SHREVEPORT, La. — Two initiatives launched by Mayor Tom Arceneaux have earned 2026 Bronze Excellence in Economic Development Awards from the International Economic Development Council, city officials said Monday in a news release.
The international organization recognized Shreveport’s Block by Block neighborhood revitalization initiative alongside the city’s modernization of its permitting processes.
The IEDC represents more than 4,500 economic development professionals worldwide. Its annual awards present one gold, one silver, and one bronze award within each category and population class.
"These awards confirm that Shreveport is capable of developing solutions that are not only effective here, but can serve as models for other communities," Arceneaux said. "Block by Block demonstrates what can happen when residents, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and city government work together. Modernizing our permitting processes shows that we are serious about making Shreveport easier and more welcoming for people who want to open and operate a business."
Community-driven revitalization
The Block by Block program began after Arceneaux participated in the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative. He formed a task force of 25 city and community leaders to target neighborhood blight. Rather than imposing top-down policies, task force members collaborated directly with local residents.
During the initiative's initial Clean Sweep phase in 2025:
- More than 300 volunteers conducted 11 cleanups across 13 weeks.
- Teams removed 1,936 tons of debris—approximately 3.87 million pounds.
- Volunteers collected 2,758 discarded tires.
Cutting red tape for small businesses
The city's permitting modernization originated from Arceneaux’s Small Business Task Force, established to identify regulatory hurdles facing local entrepreneurs.
Working with the task force and municipal departments, the Department of Economic Development moved outdated paper-based applications online. Key reforms included modernizing permits for:
- Alcoholic Beverage Operator cards
- Liquor licenses
- City vendor permits
- Special event permits
Additionally, the city extended ABO card validity from two to three years without increasing the fee, and introduced an optional two-year liquor license for restaurants and grocery stores.
"Economic development is not always a ribbon cutting or a major announcement," said Bill Sabo, director of economic development for the city of Shreveport. "It also means removing unnecessary barriers, listening to business owners, and making city government more flexible, predictable, and transparent."
Sabo noted that both initiatives launched in 2025 and competed against established programs globally.
The awards will be formally presented during the IEDC Annual Conference in New Orleans. Recipients will be honored during an Oct. 26 reception and recognized at a morning plenary session Oct. 27.