News | January 2017

One Acadiana’s recent Building the Region Conference connected the economic dots of Acadiana. The two-day traveling conference brought together chamber of commerce, tourism, economic development, and business leaders from across the nine-parish (county) region. Exploring Acadia, Jeff Davis, and St. Martin parishes, tour stops included the economic drivers, hot spots, and cultural treasures of the three parishes.

LAFAYETTE — Officials with One Acadiana have made no secret as to the two-year-old organization’s top priority, the completion of the I-49 South project.
The project will ultimately extend I-49 through Highway 90. The I-49 Connector through Lafayette is a major part of that project.
The effort received a boost Monday, with the formation of the “Connect Lafayette Coalition.” The coalition is made up of numerous area organizations.

A diverse group of pastors, elected officials and civic leaders announced Monday a new coalition to support completing the Interstate 49 connector "the right way," which they touted as important for revitalization of neglected areas as well as economic development of the entire region.

"This coalition brings together a broad spectrum of positive voices in support of the project that can be a catalyst for sustained and renewed growth for our community," including reinvestment in neglected areas, Pastor Ken Lazard of Destiny of Faith Church said at a press conference.

Business and community leaders largely shared some cautious optimism for Acadiana's economy in 2017, but there are caveats.

This region must grapple with an uncertain state budget environment with fiscal crises, public and private, and with a worn infrastructure that challenges both our growth and quality of life, said Jason El Koubi, president and CEO of One Acadiana. Those obstacles make it hard for people to plan for growth.

BATON ROUGE, La (LOCAL 33) - Seven local chambers of commerce and business associations from around the state Friday released a Statement of Principles in support of criminal justice reforms in Louisiana.

I was disappointed after reading an Editorial published by The Advertiser on Dec. 22, 2016, as the hard work of citizens and DOTD was dismissed by a failure to present facts and instead peddled misrepresentations.

It suggested “…a lack of interest from state officials about what local people have to say…”

JENNINGS — Chamber of commerce, tourism, economic development and business leaders from across Acadiana came together Thursday to learn more about the area.

The group was part of One Acadiana’s annual Building Region Conference, which focuses on the successes, opportunities and challenges facing the nine-parish region extending from St. Martin to Jeff Davis parishes.

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