The St. Tammany Economic Development Foundation has a new face: Brenda Reine has recently been hired as its executive director.

With a population exceeding 190,000, St. Tammany is the fastest growing parish in Louisiana, and one of the fastest in the country. The parish enjoys many of the characteristics that define desirable communities, including the state’s best school system and its highest per capita income. With three interstate highways and its proximity to two major airports and the John C. Stennis Space Center, the parish has many opportunities for economic growth.

Reine looks for ways to keep that growth in line with our hopes and the expectations of current business owners. “Promoting St. Tammany as a great place to live, work and play is easy,” says Reine. “We try to focus that promotion on businesses that complement our lifestyle and are an effective match with the companies currently operating in our area.”

One of STEDF’s successes, the Diversified Foods project - a $22 million USDA food processing plant - is a substantial economic development for St. Tammany Parish. The 55,000-square-foot plant will provide 150 jobs and is projected to generate $334,525 annually in state and local taxes by its eighth year of operation.
Another recent achievement is the Folgers Coffee Company distribution center. This facility will generate 90 jobs, with an estimated annual payroll of $3 million. Folgers, whose parent company is Proctor & Gamble, is a Fortune 500 company.

“Some of these projects have been years in the making and are the essence of the type of economic development projects that can have a major, positive impact on employment, revenue and reputation for our parish,” says Reine.

STEDF services

STEDF was created in 1981 through the united efforts of the individual chambers of commerce in the parish. It became clear that there needed to be a proactive entity focused on economic development for St. Tammany to promote existing businesses and to bring new businesses and employment opportunities to the northshore.
Because of the support of public and private partners, STEDF can offer the following services:

• Current demographic information
• SBA information
• Free business counseling - provided by Southeastern Louisiana University
• Assistance in securing and administrating state incentive programs
• Site availability
• Zoning/permitting coordination with municipality and parish planning officials
• Avocation of targeted industry
• Promotion of business opportunities
• Public education about economic development and its future impact on our community
• Revolving loan fund

The future

With a vision for the future, St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis enthusiastically supports the efforts of STEDF. Taking their cues from the New Directions 2025 program addressing such topics as land use, planning and zoning, STEDF is working to bring in companies that fulfill the overlay plan.

A parish-wide economic development study is currently underway to be used as a tool for future economic development, including land use. STEDF is playing a key part in this undertaking by assisting with scheduling business interviews, taking the surveying organization to view existing businesses, and by partially funding the study. The analysis will provide a realistic assessment of St. Tammany’s strengths and offer a strategy to address high-priority development issues.

The St. Tammany Economic Development Foundation has just moved into its new office in the center of the parish at 21454 Koop Drive; Mandeville, LA 70471; Tel: (985) 809-7874; Fax: (985) 809-7596; Email: info@STEDF.org; web site: www.stedf.org.

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