THIS EDA INVESTMENT WILL LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY-BASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH CENTRAL REGION OF LOUISIANA. THE SOUTH CENTRAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION IS ADDRESSING THE LOCAL AND REGIONAL NEED FOR HOUSING PROGRAMS AND IT DEPARTMENT EXPANSION BY ADDING AN ADDITIONAL FLOOR TO THEIR EXISTING BUILDING WHICH WILL ALLOW THEM TO EXPAND THE REACH OF IT SERVICES AND SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT. THE SOUTH CENTRAL PLANNING DISTRICT WILL ENHANCE ITS ABILITY TO TRAIN AND SUPPORT GOVERNMENTAL STAFF ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHILE ALSO ADDRESSING THE HOUSING SHORTAGE RESULTING FROM HURRICANE IDA. THE ECONOMIC IMPACT WILL BOLSTER LOCAL BUSINESSES. THIS PROJECT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE REGIONAL PLANNING EFFORTS LED BY THE SOUTH CENTRAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. EDA FUNDS THE SOUTH CENTRAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO BRING TOGETHER THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS TO CREATE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ROADMAP TO STRENGTHEN THE REGIONAL ECONOMY, SUPPORT PRIVATE CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND CREATE JOBS.