YOUNGSVILLE, La. – Today, One Acadiana (1A) in partnership with the City of Youngsville, Lafayette Economic Development Authority (LEDA), Lafayette Parish School System (LPSS), and SLEMCO announced that three sites have been certified for development under One Acadiana’s Site Development Program in partnership with Louisiana Economic Development (LED).
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 34 sites, representing nearly 3,000 acres of development-ready land across Acadiana.
“Site certification is one of the most important tools we have to strengthen our region’s competitiveness, which is why One Acadiana’s Site Development Program is focused on proactively growing our portfolio of shovel-ready sites for prospective businesses,” said One Acadiana President & CEO Troy Wayman. “Having three sites certified at once is a significant achievement and a testament to our commitment to economic development. We celebrate this milestone alongside LEDA and commend their continued partnership in advancing site readiness efforts in Lafayette Parish. By adding these three certified sites to our regional inventory, we are sending a clear message to growing businesses and site selectors that Acadiana is ready for the next opportunity.”
Located on Chemin Metairie Parkway, the newly certified sites referred to as Chemin 1, Chemin 2, and Chemin 3 are situated in the growing city of Youngsville. All three sites boast convenient access to U.S. HWY 90.
“The certification of these three Chemin Metairie sites marks an important milestone for Youngsville’s economic future,” said City of Youngsville Mayor Ken Ritter. “Site readiness matters, and this achievement sends a clear message that Youngsville is prepared to compete for investment, attract quality jobs, and support continued economic growth. This accomplishment is the result of strong partnerships, and we are grateful to LED, One Acadiana, LEDA, SLEMCO, LPSS, and all of our partners who helped make this possible.”
With a combined total of over 128 acres, Chemin 1 (19.6 acres) and Chemin 2 (24.99 acres) are commercial property types, while Chemin 3 (83.77 acres) is an industrial property. These newly certified sites increase Lafayette Parish’s inventory to 12 certified sites and raise Acadiana’s regional total to 34.
“Certified sites are essential to strengthening a community’s ability to attract new businesses and drive economic growth,” said President & CEO of Lafayette Economic Development Authority Mandi D. Mitchell. “Through careful preparation and collaboration, the City of Youngsville, Lafayette Parish School System, LEDA, and One Acadiana have secured three new LPSS-owned Certified Sites ready to meet the needs of today’s investors. By completing rigorous due diligence upfront, these sites enable companies to hit the ground running—creating local jobs, expanding the tax base, and bringing economic opportunity to our residents faster than traditional development timelines allow. We are truly honored to be a member of ‘team Acadiana’.”
The three sites are owned by Lafayette Parish School System, creating an opportunity to offer long-term leases to businesses in a prime Youngsville location.
“This certification represents opportunity and growth, two core values that guide our work at LPSS,” said LPSS Superintendent Francis Touchet. “Those values are not limited to student success alone. They also reflect our commitment to supporting a stronger community by helping create new opportunities for economic development and investment in the Youngsville area.”
Utility partner, SLEMCO, also worked closely with One Acadiana to secure certification of the three Chemin sites.
“SLEMCO takes great pride in partnering with One Acadiana on site certification projects,” said SLEMCO Business Development Specialist Brennan Breaux. “They not only bring more jobs to our area, they also improve the quality of life for local residents. That makes life better for all of us.”
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 Duhon, 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.