Community Joins to Launch Project Top 10 by 2010

Initiative's goal is to make the New Orleans Region a top 10 community nationally in quality of life and economic growth by 2010 (New Orleans, March 21, 2001)

A broad-based coalition of 20 civic, business and community groups today announced the launch of Project Top 10 By 2010, a comprehensive, citizen-based initiative to make Southeast Louisiana one of the nation's top 10 communities in which to live and work by the year 2010.

Co-chaired by Pres Kabacoff, president of Historic Restorations Inc., and Quentin Dastugue, president of Property One Inc., the group plans to develop a comprehensive list of economic, environmental, social and health indicators during the next 18 months. The process will be guided by a civic leadership group and analyzed by Alan AtKisson, president and founder of AtKisson + Associates, a leading community development consulting group based in Seattle. The measures of progress toward achieving quality of life and economic growth goals as revealed by the indicators will be the ultimate measure of the success of Project Top 10 By 2010.

Dastugue and Kabacoff noted that Project Top 10 By 2010 is regional in scope, involving participation by 10 parishes in Southeast Louisiana. The project recognizes the interdependence of each community in the ultimate success of all in creating new jobs and business growth and in enhancing quality of life. Kabacoff said the compass device in the Project Top 10 By 2010 logo is indicative of the vital sectors for our future: nature (N), society (S), economy (E) and well-being (W).

The initiative is governed by a Steering Committee composed of civic, business and community leaders from throughout the region. Barbara Johnson, senior vice president of the MetroVision Economic Development Partnership, will oversee staff efforts during the project. Kelley Terry of the Regional Planning Commission is the project coordinator.

"Project Top 10 by 2010 is an effort to establish a broad vision for a healthy, vital region -- economically, socially and environmentally -- in charting a new course for Southeast Louisiana," said Johnson. Parishes included in Project Top 10 By 2010 are Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington.

The process of defining key indicators will begin with a 10-parish random telephone survey to gain public input on the challenges and strengths of the region. Later, a focus group will provide additional direction. Driving the process will be the commitment of more than 100 civic leaders from throughout the region. This group brings a big-picture perspective of the community's nature, its strengths and weaknesses, the history of the area and how it operates. It identifies and shapes the indicators to be used in measuring the region's progress toward its goals. Members include leaders from business, government, environment, academic institutions, churches, ethnic groups, health institutions, the arts community, labor unions, neighborhood and community organizations.

Providing additional support will be technical advisors -- university professors and business and government analysts skilled in data gathering, evaluation and analysis.

Kabacoff and Dastugue said that the end result of the initial phase of the project will be a report showing 30 or more indicators that reflect progress based on citizen values and needs. The indicators process and report will be used throughout the region to create greater understanding of the importance of charting a common course into the future, to build new working relations between parishes and community groups, specify key areas for enhancement of quality of life and create leadership to help plan and work for meaningful community change.