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Slidell Reaccredited as a Louisiana Development Ready Community

SLIDELL, La. – Louisiana Economic Development reaccredited the City of Slidell as a Louisiana Development Ready Community in a ceremony Thursday in St. Tammany Parish. Originally recognized in 2009, Slidell was the 11th city to receive the designation during the pilot stage of the program.

The Louisiana Development Ready Communities program helps participants become more competitive for new investment and jobs by guiding selected communities through the process of creating and implementing a strategic economic development plan. By following its plan for multiple years, participants leverage local assets and address unique challenges to empower business growth in their communities.

“As a legacy member of the LDRC, Slidell has helped to set the pace for this important program, which now boasts 52 member communities across Louisiana,” LED Secretary Don Pierson said. “This reaccreditation signals that Slidell leaders and their collaborating partners will continue to work for the city’s long-term success. Their commitment to LDRC principles sends a clear signal to investors that Slidell has what it takes to create competitive advantages for the businesses that locate there.”

St. Tammany Corporation CEO Chris Masingill and his team led Slidell in the process of updating their strategic plan and securing the reaccreditation.

“Slidell is open for business, and I am proud of the work we do every day on behalf of the families and businesses that call Slidell home,” Mayor Greg Cromer said. “Slidell was one of the first-ever certified Louisiana Development Ready Communities in our state, and this timely update to our city’s original LDRC plan from a decade ago shows our continuous commitment to improving the lives of our residents and attracting new opportunities that will help our community continue to flourish. Thank you to St. Tammany Corporation for taking the lead on updating this plan for our city.”

““We are proud to be a part of this project, and updating this plan reinforces Slidell’s commitment to being a destination where businesses and talent can thrive,” Masingill said. “Being able to show the community’s values and priorities through this Slidell-specific plan and its implementation is a powerful tool when making the business case to companies that want to start up, relocate, or stay in Slidell and St. Tammany Parish.”

For more information about the LDRC program, visit the LED website or contact LED Director of Community Competitiveness Stacey Duvic at stacey.duvic@la.gov or 225.342.4703.

About LED
Louisiana Economic Development is responsible for strengthening the state’s business environment and creating a more vibrant economy. It is the only state agency in the U.S. accredited by the International Economic Development Council, boasting award-winning programs like LED FastStart, rated the No. 1 customized workforce training program in the U.S. 13 years in a row. In 2021, LED attracted 64 new economic development projects representing over 18,100 new direct and indirect jobs, 9,700 retained jobs and more than $20.5 billion in new capital investment. Explore how LED cultivates jobs and economic opportunity for the people of Louisiana and employers of all sizes at OpportunityLouisiana.com.

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City Offices Closed Monday, Sept. 5 for Labor Day

In observation of Labor Day, city offices will be closed on Monday, Sept. 5, and will reopen during regular hours on Tuesday, Sept. 6.

Essential personnel will remain on duty. If Slidell residents experience problems with their water or sewer service, they should call the City Services 24-hour emergency hotline at (985) 643-6140.
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Fuel Surcharge Recovery Fee will appear on September water bills

Due to rising fuel costs and pursuant to the City of Slidell’s Solid Waste Disposal agreement with Coastal Environmental Services, the Slidell City Council has authorized a fuel surcharge recovery fee not to exceed $2 per month. The fuel surcharge will appear on the September 2022 sewer and water bills and on subsequent bills.

This decision was made by the Slidell City Council after careful review and public input. The surcharge is based on the consumption of fuel that is used on routes inside the city limits and is determined by the actual cost of diesel over $3.50 per gallon. The fee will vary month by month, depending on the cost of fuel, and if the price goes below $3.50, the surcharge will go away unless the cost of diesel rises again.

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Olde Towne Slidell Main Street Master Plan Public Meeting – Thursday, August 25

The City of Slidell and Olde Towne Slidell Main Street are hosting two public meetings to discuss the Olde Towne Slidell Main Street Master Plan.

The first meeting will be held on Thursday, August 25, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Slidell Municipal Auditorium. Philip Walker, with the Walker Collaborative, will be leading this interactive public workshop, also known as a charrette. In past Olde Towne Master Plan public meetings, issues such as parking, streetscape projects, lighting, events, and connecting Olde Towne Slidell to Heritage Park were discussed.

The second meeting will be held on Monday, August 29, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the auditorium. Walker and the consultant team will present the concept plan for Olde Towne which will be based on input from the public workshop.

Walker was hired as a consultant by the City of Slidell to help design a master plan for Olde Towne. Walker was an integral part of designing master plans for cities such as Covington, La.; Fairhope, Al.; and Natchez, Ms.

“Olde Towne Slidell is the heart of our city and is great place to live, work and play. It’s important that the public attend this meeting and tell us their thoughts on how the City and Main Street can improve and make Olde Towne Slidell an even better place for our community,” said Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer. “I encourage all the Olde Towne organizations, residents, business owners and members of the public to attend this important meeting.”

The Slidell Municipal Auditorium is located at 2056 Second Street in Olde Towne Slidell. The public is encouraged to attend both meetings.

For more information about these meetings, please contact the Department of Cultural & Public Affairs at (985) 646-4375. For more information about city news and events, visit the city’s website at www.myslidell.com or the “City of Slidell, Louisiana” on Facebook.

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Boil Water Advisory issued for parts of Olive Drive

The following addresses are under a Boil Water Advisory due to loss of pressure on the water distribution system:

  • 301 – 389 Olive Drive

The addresses affected by the Boil Water Advisory were notified by the City of Slidell. The boil water advisory will be in effect until the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals analyzes all the water samples. It usually takes several days. Everyone will be notified once the Boil Water Advisory has been lifted.

For more information on what to do during a Boil Water Advisory: https://foodsafety.ces.ncsu.edu/…/CDC-What-to-Do-During…?

For more information about city news, you can sign up for our email news list on our website at www.myslidell.com or visit the “City of Slidell, Louisiana” on Facebook.

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White Linen and Lagniappe digital scavenger hunt now live on Google Maps

Want to win a White Linen and Lagniappe poster signed by artist Keith Dellsperger? Participate in our digital scavenger hunt!

Head over to Google Maps and search Olde Towne Slidell for the five White Linen and Lagniappe posters perched on an easel and scattered throughout Olde Towne.

When you find all five posters, email the locations to Alex Carollo at acarollo@cityofslidell.org.

Make sure you select street view in Google Maps and change the date to July 2022 in the top left corner to be able to see the most current images with the posters.

The first five people to email the correct answers will win a signed poster!

The City of Slidell purchased the camera and equipment to keep Google Map images of Slidell updated regularly.

“In the midst of hurricane season, the City of Slidell is taking proactive measures to ensure that any storm related damages to our infrastructure is properly documented by taking before and after images of our streets and sidewalks,” said Blaine Clancy, City Engineer. “The images taken before a storm event will ensure that the City is properly reimbursed for any repairs that need to be made as a result of a major event.”

Head over to Google Maps and get started. Good luck!

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The City of Slidell is now hiring

The City of Slidell is looking for qualified candidates for several positions in the City. 

Please visit our website for more information: http://myslidell.com/departments/personnel/jobs/

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White Linen and Lagniappe returns to Olde Towne Slidell on Saturday August 13

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Section of Natchez Drive closed for construction

Starting Monday, August 1, Natchez Drive (from Tyler Drive to I-10 Service Road) will be closed for construction. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Natchez Drive will reopen on Sunday, August 14.

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White Linen and Lagniappe 2022 Poster Artist – Keith Dellsperger

Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer, the City of Slidell, and the members of the Slidell Commission on the Arts would like to congratulate Keith Dellsperger for being selected as the White Linen and Lagniappe 2022 Poster Artist. His art work, “Like This, Mommy?” will be featured on the White Linen and Lagniappe poster and on the cover of the August 2022 edition of Slidell Magazine.

The fourth annual White Linen and Lagniappe takes place on Saturday, August 13, from 6 to 9 p.m. in Olde Towne Slidell. This family-friendly event features an evening of art, live entertainment, fine and casual dining, cool drinks, unique shopping and lots of lagniappe. Several bands will be playing during the event, including Witness and Audio Beach. Many of Olde Towne’s offices, restaurants, bars, shops, and stores will be open during the event to showcase their businesses.

This collaborative event is hosted by the City of Slidell, Olde Towne Slidell Main Street, Slidell Historic Antique Association and the Olde Towne Merchants Association.

Slidell artist Keith Dellsperger’s passion for creating art started at a young age while taking classes at David School of Art in Metairie. He attended all four years of art classes while at East Jefferson High School and continued his fine arts studies at Delgado Community College where he majored in Commercial Art. When he started a family, he had to put art aside to start a career, but thankfully he returned to art in 2009 and has been painting ever since.

Dellsperger serves on Slidell’s Commission on the Arts and is a past president of the Slidell Art League. His work has been displayed in numerous art exhibitions where he has won several awards, and his art has been featured on the cover of Slidell Magazine several times. In 2019, Dellsperger and his wife Kelly, both displayed their art work in their joint exhibition “All in the Family” at the Slidell Cultural Center at City Hall.

“I am truly honored to have been selected as the 2022 White Linen and Lagniappe poster artist. This year is extra special due to the fact that this event is returning to Olde Towne Slidell. It seems like it’s been gone for a lifetime since the pandemic began,” said Dellsperger. “With all that the City of Slidell does in the name of culture, I truly believe that our city does not get all the recognition and accolades it deserves for being a cultural community. I love being a part of the Slidell art community along with many other talented artists, and I hope that everyone comes out to Olde Towne Slidell to enjoy this event.”

During White Linen and Lagniappe, Dellsperger will be selling signed copies of the event poster at Dellsperger Studios, located at 1920 First Street in Olde Towne Slidell.

White Linen and Lagniappe is sponsored by the City of Slidell’s 2022 Cultural Season Sponsors, including Edge of the Lake Magazine; Lake 94.7; Plus Publications; The Slidell Independent; Slidell Magazine; Slidell Savings Magazine; Slidell Memorial Hospital and Ochsner; In Memory of Ronnie Kole; Silver Slipper Casino; Councilman Bill & Laura Borchert; Home Instead; Lori’s Art Depot; Lowry-Dunham, Case & Vivien Insurance Agency; Purple Armadillo Again, LLC; P. David Carollo, Attorney-at-Law; CiCi’s Pizza; Mayor Greg Cromer; State Representative Mary DuBuisson, District 90; Dr. David Hildebrandt – Slidell Family Dentistry; Old School Eats Food Truck; Pizza Platoon; Pontchartrain Investment Management; Slidell Historic Antique Association; and Tanya Witchen – Engel & Völkers Real Estate.

For more information about this event, please call the Department of Cultural & Public Affairs at (985) 646-4375. For the latest information about City of Slidell news and events, visit MySlidell.com or follow the “City of Slidell, Louisiana” on Facebook and Instagram.

 

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