CARE VILLE PLATTE: Looking to involve community in revitalization efforts and share good news

By: HEATHER
BOGARD
Associate Editor

Led by Connie Acosta Lamke and Chris Lamke with the Acosta Foundation and Dr. Gwen Fontenot with the Evangeline Chamber of Commerce, a group of area leaders and concerned residents met at the Aswell House on Monday, January 22, to discuss and share ideas for the revitalization of the City of Ville Platte. This meeting was to gauge interest in revitalizing and improving the City of Ville Platte. The group will work diligently with the mayor and city to make forward moving progress on litter abatement, blighted properties, as well as promoting everything Ville Platte has to offer to increase tourism and attract businesses to locate in the area. This will be done by promoting local businesses, the area smoked meat markets, Swamp Pop Museum, parish festivals and other events.
Those in attendance were invited to share their thoughts and ideas on how to improve the city and best share everything good going on through working together and creating a network of sharing good news and events of interest. CARE (Community Awareness Resource for Everyone) Ville Platte Facebook page was formed as a way to share all of the positive things going on in Ville Platte and get the word and get the community excited about what is going on.
Nina David said, “I am passionate about trying to build this town up. I want businesses to thrive. We all have a common goal to make the town better.”
Chris Lamke added, “I would like to see all of the (various) groups come together as one.” As president of the Evangeline Parish Chamber of Commerce, he would like to get everyone on the same page and share what they would like to see happen. He said, “People driving through see the shape Ville Platte is in and don’t like what they see. I want to see that change.”
Niki Beeson with Gumbo Gals shared she has rediscovered her love for this place and wanted to do something fun. She and her partner, Samantha LaHaye, started Gumbo Gals and purchased the old library to host pop up shops and have big plans to update and renovate the space in the future.
Beeson stated Ville Platte could be such a great tourist destination, but there are absolutely zero tourist opportunities here when we have Chicot, shop and so many other things. However, there is nothing with hospitality. She said getting Main Street looking great would be ideal.
Connie Lamke noted a Go Fund Me has been set up to raise funds for the necessary changes needed to turn the Aswell House from residential to commercial. She shared all monies raised go directly to the charities, however the Go Fund Me is for the building. Connie said she was open to any suggestions on re-branding and changing the perception of the city. She shared how the “Mou-vement” in Mamou has been a big part in revitalizing Mamou. She said Ville Platte could have their own branding and slogan to push forward with a new optimistic outlook. Connie suggested going to area businesses and letting them know the group is doing this to improve the town.
Chris Lamke closed the meeting by noting this was just a gathering to gauge interest in doing this and said, “You all seem to be very energetic about doing it.”
A meeting with Mayor Ryan Leday Williams will be set to discuss the group’s ideas and get his input and commitment to the effort.
Others in attendance included Maggie Eades, Sarahi Sawtelle, Sharon Fontenot and Suzy Lemoine.