. This will not
only ensure that there is adequate housing for all income levels
available in the Parish, it will also reduce traffic congestion,
contribute to better air quality, and minimize commute times, all of
which will have deleterious effects on the Parish.
Finally, the St. Tammany Strategic Plan for Economic Development
described a vision for economic growth in St. Tammany Parish.
This vision promoted a healthy and diversified economy with a high
quality of life across the Parish. The Parish in 2013 will be businessfriendly
and have recruited a diverse range of high technology
manufacturing, office operations, professional firms, and small
businesses that provide high wage employment to a growing
workforce. The infrastructure and land use have kept pace with this
growth and regional transportation options have improved.
Additional improvements include updated drainage and
telecommunications infrastructure. xxi
The Strategic Plan also included 5 economic development goals:
Goal #1: The highway and street infrastructure throughout St.
Tammany Parish meets the needs of the community’s residents
without congestion and with ample capacity.
Goal #2: The economy of the Parish is diversified, consisting of a
balanced mix of high technology companies, professional firms, and
office operations.
Goal #3: The Parish has a sustainable and adequate source of
funding for its infrastructure and economic development needs.
Village of Folsom, LA
Comprehensive Master Plan
Goal #4: The amount of land available for new industrial and office
development within the Parish meets the needs of business and
industry into the future.
Goal #5: Development infrastructure for business, including Internet
trunk fiber lines, water, sewer, and drainage meet the needs of
business and industry into the future. xxii
Local Economic Development Issues and Trends
Folsom’s economy, while linked to the trends and opportunities
across the Parish, also has unique assets and a strong history where
the landscape has always played an important part in the Village’s
economy. As noted earlier in this plan, Folsom has historically had
an economy that linked to its landscape, soil, and climate. From
farming to lumber, tar, and turpentine, to tung oil, and finally, to
equestrian and plant nursery economies, Folsom’s economy has
always capitalized on its natural assets to create a high quality of
life for its residents. At the same time, Folsom has managed to
preserve the landscape and ensure that none of these economic
industries purge the landscape of either its continued productivity
or its natural beauty.
Folsom, like St. Tammany Parish, has additional assets for
economic growth. While the population is not growing, Folsom has
a well educated workforce with 79% of adult residents have at least
a high school diploma and 47.3% of its adult residents having some
college education xxiii Folsom’s median household income was
slightly above the State’s in 2000, although its average household
income and per capita income were slightly lower than the
State’s. xxiv In 2000, the majority of Folsom residents earned below
$74,999 with the largest percentage of residents falling into the
$25,000 - $34,999 and the $35,000 - $49,999 income brackets. xxv
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