LMR JULY 2020

GOVERNOR’S RURAL DEVELOPMENT TASK FORCE
The Governor’s Advisory Council on Rural Revitalization
represents a multifaceted, multidisciplinary investment in
the improvement of rural Louisiana. All across this state,
once-thriving communities have seen generations of
young people leave in search of economic opportunities.
The intent of this council is to foster those opportunities
closer to home. By building the systems necessary to sustain
growth, this council will create new life and opportunity
in rural Louisiana.
The advisory council is comprised of 37 key state and local
stakeholders appointed by the Governor. This council is
chaired by retired chief of staff and former Senator Ben
Nevers. Membership includes designees of the President
of the Senate, as well as the Speaker of the House, the
chairman of the rural caucus, and the chairman of the
black caucus. Other members are drawn from state government,
higher education, nonprofit leadership, and the
private sector. LMA has a seat on the RRC and is represented
by John Gallagher.
The Council is required to develop and submit a comprehensive
strategic plan to the Governor by January 5,
2021 as well as annual progress reports thereafter. The
duties of this council are to advise the Governor on issues
of concern to the citizens of rural Louisiana. This council
will maximize its efforts by discovering and harnessing
state, federal, and private resources in bold new ways. The
council will diligently work to identify practices from other
states and bring those to Louisiana through executive or
legislative efforts to best achieve the goal of rural revitalization.
Additionally, the Council on Rural Revitalization
will be responsible for identifying the needs and solutions
in eight areas of focus: economic development, education,
healthcare, infrastructure, clean water, agriculture and
forestry, workforce development, and broadband. It is a
comprehensive improvement to these key areas that will
create lasting and sustainable growth.
Executive Order No. JBE-2020-3 created the Governor’s Advisory
Council on Rural Revitalization to address deficiencies
in rural communities and outline solutions according
to the following:
• Rural areas of the State of Louisiana, as is the case across
the country, are in crisis and bear a disproportionate
burden of poverty, lack of access to healthcare, and
poor quality of life;
• Many areas of rural Louisiana lack basic services such as
education, healthcare, infrastructure, clean water, and
dwindling resources;
• Agricultural production is critical to rural economies,rural
revitalization goes far beyond agriculture as it includes
the development of non-farm opportunities and
it makes cutting-edge technology and innovation the
key of rural economic growth;
• The State of Louisiana will strive to remove any barriers
that may prohibit individuals in rural Louisiana from
living a full, healthy, and prosperous life; and
• It is in the best interests of the citizens of the State of
Louisiana to engage in a centralized and coordinated
effort to further revitalization of rural Louisiana to be
more productive, sustainable, healthy, attractive places
to live.
PHASE 2: IDENTIFYING CHALLENGES
Statewide Louisiana Demographics
All information is current as of April 10, 2020.
POPULATION
GENDER
NATIVE- BORN
AGE BREAKDOWN
Total: 4,659,978 (25 th in US)
83.9%
Urban
Rural: 749,722 (24 th in US)
Rural %: 16.1% (31 st in US)
16.1%
Rural
48.8%
Male Population
51.2%
Female Population
95.1%
Born in US
4.1%
Foreign-born
23.5%
<18 yrs
61.1%
37.3
Median
Age
18-64 yrs
15.4%
≥65 yrs
DIVERSITY
(Racial Percentage)
EDUCATION
(Aged 25+)
MINORITY-OWNED
BUSINESSES
(2012)
BROADBAND
ACCESS
84.8%
Completed High School
23.7%
Completed Bachelor’s
Degree
126,100
Minority-owned firms
(30% of all firms)
89.3%
Louisiana residents have access to
25mbps download speeds
72.8%
Louisiana households with a broadband
internet subscription
Sources: BroadbandNow Louisiana Profile, US Census Louisiana, USDA ERS Louisiana Profile
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LMR | JULY 2020