University and state experts are assisting local administrators and elected officials in storm and water resilience planning. The event is taking place after the Urban Land Institute panel of experts visited the area in 2018 and recommended that the area would economically benefit by a resilience lab. The planning process was made possible through St. Mary Parish Council action dedicating federal RESTORE dollars to the initiative. The work continues into 2025. The Water Institute located in Baton Rouge, LA is leading the planning process.