News | April 2022

The Lafayette Economic Development Authority unveiled a three-year strategic plan, one that new president and CEO Mandi Mitchell says will enhance existing and add new service lines to position Lafayette Parish for success over the next 50 years.

Legislators Make Money Moves in Week Six of Regular Session

Legislators filled committee schedules to the brim in week six of the Regular Session, but all eyes were on the House as representatives considered Louisiana’s annual budget and capital outlay bills, HB 1 and HB 2, including how to spend $2.8 billion in one-time money from federal pandemic aid and state budget surpluses. Read on for a breakdown of these bills as approved by the House.

Acadiana took incremental steps this year toward reaching its goal of 55% of working-age adults in the region holding a postsecondary degree, certificate or other high-value credential, One Acadiana reported Friday.

Speaking about its 2022 "55 by 25" annual report to area partners at South Louisiana Community College, the host group revealed that, according to 2020 Census data, 27.5% of adults in the region have an associate’s degree or higher level of formal education.

1. Give us a brief history of your organization. 

Decided Excellence Catholic Media has been a National Publishing presence for 17 years. Locally we refer and connect local businesses and professionals with thousands of faith-based families in different communities while creating a local network of buying power for those that support them.

2. What would you tell the rest of Acadiana makes you special?

South Louisiana Community College named first grant recipient in the nation

LAFAYETTE – SkillUp, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping displaced workers land in-demand jobs in high-growth industries, has awarded their first nationally-competitive grant of up to $100,000 to South Louisiana Community College. This grant is designed to aid low-income students as they navigate the road to workforce readiness.

College unites to recognize Dr. Vincent June, sixth Chancellor of SLCC

LAFAYETTE – The Inauguration of Dr. Vincent G. June, sixth chancellor of South Louisiana Community College, will be celebrated April 20-27, 2022. His inauguration – which is nearly two years in the making - will be commemorated through a weeklong series of activities involving students, faculty, staff, donors, and community members.

Validation that Vital Integrators uses industry accepted security best practices

Lafayette, LA, 04-18-2022 – Vital Integrators, a Louisiana based IT and Cyber Security firm announced today it has received the CompTIA Security Trustmark+ from CompTIA, the non-profit association for world’s information technology (IT) industry.

Short but Busy Week Five of Legislative Session

Legislators tackled several 1A priority bills early in week five of the 2022 Regular Session before adjourning for the Easter holiday. Acadiana partners also took to the Capitol to celebrate the Carnegie Research 1 (R1) designation of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Below is a full rundown of last week’s action and a look at the week ahead.

Month One in the Books, Busy Week Ahead

Packed committee schedules made for a hectic week four of the 2022 Regular Session, and the late-file deadline for legislation added a bevy of new bills for legislators and stakeholders to review. 1A-supported measures continued advancing through the process, including legislation to streamline Louisiana’s complex sales tax collection system. Expect another frenzied week to kick off today.

For years the front of the empty, decaying old federal courthouse in downtown Lafayette had a message spray-painted on the door facing Jefferson Street for all to see.

The message? “This could be used for something.”

Years later, it is. The building that was once the home of asbestos and dozens of pigeons and remained mostly vacant for about 20 years will soon be housing dozens of people after over a year of construction and public and private investment.