Focus Your recent guide to recent community news

APPLAUSE

In October, the Junior League of Lafayette held its Grants Award Ceremony at the Petroleum Club in Lafayette. The League’s Collaborative Opportunity Grants Program offers local nonprofit organizations funding and volunteers for short-term projects. A total of $19,765.14 in grants will be awarded to 11 local nonprofit organizations. Annual grants are funded through Junior League of Lafayette fundraising efforts such as Tinsel & Treasures holiday market, sales from the League’s four Member-written cookbooks, Little Black Dress Initiative, and community program sponsorships.

In October, the National EMS Academy and South Louisiana Community College celebrated their 20-year partnership in EMS education and careers at National EMS Academy Lafayette Campus. High school students from multiple parishes were in attendance and got to experience an open house to see what a day in the life of an EMS student entails. In 2003, Acadian Ambulance and South Louisiana Community College formed a partnership to establish the National EMS Academy. With numerous campuses across Louisiana and Texas, the National EMS Academy’s EMT and Paramedic programs have a higher pass rate than the national standard and the school currently creates 3% of all EMTs and paramedics in the nation.To learn more about National EMS Academy’s training programs, visit BecomeAMedic.com.

In October, Parish Proud announced its selection as a recipient of the prestigious Healthy Communities Grant from Keep Louisiana Beautiful. This year’s grant, totaling $8,000, will bolster Parish Proud’s mission to empower the residents of Acadiana in maintaining a litter-free community. The initiative focuses on providing Troop Buckets to citizens, containing all the necessary materials for safe and efficient litter cleanup. Parish Proud Troop Buckets will include essential items such as litter grabbers, vests, trash bags and gloves. Thanks to the generous support of Keep Louisiana Beautiful, each bucket will also include a new branded flag, serving both as a safety measure and a symbol of community pride.

Pop-A-Lock announced that its franchises raised $37,951.44 during its third

annual PAL’s Heroes St. Jude fundraiser. Contributions resulted from direct donations, cash donations and silent auction items. The event took place during Pop-A-Lock’s 2023 National Franchise Convention, which was held in Orlando, Florida in August. PAL’s Heroes, Pop-A-Lock’s non-profit organization, began its partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research

Hospital in 2015, and after this year’s fundraiser, PAL’s Heroes is closing in on surpassing its goal of raising $1 million. PAL’s Heroes’ dedication to education, awareness and fundraising to support the patients of St. Jude’s helps ensure families will never have to pay for treatment, travel, housing or food.

In October, Moncus Park announced that it had been honored with the esteemed Great Places Award, a recognition presented by the Louisiana Chapter of the American Planning Association. This prestigious accolade celebrates the exceptional character, quality and outstanding planning that Moncus Park embodies as a remarkable place within Louisiana. Modeled after APA’s renowned Great Places in America program, this initiative spotlights locations that not only serve their communities but also attract visitors and stand as models for others to emulate. The Great Places in Louisiana Award is an annual distinction that signifies a place’s ability to truly capture the essence of a community, showcasing its rich cultural and historical significance, fostering community engagement, and projecting a visionary outlook for the future.

In November, Downtown Lafayette Unlimited announced that construction had begun on the new Parc Sans Souci Playground. The 6,000-square-foot playground will incorporate inclusive and accessible equipment and build on the existing family-friendly amenities located in and around Parc Sans Souci. Downtown Lafayette Unlimited has raised more than $895,000 and hopes to close the last $12,000 later this year. To find out how to donate to the playground project, visit DowntownLafayette.org.

Keep Louisiana Beautiful announced in October the 2023 recipients of its new University Affiliate grant program, made possible with funding from a five-year EPA Gulf of Mexico Trash-Free Waters Grant. A total of $39,644 in reimbursement grants will fund projects at Grambling State University, Louisiana State University, Loyola University New Orleans, Nicholls State University, Northwestern State University, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, University of Louisiana Monroe and University of New Orleans. The selected universities will receive grants ranging from $4,000 to $5,000 for projects focused on recycling and reducing the use of single use plastics.

JUST IN

In October, the 24-Hour Citizen Project announced its 2023 Citizen Team Lineup. After carefully reviewing many applications, 24-Hour Citizen Project selected the eight teams that will take on the challenge of making the community better – and compete for funding. The teams will pitch their ideas to a panel of Backers in hopes of taking their projects from dream to reality. This year’s teams have ideas that touch on everything from dance to literacy to pets to vets. The 2023 24 Hour Citizen Project teams are: Team Abby’s Acre, Team Acadiana Art Closet, Team Afro Book Club, Team Barber Shop Boys for Literacy, Team Dance in Lafayette, Team Fais “Doo Doo,” Team Sensory Grooves and Team Renewed Mindset Academy.

Hello Cupcake, a new cupcake shop, is opening in the strip mall next to Raising Cane’s at 104 E. Kaliste Saloom Road, Suite 103, in Lafayette. The boutique cupcake shop will feature seasoned bakers creating dozens of cupcakes from scratch using quality ingredients. The shop will also have a weekly rotation of specialty cupcakes and seasonal offerings. The shop will offer other treats like cake pops, cookies, signature beverages and specially decorated cookies made fresh daily.

In September, the Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony for DSF Tag Agency, at 222 E. Main Street in New Iberia. DSF is a DMV Tag Agency that handles license plates, titles, notary and registrations. For details, call them at 337-210-4181.

Plans are being made to redevelop the former Coburn’s building on Cypress at Buchanan streets as well as a corridor extending to the Rosa Parks Transportation Center in downtown Lafayette, according to the Advocate. The Lafayette Public Trust Financing Authority is working to buy the old Coburn’s building. The trust leases the building along the railroad tracks from the Louisiana Department of Transportation, which bought the property to make way for a proposed Interstate 49 exit that has been relocated. The possibilities could include new commercial, residential and recreational spaces.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

In October, Lafayette Travel President & CEO Ben Berthelot was named Secretary to the Executive Committee of the Board during the Southeast Tourism Society’s Annual Membership Meeting in Jackson, Mississippi. The Southeast Tourism Society approved its slate of members to the Executive Committee for a one-year term and the Board of Directors for a two-year term. The Southeast Tourism Society (STS) is a not-for-profit membership association dedicated to the development of travel and tourism professionals and organizations within the Southeast region. The association’s mission is to empower a diverse network of tourism professionals through education, advocacy, recognition, and networking. Member states include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, plus the District of Columbia.

Abbie Judice and Mark Hernandez with Moncus Park have been honored as the Plant Advocates for October by the Acadiana Native Plant Project, a well-deserved recognition for their dedicated work. Judice, who serves as the Environmental Coordinator and Arborist at Moncus Park, tirelessly endeavors to transform the park into an ecological and community treasure for the region. Hernandez, in his role as Grounds Director at Moncus Park, diligently manages Moncus Park’s 100 acres to highlight our rich cultural heritage. He championed the establishment of the two-acre Cajun prairie within the Park and is the guardian of our Louisiana Iris collection which is home to more than 7,000 irises. Mark’s influence has been pivotal in promoting native plants throughout the Park’s landscape.

In October, Brett Broussard of Broussard, LeBlanc & Associates, a financial/private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial, Inc., announced that he was celebrating 25 years with Ameriprise Financial. The firm hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate Broussard and his tenure with Ameriprise Financial that began in 1998. As a private wealth advisory practice, Broussard, LeBlanc & Associates provides financial advice that is anchored in a solid understanding of client needs and expectations and is delivered in one-on-one relationships with their clients.