It was a long time coming, but the Town of Ferriday finally has more than $1.3 million to help revitalize its downtown area.

Any city planner will tell you that a community’s downtown is one of its most important assets in terms of economic development and quality of life.

Ferriday leaders have worked long and hard to come up with a plan for downtown and to get money for the project.

The funding, which comes from state capital outlay money, will be used for a plan that so far includes a pavilion, bandstand, new fire station, and renovations to several downtown buildings, along with lighting, parking and trees.

The plan will help Ferriday build on something unique in Concordia Parish &045;&045; an intact, historic downtown. Coupled with the work already being done &045;&045; from the music museum to the gym &045;&045; this project can help breathe new life into Ferriday while also keeping an eye on the past.

For years, Ferriday has had one of those deteriorating downtowns so common in the rural South.

But rather than watch its further decline, town leaders are concentrating on the future and making a proactice plan to rebuild their hometown.

With money in hand, town leaders can now let bids on construction and see their vision become reality.

We’re anxious to see what will happen as the projects begin to take shape.