ST. GEORGE — The future of Louisiana’s youngest city looks bright, even with the headwinds of a failed statewide vote to create a separate school district there.

The City of St. George is already one of the state's largest cities, yet Mayor Dustin Yates says he wants more economic development and growth in the years ahead, including a charter school that Yates says could open by August 2028.

At a packed luncheon Wednesday afternoon, Yates told the audience of business and community leaders that in the past year the city’s public works department has completed more than 2,000 requests for service, filling potholes, repairing broken lights and cleaning up overgrown weeds.

It's a sign that leaders want to continue growing. Monday night, the St. George city council approved a new economic development district near the intersection of Antioch and Airline Highway that would be used to fund a new multi-use sports complex.

"As a former coach, I can tell you that some of life's most important lessons are learned on a playing field,” Yates said. “You learn to work with people who are different from you. You learn that preparation matters."

Yates hopes the potential complex will draw a charter school to the area, attracting families searching for new educational opportunities.

“If we can create another excellent educational opportunity that benefits families beyond our region, that's something worth pursuing,” Yates said.

Even so, growing pains continue in the city after statewide voters rejected a measure to create a school district in St. George, separate from East Baton Rouge Parish. Last month, WBRR reported that St. George leaders have been looking to partner with a charter school operator and open a school within the limits of East Baton Rouge Parish.