On Tuesday, the I-20 Economic Development District Board voted to approve $4.5 million in infrastructure funding for a 113-home subdivision proposed by Black developers Alven Square and Charles Theus—the first time in the district’s 26-year history that a Black-led venture has received such support.
This landmark decision is not merely a financial commitment; it is a powerful correction to decades of systemic exclusion along Monroe’s most vital economic corridor. The board’s action deserves unqualified praise for its vision, courage, and fidelity to the true purpose of economic development.
Established in 1999 through the legislative advocacy of former Mayor Abe Pierce III, the I-20 District was designed to catalyze investment and revitalize Monroe’s commercial spine. Yet for over a quarter-century, its resources flowed exclusively to non-Black developers, sidelining qualified African-American entrepreneurs.
Square and Theus shattered that barrier. Through DZE, LLC, they annexed 38 acres into city limits, conducted impact studies, and revised designs in response to board feedback. Their mid-range homes—priced $200,000 to $300,000—target the workforce influx from the META data center in Richland Parish, Amazon’s regional expansion, and other growth drivers. The benefits are clear: new property tax revenue, stabilized neighborhoods, and indirect sales tax gains from a growing population.
Leading the charge were African-American board members Rev. James Earl Jackson and Chairwoman Juanita Woods, who forcefully defended the project’s alignment with the district’s broad infrastructure mandate.
They were joined by Franz Hill and Antonio Tims, while city councilmen Rodney McFarland and Verbon Muhammad had earlier stood with Woods against baseless criticism.
Regrettably, Mayor Friday Ellis undermined this momentum. In 2023, he directed Square and Theus to the board for aid—only to question their eligibility months later, citing concerns over commercial focus and sales tax yield.
Rev. Jackson’s direct challenge—“Don’t play with us”—exposed the mayor’s inconsistency and its chilling effect on trust.
Ellis eventually voted with the majority, acknowledging Monroe’s gain, but his initial opposition was a needless obstacle.
With a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement now in drafting, the project advances toward final approval.
The board has set a precedent for inclusive growth.
Mayor Ellis must now lead without reservation—or step aside.
Monroe cannot thrive on half-hearted leadership. The I-20 corridor belongs to all of us, not just to his rich friends.
