About NELEA
Our Leadership
Vern Breland — Mayor of Sterlington, Louisiana
Mayor Vern Breland was born in Pomona, Ca. but raised in West Sterlington located in Union Parish., since age 2. He attended school at A.L. Smith and graduated from Sterlington High School in 1980.
In 1982 he joined the Navy and served 2 tours before receiving an honorable discharge as a Signalman, first class. Upon returning to Louisiana he began a 12 year career in Law Enforcement where he was employed with the Monroe Police Department, Union County Sheriff Department, Monroe City Marshal and the Sterlington Police Department.
When in 2003, mobility impairment issues made it necessary to retire from law enforcement, Mr. Breland enrolled in college at age 39, and graduated from ULM in December, 2006 with a Bachelor’s Degree in History. While in college, he served as a Town Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem for the town of Sterlington and was elected the town’s first full-time Mayor in 2006. He took office in January, 2007 and has been very proud of the efforts of town as they have worked very hard to push the town forward.
Mayor Breland is a graduate of Leadership Ouachita 2007 and Leadership Louisiana 2008. Mayor Breland was elected as District “C” Vice President for the Louisiana Municipal Association on July 2007 by the Mayor’s of District “C”.
Mayor Breland is married to Melissa Puckett Breland, who was raised here locally in the Swartz area. He has four children Rusty, Keffney, Donese and Zakkary, and two beautiful grandchildren, one grand-daughter, Juliana, now 17 months, and one grandson, Mason, now 9 months.
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Northeast Louisiana Economic Alliance is a private membership, not-for-profit corporation utilizing local, state, federal and private resources and programs to enhance the available economic elements present in our region to promote and grow.
What we do
We provide technical assistance, loan programs, technical communication, education and preside as the Coordinating Responsible Authority for the Northern and Central Renewal Communities.
Case studies
NELEA was deeply involved in bringing the Conagra Foods plant to the Delhi, LA community.
Find out what we did & current news »
Media center
NELEA recently produced a video detailing the economic opportunities still available in Louisiana during the current economic conditions.
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Explore related websites that assist in providing information associated with the economic development efforts and progress in Northeast Louisiana.
Renewal Louisiana
Renewal Community information, facts, Q&A's, form links and much more about the Renewal Community Inititive in Louisiana.
Louisiana Community Progress
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