Chamber hears of Dewey Balfa Festival move to Vermillionville

During the monthly meeting of the Ville Platte Chamber of Çommerce, Camille Fontenot, executive director, said she has confirmed the Dewey Balfa Cajun and Creole Festival will not be held at Chicot State Park next year.
She said Vermillionville living history museum and park will host the event, despite contacts by the Ville Platte mayor, police jury members and other community leaders.
The festival web site states the move was “necessitated by an extensive renovation project at Chicot State Park.” Fontenot said she was told by park officials the renovation work, which involves the cabins at the park. will be completed in late March or early April.  
A chamber member said the festival board believed the event might draw more visitors in Vermillionville. The festival web site also states, “Our new location will offer us greater capacity.”
The guest speaker during the chamber meeting, on Monday, October 21, was Lafayette Chamber of Commerce President Jason Koubi, who was introduced by Acadiana Economic Development Executive Director Rebecca Shirley.
Koubi said he has met with about 75 people who are key to economic development in Acadiana during the eight weeks he has been Lafayette chamber president. He said he is trying to develop a priority plan for the seven-parish Acadiana region to present to area state legislators.
Koubi said he was at the meeting because more to hear from the chamber members than to speak.
The first issue was the technical college in Evangeline Parish. Camille Fontenot, Ville Platte chamber president, said key instructors are not being replaced and there are fears that changes in classes offered are making it more difficult for students to accumulate enough coursework to graduate or to find employment.
Another issue brought up during the meeting was a state evaluation of the need to four lane Highway 167 -- that was begun a year and a half ago -- that chamber member Pam McGee said may not have been completed.
Kirk Soileau, Ville Platte chamber president, said a four-lane route between the Evangeline Parish Industrial Park and I-49 would help attract more industry to the park.
Another issue raised during the meeting was the possibility of constructing an aircraft landing strip for use by industry, and by industrial representatives assessing sites for new facilities.
At the end of Koubi’s session with chamber members, he said he wants to keep in touch to “create a way to work together,” with other community leaders in the seven-parish Acadiana region on “regional priorities.”
In other chamber buiness, Fontenot said she is looking for suggestions for who to invite to the Christmas parade on December 8, “to give it a little variety.” She also said businesses along Main Street are being asked to decorate and light up their storefronts so the parade can be as festive as possible.