Our Chamber has long believed that working together makes our community stronger. That means collaborating with other business organizations, community partners and elected officials to focus on issues that matter to businesses and to St. Tammany Parish.
Recently, members of the St. Tammany Economic Partnership (STEP) met for the first time in about 12 months. STEP brings together the presidents of the our Chamber, Northshore Home Builders Association, St. Tammany Economic Development Corporation, Visit The Northshore and Tri-Parish Works. The group discussed several areas that will have an impact on our local economy.
Visit The Northshore is nearing completion of its strategic planning process, which includes a focus on bringing more visitors to the Northshore, including outdoor and indoor sports teams. As part of the process, consultants conducted five focus groups to hear from residents and share factual information about the economic impact of tourism in St. Tammany.
At the St. Tammany Economic Development Corporation, Russell Richardson is in his first year of leading the organization, with a focus on community connectivity. The organization recently brought together business leaders and Department of Transportation representatives to discuss road infrastructure and the needs of our growing parish.
The expansion of the Port of New Orleans into St. Bernard Parish with the Louisiana International Terminal also could have an impact on St. Tammany. The anticipated need for warehouse space could create opportunities for the Gulf South Commerce Park near the I-12/Highway 1088 interchange.
The Northshore Community Foundation is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. The foundation has grown significantly over the past two decades, allowing it to have an ongoing impact through disaster response and by serving as the guardian of individual and organizational foundations supporting specific causes. As it looks toward 2027, the foundation is focused on building on that success.
While each organization has its own area of focus, the conversation reinforced three priorities that are important to St. Tammany: workforce development, housing and community connectivity.
These issues affect businesses, employees and families across our parish, and they are not issues any one organization can address alone. The Chamber will continue working with our partners and volunteer leaders to promote, support and advocate for a strong St. Tammany.
By working together, we can help move these conversations forward and continue building a community that prospers.