21.96-acre site is first Certified Business Site in the parish and state
Lafayette, LA – Today, the Lafayette Economic Development Authority (LEDA), in conjunction with One Acadiana (1A), Lafayette Utilities System (LUS) and Lafayette Consolidated Government (LCG) announced a 21.96 acre site in LEDA’s Northpark has been certified under the Louisiana Economic Development (LED) Certified Business Sites program. The site is now classified as development-ready for companies seeking opportunities for relocation or expansion in south Louisiana. This is the first LED-certified site in Lafayette Parish and the eighth certified site in the Acadiana region.
The site on Matrix Loop in LEDA’s Northpark is part of a larger 35.4-acre site. Northpark, LEDA’s second business park, was established in 1983 as 125-acre upscale park. Currently, 12 businesses operate in Northpark, including AT&T Call Center, Coastal Environmental (industrial services), Flight Safety International (aviation training), Global Data Systems (data center and solutions provider), ABS Health & Beauty Solutions (pharmaceutical/beauty manufacturing), and WESCO (distribution).
“Since its development, Northpark has catered to specialized firms in the technology, manufacturing, aviation, communication and energy sectors,” said Gregg Gothreaux, President and CEO of LEDA. “The certification on the Northpark site demonstrates the site’s valuable location within an established business park with access to two Interstates and superior utility infrastructure that is in close proximity to other commercial development.”
Louisiana Economic Development’s Certified Business Sites program qualifies industrial sites that are between 10 and 25 acres. The development-ready business site is suitable for a business park, mixed use development, or Planned Unit Development. The site has undergone a rigorous review process by Louisiana Economic Development and an independent, third-party engineering firm. Specific site details, such as zoning restrictions, title work, environmental studies, soil analysis and surveys, are assessed for compliance and authenticity.
“Having a catalog of development-ready sites is a key advantage in the business recruitment process because quality certified sites are often the first places site selection consultants and companies will review when seeking a new location,” said Jason El Koubi, President and CEO of One Acadiana. “Our growing portfolio of certified sites allows our region to be considered for more nationally competitive projects and this Business Site, ideally located in LEDA’s Northpark, adds a new type of site product to that portfolio.”
“LUS and LUS Fiber are excited about the LED Business Site Certification announcement at Northpark. LUS has placed priority importance on this area over the past decade, including installing 100 MW of power generation and major electric power transmission redundancy within a mile of this site,” said Terry Huval, LUS Director. “LUS water, with industrial-grade fire protection and localized major water storage capacity, along with significant wastewater capacity, add to the value of this site to support major businesses. This site is among the most infrastructure-ready locations in this region of the country.”
“Lafayette Parish has a strong team of economic development allies that I am happy to be a part of,” said Lafayette Mayor-President Joel Robideaux. “We work together on projects, such as this site certification, that will result in future opportunities which will benefit the entire region. This site holds the potential for the further strengthening and diversification of Lafayette’s economic base.”
City-Parish Councilman Pat Lewis, whose district includes Northpark, said, “I am excited about the potential business development opportunities this site certification will bring to district three and to Lafayette Parish.”
LEDA and 1A worked together closely to secure the certification of this site. One Acadiana’s Site Development program is designed to increase the region’s portfolio of marketable, development-ready sites by certifying land within the nine-parish region. This is achieved through partnership between One Acadiana, local economic development partners, Louisiana Economic Development (LED), and land owners.
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About Lafayette Economic Development Authority
For more than 45 years, the Lafayette Economic Development Authority (LEDA) has worked with businesses to make decisions about starting, expanding or relocating to Lafayette, Louisiana, and the surrounding communities. Through innovative collaborations with business, government and education, LEDA strives to grow the community’s business base for future development and diversification. Learn more at Lafayette.org
About One Acadiana
One Acadiana is the leading economic development organization for the nine-parish Acadiana region located in south Louisiana. With more than 1,200 investors, members, and partners, One Acadiana serves as the voice of the regional business community. The organization is located in the city of Lafayette and serves a region of roughly 700,000 people with a vibrant culture and unique entrepreneurial spirit.