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LANDRIEU NAMES COVINGTON AS CERTIFIED RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

By Charles Guidry

Friday, July 11 2008

Covington to receive $20,000 in grant funding  Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu today designated the City of Covington as a certified retirement community and pledged to assist the city in their efforts to retain and attract individuals 55 and older.  Lt. Governor Landrieu, who oversees the Louisiana Retirement Development Commission, joined elected officials and local leaders at a Baton Rouge press conference to announce that the cities of Bossier, Crowley, Covington, Lake Charles, New Iberia, and Thibodeaux; the parishes of Natchitoches, St. Landry, Union and Vernon and the Louisiana I-12 Retirement District are eligible to receive $20,000 in grant funding through the program Redefine Life. Retire in Louisiana. Certified Retirement Community. The communities were chosen through a rigorous, competitive grant process.   “Baby Boomers are looking for a place that offers a reasonable cost of living, mild climate, friendly people, and fun things to see and do.  Louisiana offers all of that plus incredible beauty, unique culture and a wealth of recreational options. Louisiana is a great place to retire,” said Lt. Governor Landrieu. “This generation is the largest and wealthiest age group in the nation—some 75 million strong.  They have tremendous economic power. It makes sense that we promote these Louisiana communities as ideal places to relocate.”    "It's no surprise that people have discovered that Covington is the ideal place to spend the rest of your life,” Mayor Candace Watkins.Lt. Governor Landrieu launched this initiative last year to bolster Louisiana as a premier retirement destination and to assist Louisiana cities and parishes in their efforts to position their communities as havens for retirement.  Crowley, Covington, Lake Charles, Thibodeaux, and the parishes of Natchitoches and St. Landry are in their second year of the program.   “The selected communities receive inclusion in state-level marketing efforts, technical assistance, networking opportunities and funding to support the program,” said Heather Reggio Finke, Executive Director of the Louisiana Retirement Development Commission.  “Grants of $20,000 will be awarded to the eleven communities who are required to provide $10,000 in local match funding. The funding supports the requirements of a participating community: strategic and annual action plans, marketing efforts, a community forum event and final report submission.” In Louisiana, residents 55 and older provided an economic benefit of $319 million and contributed $598 million to charities in 2000. Bookmark

 

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