What do YOU THINK ABOUT THE FRENCH IMMERSION CENTER?

Supporters of a French immersion school and cultural business incubator at the old St. Luke Hospital here want to know what you think of the idea.
A survey of homes and businesses in the St. Martin and St. Landry communities once served by the hospital district is now available for public input.
The survey can be accessed online at www.surveymonkey.com/s/K9GNVFK or by printed copy at Arnaudville and Henderson town halls, and the Henderson-Nina Water System office.
The deadline to take the survey is May 22.
The consulting firm Ardyn M. Thriffiley & Associates of New Orleans was hired last month by the Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation (LCEF), with support from St. Landry and St. Martin parishes, and charged with completion of a business plan to repurpose the former hospital as a French immersion center and cultural business incubator, the first of its kind in the United States.
The business plan determines viability of the proposed center and economic impact. The survey is to gain input on the proposed facility from a broad range of residents and businesses in both parishes.
Survey questions are designed so that residents have the opportunity to simply state their views, explained consultant Ardyn Thriffiley.
“The information we are gathering will reveal the extent of community support, and at the same time, the impact of the cultural industry on Arnaudville,” she said. “The survey is designed to take about 10 minutes to complete.”
LCEF’s proactive focus of supporting creative entrepreneurialism statewide drew it to the Arnaudville project.
“We see a facility like this as a statewide resource that will draw not only Louisianians, but also visitors from all over the world,” said LCEF CEO Aimee Smallwood said. “This could become a real economic driver for the entire area.”
LCEF was established as a 501(c)(3) organization in 2005 and serves as a catalyst for the development and enhancement of the distinct cultural industries of Louisiana by promoting the economic health and quality of life of our cultural economy workforce.
LCEF requested the National Endowment for the Arts – Art Works grant which along with the parish governments of St. Landry and St. Martin, funds the study and planning project.