I love nothing more than the excitement of executing a plan. When that happens on a community level, it is even more rewarding.

Thursday evening, I attended the Picayune Main Street general membership meeting and heard a presentation from Eric Whitfield on façade options that will help the city’s visual identity grow.

The year of 2014 will bring our community opportunities for growth.

We have new leadership at Friendship Park that is working hard to attract travel baseball teams, we have a planned Teddy Bear House Museum that could attract both children and adults with what is believed to be the world’s largest collection of teddy bear collectibles, we have a planned scare house that will be located in our historic downtown area and a rumored indoor go-cart facility — all within close proximity to Canal Street.

We have industry planning to relocate here in the form of an insulation manufacturing plant from Slidell, La., the Cypress Gun and Ammo ammunition plant, which has relocated from New Orleans, and a new recording studio coming from Baton Rouge, La.

The city of Picayune, Team Picayune, Picayune Main Street, Inc., and community members have worked closely with Joy Foy, director of Asset Development Division for the Mississippi Development Authority and Main Street to steer our little town into a growth pattern.

They have heard the recommendations and are acting on it, which is one step further than many get after the initial advice stage.

We have a lot to offer here in Picayune, and are sharing that news with surrounding areas to attract more growth.

We are truly moving forward while honoring our past.