Northwest Louisiana, Where Living is Easy
Published May 18, 2009
Don Shea moved from Florida to Shreveport in 2007, and to this day, he can pinpoint his favorite part of the move.
“Honestly, the best part about Northwest Louisiana is the people, who are warm, friendly and welcome you, and want you to be successful,” says Shea, executive director of the Shreveport Downtown Development Authority. “And in Shreveport, where I now live and work, there is a cadence that I like. It’s big enough to be interesting with lots to do, but without being overwhelming like a typical major city. In other words, it’s fast enough to keep you interested without running you over.”
Such is life in Northwest Louisiana. The living is easy and pleasing, with multiple residential options that can include downtown apartments, small-town charm or wide-open rural spaces that feature abundant natural assets.
Ruston in Lincoln Parish offers an 18-block historic district, a bustling farmer’s market and an annual Peach Festival.
In Bienville Parish, Arcadia promotes its laid-back atmosphere with amenities such as museums, quaint shops and a variety of restaurants.
Natchitoches was established in 1714, making it the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase territory. The community retains its European flavor through its architecture, heritage and lifestyle. The National Historic Landmark District includes a brick thoroughfare lined with restaurants and shops that face Cane River Lake. The city’s commercial district boasts just a 1 percent vacancy rate.
Across the Red River from Shreveport is Bossier City, which BusinessWeek just named as one of the Best Places in the Country to Raise a Family.
“Besides easy living, we also offer a sportsman’s paradise with lakes, timber, hiking trails, kayaking, fishing, hunting and boating,” says David Rockett, president of the Greater Bossier Economic Development Foundation. “In fact, we hosted a national Bassmaster fishing tournament in February 2009 that brought 50,000 visitors into Bossier City. ESPN televised the tournament live, which greatly promoted our region.”
Rockett adds that one week after the Bassmaster event was a Mardi Gras parade that welcomed another 150,000 people into the city.
“As for the overall economy in Northwest Louisiana, it is doing fairly well compared to the current situation in many other parts of the United States,” he says. “We don’t seem to be experiencing the peaks and valleys of this national economy. Housing values are not seeing a dramatic downturn, and the employment base is stable and even growing in some sectors. The economy is quite diverse here, which is a good situation to be in.”
Rockett points out that the oil and gas business is going strong throughout the region, and the defense industry is robust thanks to the presence of Barksdale Air Force Base and its 16,000 military and civilian personnel.
“As for logistics, Interstates 20 and 49 are excellent transportation corridors for warehouse or distribution businesses looking to relocate to this part of the South,” he says. “The health care industry is expanding here, we have a $250 million Louisiana Boardwalk for retail and entertainment, and the casinos along Red River continue to thrive. Things are going pretty well these days in Northwest Louisiana. They really are.”
Story by Kevin Litwin
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