FERRIDAY &045; To get retail stores to come to Concordia Parish, parish officials must first go to them, Ferriday Mayor Glen McGlothin reasoned.

So that’s exactly what McGlothin, along with Vidalia Chamber Director Aissa Wiggins and parish economic development Director Teresa Dennis, plans to do on Wednesday.

On that day in New Orleans, the International Council of Shopping Centers and state economic development agencies will sponsor the Gulf South Alliance Program, which aims to teach local officials how to attract retail their communities.

In addition to learning how commercial real estate developers operate, the Concordia delegation will set up a booth at the conference’s &uot;Meet the Cities&uot; trade fair to market the parish’s vacant buildings.

&uot;We’ll have a list Š and pictures of empty building in Ferriday, including spaces in our shopping center,&uot; McGlothin said. &uot;Clayton and Vidalia have a couple of buildings we’ll market, too.&uot;

It’s just like marketing any other type of real estate, said McGlothin &045; &uot;you’ve got to get out there and sell it.&uot;

Along with ICSC, sponsor of the Gulf South Alliance Program will include the Mississippi Development Authority, the Louisiana Department of Economic Development and the Economic Development Association of Alabama.