Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau

THIS EDA INVESTMENT SUPPORTS THE SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU WITH CONSTRUCTING THE NEW IMPERIAL CALCASIEU MARDI GRAS MUSEUM WITH ASSOCIATED PARKING IN LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA. THE PROJECT CONSISTS OF A NEW 6,000 SF ONE STORY MUSEUM ON APPROXIMATELY 0.6 ACRES OF LAND. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROJECT WILL ALSO CONTAIN THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN OUTDOOR COURTYARD AND A PARKING LOT. WHILE LAKE CHARLES' TOURISM INDUSTRY IS GROWING, THE PROJECT WILL FURTHER ENHANCE THE INDUSTRY, PARTICULARLY AS THE MARDI GRAS IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA GREW SIGNIFICANTLY PRIOR TO THE 2020 PANDEMIC. ONCE COMPLETED, THE PROJECT WILL ASSIST IN THE REGION'S RECOVERY AND MAKE IT MORE RESILIENT TO FLUCTUATIONS IN TOURISM, WHICH WILL HELP INCREASE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, SPUR PRIVATE INVESTMENT, AND PROMOTE THE ECONOMIC RESILIENCE OF A REGION DEPENDENT ON THE TRAVEL, TOURISM, AND OUTDOOR RECREATION INDUSTRIES.