Possible Outlet Mall in the Works in Rayville
By: Alanna Quillen
Updated: October 15, 2012
RAYVILLE -- Officials in Richland Parish say several projects are underway throughout Rayville, all in an effort to bring business and development to the area.
Development workers say they have one big item on their agenda -- a $100 million outlet mall.
"We can't look at a small picture," said James Smith, Rayville Economic Development director. "We gotta look at the big picture."
Smith and other city officials are talking with Tanger Outlet Centers about bringing the mall to a 200 acre lot near the Rayville exit off Interstate 20.
The mall would have up to 150 stores inside, bringing 800 new jobs to the area, plus an estimated $50 million in sales taxes.
The city did an assessment finding up to 100,000 people traveled along I-20 in the past six months.
"And the mayor said, 'all that traffic coming through, what's the problem? We don't have anything to make them stop,'" said Smith.
You can already see some signs of development to help attract businesses. Police are working to bring down crime, while new school programs aim to improve test scores -- but the city is also building a new sewage filtration system, updating parts of the water system, and working with Entergy to make way for the mall site.
"They like the spot, but what if there's no water here? what if the sewer is not here? What if electricity isn't here?" Smith said.
Officials say they're also finding more grants to help fund this project, working with sources like the Economic Development Administration and senators.
Smith hopes to see construction under by the end of next summer and hope to have this outlet mall possibly completed in 2014.
"We're farm country," Smith said. "We're not trying to get rid of agriculture, we just want to enhance what we got."
Development workers say they have one big item on their agenda -- a $100 million outlet mall.
"We can't look at a small picture," said James Smith, Rayville Economic Development director. "We gotta look at the big picture."
Smith and other city officials are talking with Tanger Outlet Centers about bringing the mall to a 200 acre lot near the Rayville exit off Interstate 20.
The mall would have up to 150 stores inside, bringing 800 new jobs to the area, plus an estimated $50 million in sales taxes.
The city did an assessment finding up to 100,000 people traveled along I-20 in the past six months.
"And the mayor said, 'all that traffic coming through, what's the problem? We don't have anything to make them stop,'" said Smith.
You can already see some signs of development to help attract businesses. Police are working to bring down crime, while new school programs aim to improve test scores -- but the city is also building a new sewage filtration system, updating parts of the water system, and working with Entergy to make way for the mall site.
"They like the spot, but what if there's no water here? what if the sewer is not here? What if electricity isn't here?" Smith said.
Officials say they're also finding more grants to help fund this project, working with sources like the Economic Development Administration and senators.
Smith hopes to see construction under by the end of next summer and hope to have this outlet mall possibly completed in 2014.
"We're farm country," Smith said. "We're not trying to get rid of agriculture, we just want to enhance what we got."
