Louisiana Community Betterment Assoc. & Unified Economic Development Council
HOSTING A TOUR OF EMPTY BUILDINGS
The LCBA and UEDC announces The Tour of Empty Buildings will happen on June 1, 2019 from 10:30 am until 3:00 pm. There are multiple locations to be seen on the Tour highlighting buildings on the Georgia Street corridor that are either for sale or for rent. Realtors and/or owners will be present to answer the important questions about square footage, condition of the building, cost, etc. Volunteers will be available to talk about the history of the building and share any stories they may know. You’ll be able to pick up a map at the Louisiana City Hall, 202 So. Third St. or from Tim Jenkins, Shelter Insurance, 3404 Georgia Street, beginning at 12 noon on May 24, 2019.
Deb Brown of Webster City, Iowa, hosted the first tour like this and has since taught dozens of towns how to do their own. When asked why they did it she said “Most humans are innately curious. We like to know what was inside a space, what could be in that space, who was there before, what are the possibilities for an empty space.”
Diana Huckstep, Chairperson for the Louisiana Community Betterment Association stated, “We have some vacant buildings and we’d like potential entrepreneurs and current business owners who may be a good fit for those spaces to see what is available. It’s an opportunity to hear about the past history of the building and to help create a future for it.” Maggie Neff, UEDC Director stated, “Louisiana is on the threshold of an incredible upswing with the opening of the new bridge. New businesses would have every opportunity to succeed here and incentives are available.”
Charlie Cogar and his wife Beverly relocated to Louisiana several years ago from Omaha, Nebraska to open the Great River Road Bed & Breakfast. Charlie stated, “As the owner of a B & B built in the mid 1800’s, our guests love the charm and coziness of a small town river city. The lure of quaint districts in small communities is well known. Catering to small shopkeepers, coffee houses, bookstores, artists and cinemas, residents and tourists alike enjoy the friendly customer driven businesses as a change from the large bustling box stores.
Anastasia Tiedemann, Business Counselor for the Small Business Development Center in Kirksville, MO, stated, “Louisiana’s Empty Building Tour” is a great way to spark ideas for area entrepreneurs. The community has a lot to offer, with its steady tourism and quaint historic footprint. Louisiana is not just a small town on the river, it boasts solid industry, ongoing revitalization and strong support for economic development. For a small town business looking to start or relocate to Louisiana, it really could help this gemstone city to become even more of a destination!”
For more information, please contact Maggie Neff, UEDC Director at Louisiana City Hall, 573-754-4132 or by email at: uedc.louisiana.mo@gmail.com or Diana Huckstep, Chairperson, LCBA at 314-640-4420 or by email at: lmocombtrmt@yahoo.com.