By Cain Madden

The Natchez Democrat

FERRIDAY — After coming up short on funds for the town’s community center, Ferriday looked south to see if it could get it done.

The proposed $1.2 million renovation of the First Street center, which will be near the post office, could receive $300,000 or more from the Jefferson Parish Police Jury through a corporate endeavor, said Mayor Gene Allen.

The agreement would allow Jefferson Parish to send up to 1,500 people to Ferriday in the event of a hurricane evacuation scenario. Allen said.

“There are other places doing deals like this with southern parishes — the state did it with Vidalia for its convention center,” he said. “We just felt like it was a way to get our community center completed.”

The center would be used for community functions and rented out to people for parties and other functions. It will have a full service kitchen, Allen said.

Should a storm hit down south, Allen said everything would have to be canceled for Jefferson Parish.

“In case of an emergency, everything changes, that’s just like it is over at Vidalia,” he said. “If we had a disaster, we’d want to help take people anyway, but this way, Jefferson has first preference.”

Allen said the town reached out to three parishes, but Jefferson was one of the first ones. The town council still has to approve the funds, but the mayor did not anticipate any trouble getting it passed.

“We enjoyed working with Jefferson Parish,” Allen said. “It is going to work out just fine.”

Allen said he hoped to have work complete by May.