Join us for the 2024 Candidate Forum, hosted by the Center for Planning Excellence, where the candidates for Mayor/President of Baton Rouge will gather to discuss their visions and plans for the future of our city. This pivotal event offers a unique opportunity for community members to hear directly from the candidates and participate in shaping the priorities and strategies that will guide Baton Rouge in the coming years.

Big News for Louisiana’s Energy Future!

The Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources (DENR) has officially kicked off the development of the Louisiana Offshore Wind Roadmap, an initiative that holds immense promise for our state's energy future. CPEX is proud to partner with DENR and Jacobs to create a comprehensive plan that will guide Louisiana’s trajectory in the offshore wind industry.

This roadmap will be our strategic guide to harnessing Louisiana’s vast potential in the offshore wind industry, positioning our state as a leader in this emerging market. Through comprehensive planning, robust public engagement, and a focus on sustainable growth, we aim to create quality jobs, attract new investments, and ensure energy independence for generations to come.

The first meeting of the Offshore Wind Advisory Committee will be held virtually on Thursday, September 5th, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. We invite all stakeholders and the public to join us in shaping this exciting future. Let's make sure Louisiana is ready to lead in offshore wind energy!

East Baton Rouge Parish Adopts Comprehensive Complete Streets Ordinance to Address Safety and Accessibility Needs

The Metropolitan Council of East Baton Rouge Parish, at the urging of Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome, voted to adopt a Complete Streets Ordinance, a significant milestone in efforts to enhance the safety and accessibility of public, city-owned streets. This ordinance, developed by the Center for Planning Excellence (CPEX) in partnership with the Baton Rouge Department of Transportation and Drainage, the Baton Rouge Planning Commission, the Complete Streets Advisory Committee, and the Power Coalition, with support from the American Heart Association, strengthens the existing Complete Streets policy that was unanimously adopted by the Metro Council in 2014, granting it the force of law and marking continued progress toward improving health, safety, equity, and quality of life in the Parish.

Click Here to learn more

introducing Kim Marousek: CPEX’s new Director of planning!

Kim is an AICP certified planner with 28 years of community planning experience at the regional, parish, municipal, and neighborhood scales. She has specialized in working with local governments, leading community planning efforts, and finding creative solutions to address local issues. She also has experience in post disaster recovery and long-term community resilience building. Understanding local values and goals while considering big ideas underpin her approach when working with local communities.

Click here to read the full interview

Registration is open and sponsorships are AVAILABLE for CPEX’s 2022 Louisiana Smart Growth Summit

Join us on December 7 & 8, 2022, at the award-winning Louisiana Smart Growth Summit - the South’s premier planning event - for two days of dialogue on the intersection of climate, health, equity, & resilience!

Click here to register and learn more

The Intersection of Climate & Culture: A Panel Discussion on Climate Change

The Baton Rouge Gallery hosted a panel discussion with CPEX President and CEO Camille-Manning Broome, Chief Shirell Parfait-Dardar, Chief of the Grand Caillou/Dulac Band of Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw, and Jonathan Foret, Executive Director for the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center about climate impacts in coastal communities. If you missed it, you can view the panel here, on the Baton Rouge Gallery YouTube!

Just Released: cPEX’s 2021 Annual Report

In this report:

Letter from the CEO
Letter from the Board Chair
Creating Great Places
Supporting Redevelopment in North Baton Rouge
Creating Healthier Communities
Securing a Climate-Resilient Future
Completing Our Streets
Making Government Work
Connecting People to Big Ideas
Planning Pays Off
Vision for the Future

CPEX E-Newsletter: June 2022

In this issue:

CPEX Story Week 2022
Board Member Spotlight: Kelsey Kornick Funes
Staff Spotlight: Joni Hammons
Project Spotlight: Supporting Redevelopment in North Baton Rouge
CPEX in the News

Save the date: 2022 Louisiana Smart Growth Summit

Join us at the Southeast’s premier planning event on December 7 & 8, at the Manship Theatre as we promote dialogue around innovative planning, creating healthier and more resilient communities, safer streets and transportation options, and equitable implementation policies.

The Summit will highlight how land use planning is at the core of resilience, health, equity, and climate.

CPEX E-Newsletter: March 2022