August/September 2023

On Saturday, August 5 in Alexandria, 14
Louisiana municipalities – Jean Lafitte,
Cheneyville, Plaquemine, Broussard,
Woodworth, Franklin, West Monroe, Cankton,
Carencro, Baker, Lake Charles, Many,
Patterson, and Gonzales won top honors
at the Louisiana Municipal Association’s
Community Achievement Awards for
exceptional improvements and accomplishments
for the 2022 calendar year.
The prestigious awards, categorized under
Community Development, Economic
Development, Basic Services, and Technology
& Connectivity, recognize the
perseverance, dedication, and tireless
efforts of elected municipal officials and
their teams across various municipalities.
“The Community Achievement Awards
are very important because they give the
municipalities the opportunity to showcase
the projects going on in their cities,
as well as other municipalities seeing
what’s going on in neighboring communities,”
said Past President Jennifer Vidrine.
The pinnacle of the evening was the
awarding of the Town of Jean Lafitte with
the LMA’s 22nd Annual ‘Best of Show’
Award for “The Rosethorne Tidal Levee
Project” – the second win in a row for
the town. A monumental endeavor, this
$34 million dollar project spans across
approximately 580 acres, encompassing
150 homes, 5 businesses, and 4 government
buildings. Started in 2022, this twophase
project, set to conclude in 2024,
marks a collaborative effort between
numerous mayoral tenures and parish,
state, and federal officials. Designed to
safeguard against 10-year tidal or rainfall
flooding, the project not only embodies
the community’s resilience but also its
commitment to ensuring long-term environmental
protection and sustainability
for its residents.
“I want to congratulate all our Community
Achievement Award winners,”
said LMA Executive Director John Gallagher.
“There were some creative and
fascinating entries. I want to also give
a special congratulations to Jean Lafitte
on their second Best of Show win in as
many The following is the list of honorable
mentions and winners for each
86 TH ANNUAL CONVENTION
Community Achievement Awards
category and division:
Community Development Category
• 3,000 and under population:
Honorable Mentions: Town of Brusly
(St. James Park) and Town of Port Barre
(Splash Pad in Veterans’ Memorial Park).
Winner: Town of Cheneyville (Park Revitalization).
• 3,001 to 10,000 population:
Honorable Mentions: Town of Ball (Children’s
Playground) and Town of Richwood
(Health and Resource Fair).
Winner: City of Plaquemine (Development
of Fort Area Park).
• 10,001 to 25,000 population:
Honorable Mentions: City of Natchitoches
(Texas and Pacific Depot Rehabilitation
Project) and City of Pineville (KEYS
to the Renovation of KEES PARK).
Winner: City of Broussard (Envision
Broussard – Phase 1).
Economic Development Category
• 3,000 and under population:
Honorable Mention: Village of Gilbert
(Community Playground Project).
Winner: Town of Woodworth (Glow Up!).
• 3,001 to 10,000 population:
Winner: City of Franklin (Franklin Loop
Paddle Trail).
• 10,001 to 25,000 population:
Winner: City of West Monroe (Highland
Park Property Re-use Project).
Basic Services Category
City of Carencro
• 3,000 and under population:
Honorable Mentions: Town of New Llano
(New Llano Fire Department – Main
Station) and Town of Sarepta (Updating
Town Hall).
Winner: Village of Cankton (Village of
Cankton Water System Improvements).
• 3,001 to 10,000 population:
Honorable Mentions: Town of Franklinton
(Varnado, 18th, and Alford Street
Project) and Town of Iowa (Wastewater
Treatment Pond Oxidation Repairs).
Winner: City of Carencro (2015 Force
Main and Sewer Infrastructure Upgrades
– Phase II).
• 10,001 to 25,000 population:
Honorable Mention: City of Youngsville
(Downtown Streetscape).
Winner: City of Baker (LYNX Microtransit
project).
• 25,001 and over population:
Winner: City of Lake Charles (Drainage
Improvement Program).
Technology & Connectivity Category
• 3,000 and under population:
Honorable Mention Town of Simmesport
(Splash Pad).
Winner: Town of Many (Automatic Reading
Water Meters).
• 3,001 to 10,000 population:
Winner: City of Patterson’s (Town Hall
Meetings Project).
• 10,001 to 25,000 population:
Winner: City of Gonzales (Gonzales Climate
Action and Resilience Plan).
Entries submitted were judged by a
committee of judges from Louisiana Economic
Development, Louisiana Industrial
Development Executives Association,
Capital Region Planning Commission,
and the Louisiana Office of State Fire
Marshal.
LMA extends its warmest congratulations
to all winners and honorable mentions
for their commendable endeavors. The
Community Achievement Awards Judging
Committee also extends its gratitude
to LMA for promoting and recognizing
these exceptional municipal achievements.
Page 30
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2023