Beauregard Parish - Priority Issues

Economic  and Workforce Development

• Lack of land use management in the parish to focus resources for infrastructure development necessary for commercial and industrial growth.
• Lack of diversity in economy and lack of jobs geographically and by business classification
• Lack of population growth to build economic vitality
• Lack of infrastructure and services in isolated rural areas
• Traffic management/congestion inhibits retail business sales, industrial development and swift evacuation.
• Need for additional higher education and job training opportunities to support the industries that exist and attract new ones.
• Failure to coordinate or follow through on economic development projects including where and how to develop industrial parks
• Lack of existing turn key modern industrial buildings for new businesses

Environmental Management

• Debris including downed trees threatens water quality, storm water drainage, and promotes forest fires & forest infestation
• Poor storm water management and non-point pollution protection of water bodies.
• Need to protect forest and agricultural resources and the Sabine River.
• Lack of back up generators for water and sanitary sewer systems led to potential water contamination problems.
• Potential environmental damage during future storms.

Human Services

• Lack of recreational opportunities, including after school activities throughout the Parish.
• Lack of physical location to provide social services to rural areas including, senior day car, meals on wheels, well baby programs, adult and continuing education, etc.
• Lack of active park space particularly in rural centers
• Lack of day care facilities. 
• No modern community centers.

Education

• Need to improve quality of education provided and post high school learning opportunities

Transportation and Infrastructure

• Need a safe, effective and expeditious means for evacuating citizens from the Parish and contiguous coastal areas during a disaster.
• With the lack of public transit there is a need to provide local access to shelter and emergency, health and social services.
• Congestion and truck traffic in downtown De Ridder, lack of sidewalks and pedestrian crossing and poor traffic control on SR 171.
• Lack of instrument controlled landing system at the airport for economic development and safety.
• At grade RR crossings present an immediate safety issues as well as impacts on emergency response to the east side of DeRidder.
• Lack of backup generators for emergency response and continued operation of essential services such as airport, gas and food stores.
• Where to align Bypass of De Ridder, what level road is required and what are design criteria?
• Lack of a bypass to complement expansion of SR171 to four lanes.
• Need for improved pedestrian and vehicle circulation in DeRidder.
• Protecting the health and safety of citizens during disasters through improvements to public potable water supplies and fire protection systems.
• Poor access to certain neighborhoods due to lack of complete local road and/or street network

• Lack of health care and emergency treatment centers in rural areas and lack of public transit to get to DeRidder.

Public Safety

• Lack of police protection or rapid response time in rural areas.
• During hurricane no emergency shelters that are self sustaining or that can serve as emergency command and response centers in the rural areas.

Housing and Community Development

• Need for repair assistance for low/moderate income families, which would better enable structures to withstand another hurricane.
• Lack of affordable housing opportunities (rental and homeownership) for moderate income families in DeRidder.
• Lack of affordable housing opportunities (rental and homeownership) for elderly and low-income families in Beauregard Parish not in DeRidder has been increased with influx of evacuees.
• Large numbers of abandoned houses and vehicles in residential areas 
• Lack of neighborhood parks.
• Lack of Parish-wide planning & growth management, necessary to mitigate effects of future hurricanes as well as enhance community overall and protect property values and natural resources.
• Need for active programs to revitalize existing historic downtown districts and to preserve neighborhoods.
• Need to improve the entry corridors into downtown DeRidder.
• Poor access to certain neighborhoods due to lack of complete local road and/or network.
• Lack of adequate building codes and inspections to require building design capable of withstanding future natural disasters.