The Diversification of a Louisiana Coastal Community

Coreil, Paul; ,

The Diversification of a Louisiana Coastal Community

by Paul Coreil, Louisiana State Univ, Baton Rouge, United States,

Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Coastlines of the Gulf of Mexico

Abstract:

Up until about 1984 coastal communities in Louisiana were blessed with a rich and growing economic base primarily centered around oil and gas exploration and production. Complementing this important source of jobs and revenue was the traditional fisheries and wildlife related industries centered around commercial fishing and four trapping. Starting about 1985 the price of oil began to drop drastically and the economic stability enjoyed for so many years began to disappear. The author discusses the transformational leadership approach used by a small group of community leaders in the diversification of the community's economic base. The leadership qualities of these men are described thus - they had a vision of a more diversified economy, a passion for citizen employment and happiness, integrity and trust necessary to win public support, curiosity to seek answers beyond the confines of their limited perspective, and they were daring enough to take great risks and seek the development of an industry unknown to them - the tourism industry.

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