Site Development

Development-ready sites for a competitive region

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, land owners, and our local partners, e.g., local economic development organizations, police juries, utility providers, etc.

What is a Certified Site?

A Louisiana Economic Development Certified Site is a development-ready site that has completed a rigorous review process to answer as many development questions as possible. The program is designed to assess specific site details for compliance and authenticity. All certified sites are 180-day development ready, offering the additional advantage of ensuring that the client’s construction is more likely to remain on schedule.

Louisiana Economic Development’s Certified Industrial Site Program focuses on sites intended for industrial or manufacturing uses. To qualify for the industrial site program, sites must have a minimum of 25 contiguous, unencumbered acres available for development.

Louisiana Economic Development’s Certified Business Site Program targets sites best suited for business parks, mixed use developments, or Planned Unit Developments (PUD). Sites qualifying for this program will have between 10 and 25 contiguous, unencumbered acres available for development.

Extensive Review Process

• Zoning restrictions
• Title work
• Environmental studies
• Soil analysis
• Surveys

The due diligence performed during the certified sites process delivers a property with minimal uncertainty through enhanced site knowledge. This allows One Acadiana to present more competitive, marketable sites to potential companies during the business development process.

Benefits of Certification

1. Cost Benefits
   • Up to 75% of eligible engineering and due diligence costs are reimbursed by the state through LED’s Economic Development Site Readiness Program.
   • 25% of remaining cost is shared between One Acadiana, local partner, and landowner.
2. Faster Path to Development
   • Certification shortens the time from the initial Request for Information (RFI) to construction by completing key due diligence before a company begins its site search.
   • Known site conditions such as zoning, title, soils, and environmental status are documented upfront, reducing delays once a prospect shows interest.
   • By addressing potential constraints early, certified sites allow developers to move forward with greater confidence and stay on schedule.
3. Increased Marketability
   • Certification signals that a site is development-ready and has completed key due diligence required by site selectors.
   • Certified sites are prioritized and often submitted first in response to RFIs.
4. Reduced Risk and Greater Transparency
   • Environmental, engineering, title, and zoning information is documented upfront.
   • Potential constraints are identified early, helping avoid delays later in the development process.
5. Statewide Visibility
   • Certified sites are listed in Louisiana Economic Development’s Site Selection Center database.
   • This provides exposure to national and international site selectors evaluating Louisiana locations.
   • Certified status helps sites rise to the top in competitive site selection processes.