Please visit www.louisianatravel.com/retire to learn more about Louisiana's Certified Retirement Communities.
Louisiana Certified Retirement Community Program
With the prospect of 76 million baby boomers nearing retirement, the Encore Louisiana Commission oversees the Louisiana Certified Retirement Community program. The program is designed to encourage tourism and economic development through the marketing of certified retirement communities to those from out of state and those living in Louisiana. Through the Louisiana Certified Retirement Community program, the Encore Louisiana Commission recognizes cities or parishes as premier locations for retirees. Destinations selected for certification benefit from state-level marketing efforts, networking opportunities, and potentially grant funding to support the program.
Act 1099 of the 1999 Louisiana Regular Legislative Session created the Louisiana Retirement Development Commission to market and promote Louisiana as a retirement community state. Through Act 342 of the 2009 Regular Legislative Session, lawmakers renamed the body the Encore Louisiana Commission with the goal of setting the guidelines and requirements in developing the criteria for a destination to become a Louisiana Certified Retirement Community.
The Encore Louisiana Commission requires communities to submit an application and undergo a screening process conducted by the commission before being designated a Louisiana Certified Retirement Community.
Louisiana Certified Retirement Community – Application & Guidelines
Once designated a Louisiana Certified Retirement Community, the Louisiana Office of Tourism will:
- Promote the certified community as a Louisiana Certified Retirement Community to retirees and potential retirees both in and outside Louisiana.
- Assist Louisiana Certified Retirement Communities in their efforts to market themselves as desirable retirement locations and to develop communities where retirees would find attractive retirement lifestyles.
- Assist Louisiana Certified Retirement Communities in enriching their locations resulting in positive economic development.
- Encourage tourism to the Louisiana Certified Retirement Community.
Members of the Encore Louisiana Commission
| Appointment Type | Appointee | Term |
| Governor Appointed | Gov. John Bel Edwards | Expires with each elected Governor |
| Speaker of the House Designee | Vacant | |
| President of the Senate Designee | Senator Ed Price Vice-Chairman Senate Retirement Committee | Ex-Officio |
| Dept. of Economic Development | Don Pierson Secretary Louisiana Economic Development | Expires with each elected Lt. Governor |
| Secretary of the Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism | Doug Bourgeois Assistant Secretary Louisiana Office of Tourism | Ex-Officio |
| Lt. Governor Selected | Jeremy Cooker New Orleans, LA | Expires with each elected Lt. Governor |
| Lt. Governor Selected | Gerald Breaux Lafayette, LA | Expires with each elected Lt. Governor |
| Lt. Governor Selected | Marian H. Dehan Shreveport, LA | Expires with each elected Lt. Governor |
| Lt. Governor Selected | Stuart Barash Metairie, LA | Expires with each elected Lt. Governor |
| Lt. Governor Selected | Linda Curtis-Sparks Many, LA | Expires with each elected Lt. Governor |
For more information on the Encore Louisiana Commission, contact:
Betsy Barnes
Encore Louisiana Coordinator
Louisiana Office of Tourism
1051 N. Third Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
225-333-0018
bbarnes@crt.la.gov
Mary Williams
Encore Louisiana Coordinator Assistant
Louisiana Office of Tourism
1051 N. Third Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
225-342-8207
mwilliams@crt.la.gov
