October 2023

DIRECTOR’S VIEWPOINT
You Are at the Core of What We Do
What a fall season we’re heading
into at the LMA! Our “i”s
are being dotted, our “t”s
are being crossed, and we’re
steadily working to ensure
our continued tradition of
keeping you in the know. We
are here for you to keep you
updated on everything you
need to assist in your roles as
community leaders.
We have some exciting news!
After months of behind the
scenes work and submissions
of our publications, we have
been accepted into the Louisiana
Press Association (LPA).
I’d like to commend our Communication
Team of Anita
Tillman and Charlotte Smith
with AMCorp International,
not only for the stellar work
which now sees us in this
prestigious group, but also for
their patience and quick turnaround
when information was
required to see this process
through. We are now recognized
on a state-wide level as
a credible outlet for factual
and checked information, and
we couldn’t be prouder. We’ll
be eligible to submit pieces
for peer evaluated award consideration,
and we look forward
to lining our shelves.
With a state-wide burn ban
in place, and wildfires still
spreading across our very
dry and hot state, Charlotte
spoke with former State Fire
Marshal Butch Browning, St.
Amant Volunteer Fire Chief
James LeBlanc, WAFB Meteorologist
Jay Grimes, and others
to try and pinpoint just
what happened to make this
wildfire season stand out,
and how municipal leaders
and citizens can work to be
better prepared if this pattern
of strength continues.
It’s hard to believe that at
this time last year, we were
announcing a dream of ours
that had become a reality. The
Louisiana Infrastructure Technical
Assistance Corporation
(LITACorp) is already assisting
our municipalities with
assessing where IIJA funding
should best go to meet their
individual needs, and then advocating
for, and working on
behalf of, those municipalities
in obtaining funding meant
for them. We take a look back
at LITACorp’s assistance in
helping our municipalities
understand the importance of
compliance in terms of securing
funding. Charlotte spoke
with LITACorp Senior Advisor
Alex Holland, who laid out
exactly what municipalities
need to remember to achieve
application success.
We also highlight the work
of our good friends at LAMP.
Their continued mission of
assisting our members grow
financially by means of pooling
funding has proven successful,
and we’re grateful for
the relationship we have with
them. Charlotte spoke with
Theo Sanders recently to find
out more in regard to what
they can do to help you.
I say this often, but it truly is an
honor to serve as your Executive
Director. I love this time of
year. It’s festival season, football
season, and reflection season
all in one. It’s a time of year
when we get on the road to
see how information attained
at our annual convention is
being applied across the state,
and I’m always moved by the
innovative ways that’s being
done. Each and every one of
you is bringing something
to the table in helping to ensure
a better Louisiana across
the board, and I thank you for
that. It means that the LMA is
doing something right in how
we’re there for you.
Our appreciation for your
efforts and your belief in us is
John Gallagher
Executive Director
always at the core of what we
do. With the LMA leadership
and staff here for you, and with
each of you here for us, we will
always be #LMASTRONG.
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LMR | OCTOBER 2023