64.3-acre site is first LED-certified in the parish and fifth in the region
New Iberia, LA – Today, One Acadiana (1A), in conjunction with Cleco, Acadiana Regional Airport (ARA), and Iberia Industrial Development Foundation announced that a 64.3-acre site has been certified under the Louisiana Economic Development (LED) certified-sites program. The site is now classified as development-ready and can be used as a marketing tool when companies are seeking opportunities for relocation or expansion in south Louisiana. This is the first LED-certified site in Iberia Parish and the fifth certified site in the Acadiana region.
“This 64.3-acre tract sits along the 8,002-ft. runway at Acadiana Regional Airport, which means it is connected to one of the region’s best assets,” said Jason Devillier, Director of Acadiana Regional Airport and incoming chairman of Acadiana Regional Alliance. He continued, “We are excited about the potential business development opportunities this site certification will bring to Iberia Parish.”
Louisiana Economic Development’s Certified Sites program qualifies industrial sites that are at least 25-acres based on zoning restrictions, title work, environmental studies, soil analysis, and surveys. This information is identified and compiled so companies can quickly and easily evaluate the merits of the site. A development-ready certified site either has all utilities and infrastructure in place or has approved engineering plans to provide the utility infrastructure within 180 days. The organizations worked together to obtain the necessary reports and documents needed for certification.
“This important certification will greatly assist us in marketing this prime, aviation business-ready site at Acadiana Regional Airport and helps us tell site selectors, business investors, and aviation companies the story about the great potential for success and huge regional assets in Iberia Parish,” said Mike Tarantino, Iberia Industrial Development Foundation President & CEO.
“We are pleased to partner with these state and local agencies to enhance the marketability of ARA’s site and are excited about the possibilities this certification brings to the airport,” said Jeff Baudier, Cleco’s chief marketing and development officer. “We look forward to working with these agencies to bring in businesses with good-paying jobs to the New Iberia area.”
The site’s strategic location at ARA makes it viable for the aviation and avionics industry – a sector recently identified as one of five target industries for the Acadiana Region in a study prepared by Garner Economics – that 1A is looking to attract to the region. “This is an ideal location for aviation companies looking to take advantage of the region’s intermodal transportation infrastructure, quality workforce, and favorable business environment,” said Jason El Koubi, One Acadiana President & CEO.
One Acadiana set a goal in 2016 to certify three sites in the Acadiana Region under LED’s program. This Acadiana Regional Airport site is the second to achieve certification in 2016 and an additional site is expected to be approved by the end of the year. El Koubi noted, “The certification of this site provides further momentum in cultivating a regional portfolio of sites, a key ingredient to economic development in Acadiana.”
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. Learn more at OneAcadiana.org
About One Acadiana’s Site Development Program
One Acadiana’s Site Development program is designed to increase the region’s portfolio of marketable, development-ready sites by certifying land within our nine-parish region. This is achieved through partnership between One Acadiana, the local economic development organization (EDO), Louisiana Economic Development (LED), and land owner.
