Mayor Friday Ellis

❤️❤️Proud Husband Moment❤️❤️

Louisiana Delta Community College is now the state’s leading producer of Associate of Science in Teaching graduates, accounting for nearly 40% of all graduates in Louisiana. Even more telling, the Teacher Apprenticeship Program, TAP, is seeing a 75% retention rate compared to a state average of just 17%.

To call this model successful is an understatement.

What Ashley and team has built is changing the way we approach the teacher shortage.

A lot of programs try to solve this challenge by recruiting harder. This one solves it by rebuilding the pathway.

TAP meets people where they are in their lives. It is built for nontraditional students who cannot quit their jobs or step away from their responsibilities to go back to school full time. These are paraprofessionals, long term substitutes, and classroom aides already serving students every day.

This program works because it turns the people already serving in our schools into certified teachers. It removes barriers, provides real support, and allows them to stay rooted in the communities they already serve.

You learn while you earn. You stay in your community. And you build a meaningful career as an educator.

This program is not built apart from school districts. It is built with them. Districts are identifying their own people, investing in them, and creating a pipeline of trusted educators from within. When teachers come from the communities they serve, they are far more likely to stay and lead long term.

And as Ashley says, you are not behind. You are becoming.

Students range from their mid 20s to their 50s, proving there is no one path into education. What matters is having a pathway that works and the support to see it through.

With a seamless partnership with University of Louisiana Monroe and alignment with local workforce boards, TAP is not just preparing teachers. It is replacing them with a sustainable, community driven pipeline.

Ashley, I am incredibly proud of you and the impact you are making in communities across Louisiana. ❤️

We’ve spent years talking about opportunity in this region, praying for it, planning for it, and working toward it.

The reality is that, for a long period of time, we have experienced an economic drought when it comes to jobs, investment, and opportunity.

Now, we are beginning to see signs of change.

And just like any drought, when the rain finally comes, it rarely arrives without disruption. It can feel messy, inconvenient, and uncomfortable at times.

That is the nature of progress.

Progress does not arrive in a way that preserves everything as it was. It brings construction, adjustment, and moments that require patience and perspective.

But disruption is not the same as decline.

And what we are seeing is not chaos.

It is movement. It is growth. It is the result of decades of effort beginning to take shape.

I share these thoughts to provide perspective on this moment and to encourage a clear-eyed view of what is unfolding in our region.

I encourage you to take a moment to read the full piece:

Mayor Friday Ellis: This is not chaos, this is our moment A few weeks back, Fortune magazine, published out of New York City, ran a headline

I want to take a moment to walk through where we are on debris cleanup, because I know our residents have questions and concerns and want to understand what they’re seeing across our city.

In the following weeks after Fern, well over 30,000 tons of debris have been collected.

That represents about 70% of the total debris from this event. Since then the contractors have ceased operations, and the remainder falls on the dedicated men and women of Public Works..

In plain terms:
- Total debris was estimated @ 43,000 tons
- Remaining ≈ 13,000 tons (about 30%)

That remaining 30% is still significant. We are talking about thousands of tons of debris spread across neighborhoods, rights-of-way, and collection routes citywide. And that number continues to shift as additional material is placed curbside during spring cleanup and routine yard work.

So while it may feel like we are close, and we are, there is still a substantial amount of work left, and it requires steady, block-by-block collection to finish it properly.

Here’s what made the progress possible so far:

During the first few weeks, we had contractor support working alongside our Public Works team at a much higher capacity. That surge effort is what allowed us to reach 70%.

At this point, it’s primarily our Public Works crews continuing the work… day in and day out… and we are working diligently to get our community fully back on schedule.

And I want to be clear: we appreciate your patience as we continue this work.

Because we are balancing two very real responsibilities:
- The urgency of recovery and cleanup
- And the responsibility to manage public dollars wisely

This cleanup is being paid for out of our general fund, not a dedicated source, and reimbursement can take 2 to 3 years. That means we must move with urgency, but also with discipline so we do not put the city in a difficult financial position while still preparing for future storms.

As many of you remember over the past few years around Easter there have been tornadoes and straight winds that have devastated our communities. That fiscal responsibility, bears the weight of being prepared versus being out of cash and out of options.

It is also important to note that we are now in spring, and we are seeing additional debris from routine yard cleanup placed out alongside storm debris. That can make it appear as though progress has slowed when in reality, new material is being added as we continue removing existing piles.

To add to the challenge, we are also dealing with a small number of bad actors who are illegally dumping debris that is not eligible for pickup. The City Council has passed an ordinance clearly defining what can and cannot be collected, and there are fines and enforcement measures for those who ignore it.

I also want to briefly address a headline suggesting there is “sparring” between the Mayor and City Council.

That is not an accurate description of what is happening….

Sparring implies back-and-forth disagreement. In reality, there is no public fight or distraction from the work. The focus is on getting the job done.

My attention is on recovery, cleanup, and making responsible decisions that move Monroe forward.

At a time like this, people don’t need media narratives… they need results.

For perspective:

After Hurricane Laura, it took us 5–6 months to complete debris removal.

This event has produced nearly double the debris, and we are already about 70% complete in just six weeks.

That means we are not behind…
we are ahead of where we’ve been before.

So yes, there is still work to do. And yes, we are still moving forward every single day.

But the facts are simple:

Most of the debris is already gone, and the rest is being handled the right way efficiently, responsibly, and fairly.

City Council Chairman Rodney McFarland claims South Monroe has not received the same amount of debris removal as North Monroe.

Each time I travel and represent Monroe, I’m reminded of the responsibility and trust placed in me when I was elected mayor… an honor that continues to shape every decision and every conversation about the future of our city.

From the White House to the halls of Congress, I am proud to advocate for the City of Monroe… highlighting the transformative impact of Meta’s Hyperion data center and addressing both the opportunities and challenges it brings to our economy, infrastructure, and long-term growth.

Today, our meetings with the White House Intergovernmental Staff, and on Capitol Hill with Congresswoman Julia Letlow, Senator Bill Cassidy, and key federal partners focused on advancing critical infrastructure priorities and positioning Monroe for sustained growth and innovation.

As Mayor of Monroe, I understand we are not an island. We are the economic driver, healthcare hub, and educational center for a 10–12 parish region. That reality requires us to think bigger, plan smarter, and lead with a broader perspective. While my first responsibility is to the people of Monroe, I am also advocating for the strength of the communities around us… because when our region thrives, Monroe thrives. The opportunities before us are too important to pursue alone, and our future will be built by working together.

From City Hall… to Baton Rouge… to Washington, D.C., I carry the responsibility of representing Monroe with purpose and resolve. It is both a privilege and a profound honor to serve the people of this city and to help shape a future worthy of their trust.

The best is still ahead for Monroe.

“Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not.” - Robert F. Kennedy

When I took office in July of 2020, we set an ambitious goal: redeveloping and reactivating the heart of our downtown. Like many American cities, our downtown was once the hub of commerce, music, arts, and culture. Over the decades, urban sprawl and shifting patterns pulled activity away from that historic core. But from day one, we believed Monroe’s best days were still ahead of us.

For nearly a year and a half, we worked with residents, business owners, and community partners to build a Downtown Strategic Plan. We partnered with organizations like the Southern Rail Commission and Transportation for America to explore passenger rail opportunities, and we listened closely to the voices of the people who live, work, and invest in our city every day.

What we heard from you was clear:

You want more access to our waterways.
You want a more walkable, more beautiful downtown.
You want restaurants, shopping, housing, and community spaces that bring people together.

We are strategically positioned on the Ouachita River, yet for decades public access to our waterfront has been limited. That is something we are determined to change.

Tonight, the Monroe City Council approved a Letter of Intent for what could become one of the most catalytic projects our city has seen in a generation. The vision is a mixed-use riverfront development that includes housing, retail, restaurants, entertainment, and hotel space… all designed to activate our riverfront and bring added life to our downtown core.

Let me level set with everyone:
This vote does not mean construction starts tomorrow.

This begins an approximately six-month due diligence process where the developer will finalize designs, study feasibility, and continue planning the project in detail. There is still work ahead. But without vision, progress never begins.

I’ve often called this process “the box top to the puzzle.” When a community understands what it’s working toward, it becomes much easier to rally together and move forward.

Rome wasn’t built in a day.
And Monroe’s challenges didn’t appear overnight either.

But we are seeing real momentum: economic expansions across our region, new investments in industry, and the addition of VCom osteopathic medical school located on campus at our University of Louisiana Monroe. These developments are creating new opportunities, new jobs, and new people looking to call Monroe home.

Our responsibility is to build a city worthy of that momentum.

When I first took office, I also realized something else had crept in over the years …apathy. Too many people had learned to settle for average. Too many had stopped believing in the future of our own city.

At some point, we stopped dreaming big.

But cities that grow and thrive are not built by small thinking. They are built by bold thinkers, risk-takers, and people willing to do the hard work to turn vision into reality.

There will always be doubters. There will always be people who reduce the vision or say it can’t be done.

That’s okay.

I’m focused on working with the people in the arena… the entrepreneurs, investors, engineers, architects, artists, and community leaders who are willing to roll up their sleeves and help build something meaningful.

I’m proud that this development team chose Monroe. They’ve walked our streets, eaten in our restaurants, and met with our residents. You don’t consider investing at this scale unless you believe in the future of a place.

They believe Monroe can one again be the epicenter of growth in Northeast Louisiana.

Tonight, our council showed courage by supporting a bold step forward. For that, I’m grateful to every member who trusted the vision and the process. I also want to thank Grow NELA and their team for the work they’ve contributed to help move this project forward.

Tonight was a big night for Monroe.

Tonight we collectively said something important:

Our city is worthy of investment.
Our riverfront deserves to be activated.
Our downtown deserves to thrive again.

Now the work continues.

If you want to see the vision that guides this effort, you can read our Downtown Strategic Plan here:
www.oneroe.city/downtown

And I’ll leave you with this challenge:

Our city will grow only as big as we allow it to grow.

Your belief in Monroe matters.
The words you speak about our city matter.
And the effort each of us puts into building a better Monroe matters.

The future is not something that happens to a city.

It’s something we build together.

History made! 🏀🏆

Congratulations to the Lady Cats on an incredible achievement… FIVE… Louisiana State Championships in a row! Your hard work, discipline, and teamwork have made our community proud.

On behalf of the City of Monroe, we celebrate this historic accomplishment and the example you’ve set for the next generation of student-athletes.

Way to go, Lady Cats!

History has been made tonight! Congratulations Lady Cats! 5 State Championships in a row!

I want to sincerely thank Governor Jeff Landry and LED Secretary Susan Bourgeois, along with her team at Louisiana Economic Development, for selecting Monroe as part of the inaugural Louisiana FAST SITES program. The South Monroe Industrial Park was a goal I set to position our region to capture jobs and investment for our community. Huge shout-out to Rob Cleveland and his team for making this a reality.

This is not just another announcement. Louisiana FAST SITES represents the largest coordinated site investment effort in our state’s history, advancing 19 sites across 16 parishes. The message is clear: Louisiana is not waiting on opportunity.... we are preparing for it.

Since taking office, I’ve learned something important. The challenge in Monroe has never been the availability of land. The challenge has been having municipally owned, development-ready land ... land we control, land we can thoughtfully permit, mitigate, and prepare so that when opportunity knocks, we are not scrambling or relying on others to deliver. We are positioned. We are prepared.

Speed to market matters in today’s economy. Companies do not wait. But speed does not mean recklessness. It means doing the hard, intentional work up front... investing municipal resources to ensure sites are licensed, permitted, infrastructure-ready, promoted, and aligned with our community’s long-term vision. That level of preparation shortens timelines, reduces uncertainty, and makes Monroe more competitive while still being responsible stewards of public trust.

I want to thank both the current and past boards of the I-20 Economic Development District for their leadership. In partnership with our Administration, Grow NELA, and Louisiana Economic Development, this effort reflects a coordinated and thoughtful strategy to position Monroe for the next major investment in our region.

With the proposed interchange improvements near the LA 594 corridor and Millhaven exit, we are intentionally opening access to what I believe are three of the premier development sites in North Louisiana.

This is how you compete... deliberately.
This is how you attract transformational projects... responsibly.
And this is how Monroe moves from reacting to leading... together.

We’ve now cleared more than 10,000 tons of storm debris from across our city, and the work is still underway.

In the wake of Winter Storm Fern, our priority remains the same:
- Clearing every neighborhood
- Restoring normalcy for our residents
- Making sure no impacted area is left behind

This kind of progress doesn’t happen by accident. It takes dedicated crews, strong coordination, and a community that looks out for one another.

To every public works employee, contractor, partner agency, and resident who has been patient and supportive… thank you. Monroe keeps moving forward because of you.

We will continue pushing until our streets, rights-of-way, and neighborhoods are fully cleaned and our city is back to where it should be.

We’ve officially surpassed 10,000 tons of storm debris removed across Monroe! To put that into perspective, that’s about 689,000 sacks of crawfish! 🦞

That’s a lot of cleanup, a lot of teamwork, and a whole lot of progress for our City!

Over the past three years, we’ve seen dramatic growth in enplanements at Monroe Regional Airport (MLU), and today that momentum is turning into real results.

With the announcement of a new mid-morning American Airlines flight from MLU to Dallas–Fort Worth, we’re not just adding flights… we’re expanding opportunity.

This means:
Stronger connectivity for local businesses and industry
More convenient travel options for our residents
A more competitive region for workforce and economic development

This success is the result of true partnership. Thank you to Grow NELA, our City of Monroe administrative team, and Louisiana Economic Development for working together to make this happen.

And here’s the key:
- The continued rise in passenger numbers is what helps us secure even more flights.
Every time you choose to fly out of MLU, you are helping us build the case for additional routes and expanded service.

We’re not done… we’re actively working to bring even more air service to our community.

Monroe is growing. Northeast Louisiana is competing. And the world is now closer than ever.

Grow NELA Secures New Mid-Morning MLU-DFW Flight, Expanding Connectivity for Northeast Louisiana Discover the Monroe Technology Campus— a 66-acre, move-in-ready innovation hub in Northeast Louisiana offering Class A office space, advanced infrastructure, and a skilled workforce.

Our city crew and contractors continue the storm debris removal efforts…. As you can see… the numbers are staggering.

Happy Mardi Gras, Monroe! 💜💚💛

City of Monroe crews and Southern Disaster Recovery have removed over 4,684 tons of storm debris so far. To put that in perspective, that’s the weight of around 4.6 million king cakes! 👏

That’s a lot of cleanup and a lot of progress. The work continues, and the results are adding up across our community!

Fun Fact: That's also about 937,000,000 Mardi Gras beads! 😉