LMR June 2023 FINAL

Governor’s Office of Rural Development
Ready to Work for You
The Governor’s Office of
Rural Development is excited
about working with
the Louisiana Municipal
Association as we continue
our mission of making rural
Louisiana a healthier, more
productive, and attractive
place to live and work.
Understanding the importance
of how our rural
communities impact the
success of the entire state,
along with the need to
address the most pressing
problems of poverty, lack of access to
adequate healthcare, education, and
broadband, Gov. John Bel Edwards
established the Governor’s Advisory
Council on Rural Revitalization in 2020
through an executive order. He directed
the 37-member council to find solutions
to those challenges by engaging
with local government, community,
and business leaders, as well as advocacy
groups and educational institutions.
Under the direction of Chairman Ben
Nevers, whom many of you will remember
formerly served as a state senator
and chief of staff to Gov. Edwards, we
have been very busy. Among the many
results of the council’s hard work was
the creation of the Governor’s Office of
Rural Development, which is being led
by Noble Ellington of Winnsboro, Louisiana.
Ellington’s knowledge and experience
as a former senator have proven
very helpful in planning and executing
the committee’s plan (https://gov.louisiana.gov/assets/RuralRevitalization.
pdf), which is focused on nine pillars of
growth and development: agriculture;
broadband; education; infrastructure;
clean water; finance; workforce development;
economic development; and
healthcare.
Noble Ellington
The Governor’s Office of Rural Development
consists of eight regional directors
who work in the local communities
as well as with the Louisiana’s
Planning and Development Districts.
Each regional director works hand in
hand with community leaders to actively
identify grants and opportunities
specific to their needs. In some
instances, grant writing and assistance
with applications can be provided.
Contact information for our regional
directors is on the opposite page.
Louisiana811.com
The federal Bipartisan Infrastructure
Law (BIL) has also created unique opportunities
that could
help local governments
set their communities on
a path toward success for
generations. Simply put,
the Governor’s Office of
Rural Development is in
place and ready to help
you take advantage of
those opportunities and
be a catalyst for growth
and development in
your municipalities and
throughout Louisiana’s rural
communities.
by Ali
Armstrong
Office of the
Governor
Armstrong is the Assistant to the Director
for the Office of Rural Development.
She can be reached by emailing Ali.
Armstrong@la.gov.
Call 811 or visit Louisiana811.com at least two full
work days in advance before digging.
That’s all it takes to notify Louisiana 811 members,
so they can mark nearby utility lines and pipelines
to prevent injury and costly accidents.
CALL OR CLICK BEFORE YOU DIG. IT’S THE LAW. IT’S FREE.
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LMR | JUNE 2023