Page 1 of 2 Regular Session, 2012 ENROLLED SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 138 BY SENATOR GALLOT AND REPRESENTATIVE DIXON A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON To urge and request the Red River Waterway Commission and the Louisiana Department of Economic Development to prepare and provide to the House Committee on Commerce and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs, a report on economic development opportunities and strategies for the Red River area between the cities of Alexandria and Pineville. WHEREAS, the Red River Waterway District is a statutorily created body for the purpose of establishing, operating, and maintaining, individually or with the assistance of certain enumerated bodies, a navigable waterway system known as the Red River Waterway; and WHEREAS, the Red River Waterway District is composed of portions of the parishes of Avoyelles, Rapides, Natchitoches, Red River, Grant, Bossier, and Caddo; and WHEREAS, the Red River Waterway Commission, herein referred to as "commission", was created to govern the Red River Waterway District; and WHEREAS, the commission is responsible for participating in economic development for the waterway area and for providing and maintaining navigable channels between the ports and the river channel; and WHEREAS, it is the policy of the state of Louisiana, in furtherance of its responsibility to protect the health, public safety, welfare, and future prosperity of the citizens of the state, to fully develop the human, economic, and natural resources of the state through a well-informed and business-oriented Department of Economic Development; and WHEREAS, the Louisiana Department of Economic Development which utilizes various incentives and programs to encourage businesses to expand or relocate to Louisiana, including the Mega-Project Development Fund, various tax credits and exemptions, tax abatements, and workforce recruitment, may very well be interested in exploring the use of SCR NO. 138 ENROLLED Page 2 of 2 the areas along the Red River as yet another incentive to encourage economic development in this state; and WHEREAS, the Red River area between the cities of Alexandria and Pineville has not been developed to its full potential and the undeveloped and under-used space is a missed opportunity to generate income, encourage economic development, and provide additional resources to both public and private entities within the communities; and WHEREAS, economic development is vital to the seven parishes within the Red River Waterway District; and WHEREAS, recreation and economic development projects and state operation and maintenance, current and future funding priorities and available funds, and strategic plans are all critical components necessary to ensure economic development for those parishes and the Red River Waterway District. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Louisiana Legislature urges and requests the Red River Waterway Commission and the Louisiana Department of Economic Development to prepare and provide to the House Committee on Commerce and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs, a report on economic development opportunities and strategies for the Red River area between the cities of Alexandria and Pineville no later than February 1, 2013. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Red River Waterway Commission and the Louisiana Department of Economic Development. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES