HENDERSON, La. – Today, One Acadiana (1A) in partnership with St. Martin Economic Development Authority, Entergy, and the Town of Henderson announced that a 142.92 acre site has been certified for development under One Acadiana’s Site Development Program in partnership with Louisiana Economic Development (LED). Referred to as the Henderson I-10 Site, this property offers a valuable size and location for businesses seeking to locate or expand in Acadiana.
An LED certified site is one that is shovel-ready, having completed a rigorous review process to answer as many development questions as possible. One Acadiana’s Site Development Program is designed to expand the region’s portfolio of marketable, certified sites by identifying vetted properties with strong development potential across the nine-parish region. This process completes the due diligence needed to better position sites for business attraction. By aligning site readiness efforts with the expectations of site location consultants and expanding businesses, the program helps the region compete more effectively for new investment. Since its inception, One Acadiana has certified 36 sites, representing over 3,000 acres of development-ready land across Acadiana.
“The Henderson I-10 Site represents the type of opportunity that can truly elevate Acadiana’s competitiveness,” said One Acadiana President & CEO Troy Wayman. “At nearly 143 acres with immediate access to Interstate 10, this site offers the scale and strategic location that major industrial investments are seeking. This certification further strengthens Acadiana’s ability to compete for transformative projects that create jobs and generate long-term economic opportunity. We celebrate this accomplishment alongside both our local and state partners with the Town of Henderson, St. Martin Economic Development Authority, Entergy, and Louisiana Economic Development.”
The Henderson I-10 Site has a strategic location just off I-10 in-between Lafayette and Baton Rouge. The site is only 26 miles from the Port of Iberia and 40 miles from the Greater Baton Rouge Port, a deep-water port supporting heavy-draft cargo ships and global market access. The Henderson I-10 Site represents St. Martin Parish’s 7th certified site and raises Acadiana’s regional total to 36.
“The certification of the Henderson I-10 Site is another significant milestone for St. Martin Parish and reflects the work we’ve done to build one of the strongest portfolios of development-ready sites in Louisiana,” said Jennifer Stelly, Executive Director of the St. Martin Economic Development Authority. “Every site we pursue represents a strategic investment in our parish’s future, and with seven Louisiana Economic Development Certified Sites now in St. Martin Parish, we are continuing to create opportunities that position our communities to compete for quality business investment and sustainable economic growth.”
Utility partner, Entergy, also worked closely with One Acadiana to secure certification of the site.
“Economic development begins long before a project announcement – it starts with communities preparing for the opportunity,” said Michelle Bourg, Entergy Louisiana’s Vice President of Business & Economic Development. “Entergy Louisiana is proud to support the certification of the Henderson I-10 site in St. Martin Parish because strategic investments like this position communities to compete for future growth. Through strong partnerships with Louisiana Economic Development, regional partners like One Acadiana and local leaders and partners like the St. Martin Parish Economic Development Authority, Entergy Louisiana is committed to creating the conditions that attract investment, create quality jobs and strengthen the communities we are privileged to serve.”
Site certification provides significant value to landowners by reducing uncertainty for prospective buyers and making property more competitive in the selection process. For One Acadiana’s Site Development Program specifically, another key benefit is that the organization actively markets certified sites to national site selectors and businesses considering expansion into Acadiana.
“I am excited about the certification of the Henderson I-10 site and the significant industrial development potential it unlocks for our area,” said Dorsey Knott, part landowner of the Henderson I-10 Site. “This strategic location is poised to attract high-quality investment, create new jobs, and drive economic growth that will benefit families and businesses across St. Martin Parish for generations to come. I look forward to seeing the positive transformation this opportunity will bring to our community.”
Other sites certified through One Acadiana have attracted major investments including First Solar’s $1.1 billion manufacturing facility, AVEX’s $74 million expansion, and UL Lafayette’s research facility at Progress Point. Together, these projects have generated significant capital investment, hundreds of high-quality jobs, and expanded the region’s research and manufacturing capabilities—demonstrating the value of having development-ready sites available when opportunities arise.
To learn more about One Acadiana’s Site Development Program, visit OneAcadiana.org/CertifiedSites. Landowners interested in learning more about how the site certification process can make their property more marketable can contact 1A Economic Development Director, Megan Malmay, at Megan@OneAcadiana.org.
About One Acadiana
One Acadiana is the chamber of commerce for Lafayette and leading economic development organization for the nine-parish Acadiana region located in south Louisiana. The organization is one of four in the nation to hold both an Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO) accreditation and a five-star U.S. Chamber of Commerce accreditation. With more than 850 members, One Acadiana serves as the voice of the regional business community. The organization is located in the city of Lafayette and serves a region of nearly 700,000 people with a vibrant culture and unique entrepreneurial spirit. Learn more at OneAcadiana.org