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Vivian, LA (KTBS) — The quiet town of Vivian, nestled in north Caddo Parish, is struggling with economic decline, but folks there are trying to bring jobs back.
“We were sitting together one day talking about how we wished some new things would come to town,” said Shane Hughes, founder of the non-profit group Revive Vivian. “It was kind of stagnant.”
“It is basically to get our community together to try to revive our town,” said Denise Alexander, volunteer with Revive Vivian. “We have kind of been in a little slump, but we’re ready to come back and show everyone what we’ve got.”
Revive Vivian’s first project was a fundraiser to help clean up some eyesores.
“There were some things that were left unkempt over the years,” said Hughes. “We have slowly been able to bring that back through volunteer work and business donations.”
Vivian has shops, restaurants, a major athletic park and a hospital, plenty to offer, but residents want more.
“What we would love to see is industry come back to our town and provide some jobs,” said Alexander.
Council members have struggled to bring in new businesses. Some businesses are also still recovering from the drop in oil and gas prices just 4 years ago. And, nearly 30 people lost their jobs just 2 years ago after a plant moved operations out of state. A local businessman bought the plant, and is now trying to market it to major companies. The bigger issue: people just aren’t buying locally.
“They drive to the (Walmart) supercenter in Blanchard, or they drive to Shreveport, or they go to Atlanta, Texas, and they drive right by our businesses. I have noticed it as mayor for the last 3 years,” said Vivian Mayor Mike VanShoick.
VanShoick says that alone has caused sales tax revenue to drop more than 20 percent a year in the past three years and it’s getting worse.
“I hope that more people would want to live here and then open businesses and support local businesses,” said local boutique store owner, Tristen Owens. “It is a big deal.”
Some good new, ATT will soon put up a new cell tower which should generate short-term construction work.
Vivian will host an area flea market and many of the funds will go toward Revive Vivian.
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