(COVINGTON, La.) — “Live Safe. Work Safe. Shop Safe.,” is the slogan of the 16 people St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper named to the St. Tammany Economic Recovery and Resiliency Advisory Council on Tuesday, Apr. 21. Cooper’s members come from all across the business spectrum, and the group’s goal is to put the parish’s economy back on track after six weeks of statewide emergency orders that have damaged many local businesses.

The council’s two-phase plan focuses on reopening local businesses while also prioritizing general health and safety as well as following national and state agency guidelines. The second phase will focus on expanding its membership to include people of a broader spectrum of business, including elected officials, healthcare workers, and community workers as they continue to develop more long term strategies.

Cooper still encourages residents to abide to the stay-at-home order, though. “As we plan to gradually reopen, I want to remind everyone that we need to stay the course over the coming days. We have the choice to either detract from our progress or contribute to our recovery,”he said.

The council will begin its strategies following the expiration of Gov. John Bel Edwards’s stay-at-home order on Apr. 30.