Economic Development

Success is in Our Culture

Acadiana features some of the lowest costs in the United States to do business, making it an ideal place to start, expand, or relocate your business. Our business-friendly environment is bolstered by low taxes, low utility rates, competitive wages, and robust incentives. An immense educational infrastructure provides a strong workforce, skilled in technological fields, precision manufacturing, research and development, and much more. Our market accessibility is a differentiator in the Gulf Coast region, with easy access to interstate, rail, ports, and airports.

Home to a unique cultural environment, deeply rooted in Cajun and Creole heritage, Acadiana is not just a great place to work – it is a wonderful place to call home. Residents enjoy a low cost of living, benefitting from low prices for basic essentials such as groceries and retail goods – as well as some of the lowest residential energy costs and property taxes in the country. These are but a few of the reasons why people who move to Acadiana stay in Acadiana.

One Acadiana Services

Our economic development staff provides a wide range of services to support the creation and retention of businesses in the region. All of our services are coordinated with our partners, which include local economic development organizations, utilities (Entergy, SLEMCO, CLECO, Atmos Gas) and many local parish and municipal development authorities. Services provided by One Acadiana include the following:

  • Site Selection – We can assist in making site selection decisions and also provide logistical support and hosting for company site visits.
  • Business Incentives and Taxes Navigation – We can assist in identifying available business and tax incentives and help guide companies through the incentive process on both local and state levels.
  • Customized Market Research – We provide valuable research data related to the region, labor, education, real estate and more.
  • Workforce and Talent Availability – We can connect companies with the talented employees needed to create, expand or maintain a successful business.
  • Access to Business Leadership – We can facilitate introductions to key business and governmental leaders and organizations that can help local companies succeed.
  • Regulatory Navigation – We can help guide companies through the process of obtaining permits and meeting any applicable regulations.

Contact

Megan Duhon
Director, Economic Development
megan@oneacadiana.org
337-408-3669

Acadiana has a number of impressive ingredients, like an unparalleled culture, dynamic workforce, and logistical assets, just to name a few. One Acadiana is bringing the right group of leaders to the table to discuss how we utilize them to put our nine-parish region on the map as the right place to do business.
LENNY LEMOINE

PRESIDENT & CEO, THE LEMOINE COMPANY, AND CEO ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBER

Explore Our Region

Vermilion Parish

Vermilion Parish is known for its fresh seafood, bountiful agriculture, great access via road and waterways, and a rich history of cultural and eco tourism. This bilingual (English/French), coastal parish is large and diverse with wandering bayous and farmlands, authentic local cuisine, family-friendly festivals and Cajun towns connecting it all. Vermilion is centrally located in the southern part of Louisiana immediately adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico. This proximity to the Gulf makes the parish an ideal location for the numerous companies needed to serve this region’s oil and gas industry.

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St. Mary Parish

In St. Mary Parish – or “The Cajun Coast” – the blending of French, Italian, Spanish, English, African, Native American, and Cajun traditions created a rich and flavorful “gumbo” of communities. The Atchafalaya River basin and the Gulf of Mexico serve as the lifeblood for the parish, which is composed of five municipalities: Morgan City, Berwick, Patterson, Franklin, and Baldwin, as well as the Chitimacha Nation in Charenton.

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St. Martin Parish

With a population of approximately 53,000, St. Martin Parish is part of the Lafayette MSA and sits at the corridor of both Interstate 10 and U.S. Highway 90.  St. Martin Parish is the only parish to have non-contiguous parts, in that, there are three major geographical areas dividing the 740 square mile parish, including the Atchafalaya Basin, the prairie, and the Bayou Teche area, on which several noteworthy cities, including the parish seat of St. Martinville, are located.

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St. Landry Parish

St. Landry Parish is moving forward. Located in the heart of Cajun and Creole heritage, this culturally diverse parish (county) in Southern Louisiana is a unique place both to live and do business – where hard-working people “live their culture” and are building a thriving economic base along with a high-quality trained workforce.

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Jeff Davis Parish

People from all over the world visit Jefferson Davis Parish to enjoy and experience rich Cajun and Indian culture. Jeff Davis Parish’s location, natural beauty, climate and small-town atmosphere offer a unique place for your family or business. The parish’s economic base includes health care services, shipbuilding, construction, agriculture, and oil field services. The parish has many industrial sites including the Lacassine Industrial Park on I-10.

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Iberia Parish

Iberia Parish, Louisiana and its progressive communities are the place for exciting opportunities. Iberia Parish offers a unique mix of southern fun and hospitality nestled in the heart of “Cajun Country.” Moss-draped Live Oak trees and beautiful antebellum homes serve as the backdrop for a hard-working labor force, cutting edge medical and industrial technology along with worldwide leaders in the exploration of oil and natural gas.

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Evangeline Parish

Perhaps no parish in Acadiana is more possessive of its heritage than Evangeline. Its citizens will tell you (seriously, but with a humorous touch, too) that they have the best gumbo, the best boudin (a sausage-like local favorite), and other Cajun delicacies. When it comes to Louisiana French country flavor, no parish surpasses this parish in the northwest corner of central Acadiana.

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Acadia Parish

Perfectly located along the I-10 corridor with major US Highways, railways, waterways, a port and airports, Acadia Parish offers the transportation resources needed for productive commerce. Cost of living and sites for business are affordable. This humble community is home to a culturally diverse and devoted population whose work ethic is as strong now as it was when their Cajun forefathers first settled here. Acadia Parish’s quaint charm makes it a great place to live, work and retire.

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Lafayette Parish

Affectionately known as the "Hub-City" of Acadiana, Lafayette, LA offers the essential elements needed to ensure the growth and development of its business community. Lafayette is set apart by its strategic location, a world-class workforce, a pro-business climate, and an unmatched quality of life. These attributes, complemented by a high-tech infrastructure and quality real estate, make Lafayette a unique place to live, work, play and do business.

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