By Malcolm Butler
The Ruston City Council unanimously approved a cooperative endeavor agreement Monday night with Grow Northeast Louisiana Corporation, a regional economic development organization that will provide personnel in Ruston at least three days a week.
The agreement will cost the city $40,000 annually, the same amount Ruston has been paying through its previous regional economic development partnership.
Mayor Ronny Walker said Ruston’s growing alignment with northeast Louisiana made the move logical, pointing to congressional districts, community college boundaries and the Delta Regional Authority.
“There’s a lot of sense to move,” Walker said. “This is the same cost that we’ve been paying with the other one. The big difference is they will have someone here three days a week, so we’re very excited about that.”
Grow Northeast Louisiana President and CEO Rob Cleveland said the organization’s focus includes business retention, recruitment and site development. Cleveland said Grow NELA had three companies in the region last week and has conducted six site visits during the past month.
“Our corridor is booming, and we’re thrilled to death to be able to include (Ruston) in what we’re doing,” Cleveland said. “You’ve got a lot of assets here. You’re globally known, and so we’re thrilled about the partnership and we’re really looking forward to it.”
Cleveland said the organization operates on an annual budget of approximately $1 million, with funding coming from Louisiana Economic Development, municipal partners and approximately 50 private-sector investors.
He also said Ruston will have access to Grow NELA’s entire staff rather than one designated employee. That includes a marketing employee who lives in Ruston as well as personnel specializing in business retention and attraction.
Council members also unanimously approved the final plat for Hillcrest Haven Subdivision, Unit 1, a five-lot residential development on the site of the former Hillcrest School. The five single-family residential lots are part of a larger planned development for the property.
Developer Neal DeForrest said the residential lots represent the first step in a broader vision for the site.
“There are some commercial properties that will be saved for that future use,” DeForest said. “So this is just the first step of an overall plan for that property.”
DeForest said the property’s proximity to the recently redeveloped Monroe Street corridor and the Greenway provides additional opportunities for future development.
The council also approved an annual cooperative endeavor agreement with the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs.
Ruston’s share will be $7,691, or approximately $640 per month. According to information presented to the council, the parish veterans service office has an estimated economic impact of more than $15.3 million in compensation and pension benefits for an estimated 2,244 veterans in Lincoln Parish.
In the monthly treasurer’s report, Julie Keen reported approximately $2 million in sales tax collections for August, a decrease of $102,000, or 4.8%, compared with August 2025.
General sales tax collections totaled approximately $1.8 million, down $131,000, or 7%, from the same month a year ago. Economic Development District No. 1 collections totaled approximately $230,000, an increase of $29,000, or 14%, from August 2025.
