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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 spraypainted 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.

In the two years since the COVID-19 pandemic forced Lafayette's employment rates to plummet, the Acadiana area has seen historic job growth rates — though it is still far below the pre-pandemic levels.

In February 2020, just before COVID-19 would begin its run through Louisiana, the Lafayette Metropolitan Statistical Area had 204,500 total workers. Employment dropped slightly in March 2020 — less than 1% — which saw the first cases of the virus in the state, before dropping another 10.7% in April to hit the lowest mark since January 2000.

1. Give us a brief history of your organization. 

Going, Sebastien, Fisher & LeBouef LLP formed as a non-traditional CPA firm in Opelousas in 1948 and have been in Lafayette since 2016. In 2021, we moved to our new permanent Lafayette location at 1700 Kaliste Saloom Rd., Building 5.

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

LAFAYETTE, LA - April 5, 2022 – Lafayette Utilities System (LUS) has received national recognition for achieving exceptional electric reliability in 2021. The recognition comes from the American Public Power Association (APPA), a trade group that represents more than 2,000 not-for-profit, community-owned electric utilities.

CROWLEY – A familiar face is leading South Louisiana Community College’s Acadian Campus as campus director. As the campus director, Mary Morrison will have oversight of campus operations and act as a liaison for new and continuing students, as well as local officials, community organizations, the K-12 school system, and the community at large. 

Historic Third Week as Legislature Overrides Governor’s Veto

Legislators quickly moved economic and workforce development measures early in week three before a historic move to temporarily adjourn the Regular Session and convene a Veto Session to override Governor Edwards’ veto of a congressional map approved by the Legislature in February. Below is a full rundown of last week’s action.

Centralized Sales Tax Collection

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Tabasco took center stage this week as Acadiana made its pitch to international business representatives as part of the Americas Competitiveness Exchange.