A group of Concordia residents, officials and elected leaders met Tuesday night to discuss ideas to help move the parish forward.

The meeting might not have yielded immediate results, but it did spark talk of current and future programs that can help get the economy and education on the right track.

Representatives from both senators’ offices said they would help look at aid for housing, education and healthcare.

Group organizer Emerson Slain discussed the need for USDA aid on housing projects.

School

Superintendent Dr. Kerry Laster discussed ways the school district is already working to improve the education system.

And economic development Director Teresa Dennis talked about a new business incubator that can help get small businesses off the ground.

The benefit of such a meeting &045; especially when a variety of people in a community attend &045; is that residents and leaders get an idea not only of where they want to go, but where they are.

The positive plans already in place for education and economic development, for example, are exciting.

But they should also inspire the group to come up with other ideas to help.

Ferriday mayoral assistant Justin Conner pointed out that it will take an investment of time, money and interest from the community for the ideas to come to fruition.

Perhaps the most important of those is not money but time and interest.

We hope this group will continue meeting, continue sharing ideas and continue working together to improve the parish.