The parish’s redevelopment authority is planning to transform North Baton Rouge.
Build Baton Rouge announced Friday that it received $140,000 from the Delta Regional Authority to fund a plan to bolster development, public transportation, job opportunities and broadband access in North Baton Rouge. Deidre Deculus Robert, the president and CEO of Build Baton Rouge, said she plans on using the corner of Plank Road and Choctaw Drive and the Southern University Overpass as two anchor sites to drive economic development in the area.
The organization will receive the DRA funds at the end of this year and will form the plan over six to 15 months with the help of community interviews, surveys and a consultant. Robert said the organization aims to deploy the plan in mid-2027.
“This is just a really pivotal time, not only for the organization, but the use of land and infrastructure to be able to deploy different tools and innovative ideas to really to grow and infuse that community,” Robert said. “I think it’s always a good time to look at economic development and growth investment.”
Build Baton Rouge and other community organizations have launched projects to develop parts of North Baton Rouge in the past 15 years. Build Baton Rouge kicked off the Imagine Plank Road Master Plan in 2019 and Scotlandville Community Development Corporation rolled out a plan in 2011 to spruce up commercial development and transportation by 2030. Robert said the North Baton Rouge Strategic Plan will encompass a larger footprint.
With a 7.6% unemployment rate — about 3% higher than the parish and national averages — and more than 40% of residents living below the poverty line, Robert said adding affordable housing, healthy food sources and workforce training opportunities will drive the community forward.
Strategic plan partners include the East Baton Rouge Parish government, Southern University, Baton Rouge North Economic Development District and Regional Planning Commission.
“When we talk about infrastructure, it’s not just infrastructure in the ground,” Robert said. “It’s infrastructure for a successful community.”
Robert said Build Baton Rouge is in the midst of planning their organization’s strategic plan which is set to launch at the beginning of next year.
