VIDALIA — The Concordia Parish Economic and Industrial Development District adopted their goals for the next two years at their meeting Wednesday.

While somewhat scaled back because the district has a smaller budget this year, Executive Director Heather Malone said the goals were based what has already been done and on discussion with local leaders about what they would like to see in the next couple of years.

One of the major goals will be to develop a marketing campaign for the area, which Malone said she will try to do based on other plans already available.

“I will work with the state’s plan and with our regional plan and see where we fit in that,” she said. “I think we know better than anyone what kind of businesses we want to attract.”

The CPEIDD will also start making quarterly reports to local governmental bodies so everyone will know what is going on and will be on the same page, Malone said.

In addition to developing a stronger relationship with the Concordia Parish Tourism Council, Malone said the district would like to develop a stronger relationship with the local governments.

One way this will be done is by forming a council of governments through the ongoing regionalism efforts.

The council of governments will pair up the Concordia Parish Police Jury, the Adams County Board of Supervisors and all of the local boards of aldermen once a month in an informal, friendly meeting.

“This will be an opportunity for these officers to get together in the same room, get to know each other and talk about projects they’re working on,” Malone said.

The CPEIDD will continue to work on infrastructure projects such as the Vidalia port project, but Malone said one project in particular has caught her attention.

An initiative to place fiber optic cable through the delta region is under way, and Malone said she wants to get Concordia Parish in on the front end of the project.

“We will work with them so maybe we can be one of the first instead of one of the last,” she said.

“It is no longer a question of whether you have (fiber optics). It is no longer a frill, it is a necessity.”

In other news, the board appointed officers for the coming year.

Richard Young was reappointed as chairman, Melvin Ferrington was appointed as vice chair and Sue Grayson was appointed as secretary-treasurer.