BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser announced today the release of the 2018 application and guidelines for the Encore Louisiana Commission’s Louisiana Certified Retirement Community program. The Louisiana Certified Retirement Community program is designed to encourage tourism and economic development through the marketing of certified retirement communities to those from out of state and those living in Louisiana. The program recognizes cities or parishes in Louisiana as premier locations for retirees. Destinations selected for certification will benefit from state-level marketing efforts, networking opportunities and potential grant funding to support the program.
“Each of the communities selected demonstrate qualities that make them premier locations for the nearly 76 million baby boomers nearing retirement,” said Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser. “The designation as a Louisiana Certified Retirement Community will help these communities enhance what we in the state already know – that Louisiana is a great and affordable place to live and retire. With such an incredible bounty of food, music, history and culture, there’s no other state that can feed your soul quite like Louisiana.”
In 1999, the Louisiana Legislature created the Louisiana Retirement Development Commission to market and promote Louisiana as a retirement community state. Through Act 342 of the 2009 Regular Legislative Session, lawmakers renamed the body the Encore Louisiana Commission with the goal of setting the guidelines and requirements in developing the criteria for a destination to become a Louisiana Certified Retirement Community.
The Encore Louisiana Commission will require communities to submit an application and undergo a screening process conducted by the commission before being designated a Louisiana Certified Retirement Community. The deadline to submit the application is Friday, November 30, 2018.
“Each area of Louisiana has its own distinct topography from swamps and prairies in the south to rolling hills in the north. Add to that the authentic experiences, culture, history, culinary options and year-round outdoor activities and retirees can enjoy their years without the hassle of long road trips,” said Assistant Secretary Doug Bourgeois. “While we work hard to attract record numbers of visitors to our state, we need to let our prospective retirees know Louisiana is not only a great place to visit but also a great place to retire. Through this program, we want to assist our parishes in marketing those assets that cater to retirees, to let them now that Louisiana is a perfect place to spend those retirement years.”
In March, Lt. Governor Nungesser announced the first eight Certified Retirement Communities. They include:
City of Lafayette
City of Lake Charles
City of Natchitoches
City of Ruston/Lincoln Parish
Toledo Bend/Sabine Parish
Shreveport-Bossier City
Terrebonne Parish/City of Houma
City of Thibodaux
Once designated a Louisiana Certified Retirement Community, the Louisiana Office of Tourism will:
- Promote the certified community as a Louisiana Certified Retirement Community to retirees and potential retirees both in and outside Louisiana.
- Assist Louisiana Certified Retirement Communities in their efforts to market themselves as desirable retirement locations and to develop communities where retirees would find attractive retirement lifestyles.
- Assist Louisiana Certified Retirement Communities in enriching their locations resulting in positive economic development.
- Encourage tourism to the Louisiana Certified Retirement Community.
Additionally, Louisiana Certified Retirement Communities will be able to attend consumer shows and golf shows with the Louisiana Office of Tourism.
To download the Encore Commission Certified Retirement Community Program Guidelines and Application, please click here.
