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Louisiana residents will have a voice in making the future brighter.
Organizers have kicked off the DREAM Initiative aimed at helping the 190-year-old Pike County community enjoy another two centuries of success.
“It gives us the opportunity to rebuild our city for the long haul,” said program coordinator Elizabeth Onik. “We don’t want to become Nowhereland.”
DREAM is an acronym for Downtown Revitalization and Economic Assistance for Missouri. The state program provides help with planning and financial assistance in revitalizing downtowns.
Hannibal and Louisiana are the only two DREAM Initiative communities in Northeast Missouri.
In Louisiana, the effort will focus upon the area from the Mississippi River to Eighth Street and South Carolina to Tennessee Street. The Louisiana Economic Development Committee will oversee the work.
The first step is forming focus groups that will offer development ideas. Next fall, the committee plans to get input from 300 Louisiana residents through a telephone survey.
Two projects already being discussed are riverfront enhancement and converting the second stories of downtown buildings into lofts or apartments.
Kathy Smith, president of the development committee, said housing is a key to making downtown improvement work.
“Once you have that, you have a 24/7 foot traffic,” Smith said.
Downtown businessman Mike Kakouris, who owns Hair Biz, is a step ahead. He’s almost finished converting the second story of his building into a modern loft, and welcomes greater development.
“People living downtown will shop downtown,” Kakouris said. “It’ll revitalize it.”
A combination of public and private funding would be used to fund projects. Smith is confident the program will pay off.
“We’ve got a good group of people who are working really hard,” she said.
Louisiana residents will have a voice in making the future brighter.
Organizers have kicked off the DREAM Initiative aimed at helping the 190-year-old Pike County community enjoy another two centuries of success.
“It gives us the opportunity to rebuild our city for the long haul,” said program coordinator Elizabeth Onik. “We don’t want to become Nowhereland.”
DREAM is an acronym for Downtown Revitalization and Economic Assistance for Missouri. The state program provides help with planning and financial assistance in revitalizing downtowns.
Hannibal and Louisiana are the only two DREAM Initiative communities in Northeast Missouri.
In Louisiana, the effort will focus upon the area from the Mississippi River to Eighth Street and South Carolina to Tennessee Street. The Louisiana Economic Development Committee will oversee the work.
The first step is forming focus groups that will offer development ideas. Next fall, the committee plans to get input from 300 Louisiana residents through a telephone survey.
Two projects already being discussed are riverfront enhancement and converting the second stories of downtown buildings into lofts or apartments.
Kathy Smith, president of the development committee, said housing is a key to making downtown improvement work.
“Once you have that, you have a 24/7 foot traffic,” Smith said.
Downtown businessman Mike Kakouris, who owns Hair Biz, is a step ahead. He’s almost finished converting the second story of his building into a modern loft, and welcomes greater development.
“People living downtown will shop downtown,” Kakouris said. “It’ll revitalize it.”
A combination of public and private funding would be used to fund projects. Smith is confident the program will pay off.
“We’ve got a good group of people who are working really hard,” she said.
