Renee Brown, the new Executive Director for the Ville Platte Chamber of Commerce, announced that their 2018 banquet is set for Wednesday May 2^nd at the Ville Platte Civic Center and guest speakers will be brothers, Jack Walker and Joe Willy Walker with Slap Ya Mama Cajun Products.

Voting for Business of the Year, and Business Person of the Year is currently underway. Business of the Year nominees are: Champagne Quality Food, Dry Max Systems, Industrial Supply & Sports, Kary's Roux, Pine Prairie Energy, and Teet's Food Store. Nominees for Business Person of the Year are: Dr. Kirk Soileau, Donald Fontenot with Pine Prairie Energy, Luke Deville with Teet's Food Store, Ross Lafleur with Kary's Roux, and Fr. Tom Voohries with the Sacred Heart Church and School.   Nominees for the Man and Woman of the Year award will be announced later on, and all winners will be announced the night of the banquet. Brown also stated that instead of a large silent auction, this year they will be auctioning off a few items in a small auction.

Executive Director, Renee Brown also shared her excitement for the move from Ville Platte Chamber of Commerce to Evangeline Parish Chamber of Commerce. She is ready to promote Evangeline Parish as a whole saying, “Together we can do more”. Some transitions currently taking place are new chamber and tourism webpages, the planning of parish-wide job fairs, and the planning of Business Before Hours/ Business After Hours networking opportunities. Brown also announced that the Chamber’s new office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00am -5:00pm.

Also discussed, was a personal safety and active shooter workshop set to place in our area on or around June 7^th with Cody Perron. He is currently looking for sponsors for this event.

Lastly, the Chamber heard from Jerrie LeDoux, Community Liaison for Congressman Mike Johnson (District 4). LeDoux told the Chamber that she has been collecting seasonings from District 4, and with a collection of over 30, LeDoux states that most of her seasonings come from Evangeline Parish. April 29^th-May 5^th is National Small Businesses Week, and Congressman Mike Johnson will present a certificate at this year’s Chamber banquet, claiming that small businesses are the “spice” of Evangeline Parish.