We haven't always worked together to be the social and political juggernaut that we are capable of being, but that's about to change.
Gregg Gothreaux
I am excited to see the Campaign for One Acadiana gathering momentum as we approach the official announcement on Oct. 29 and encourage everyone in our community and region to support it.
For a long time, I've said that the best economic development efforts are regional and business-led. Today our region has the opportunity to support a unified economic development approach as we band together with the common goals of creating jobs and a better quality of life for our citizens.
Acadiana is a great region with unique and strong cultural ties; however, we haven't always worked together to be the social and political juggernaut that we are capable of being. By embracing the One Acadiana initiative, we can do this. We can address policy solutions, legislative advocacy, regional marketing to businesses and professional talent, workforce development solutions, and any other initiatives that require strong business leadership. That is why I have long hoped that the business community would unite in a strong regional organization.
I'm very pleased and excited that the Lafayette Chamber - working closely with LEDA and many other partners across nine parishes in Acadiana - is launching this bold, new initiative. The initiative will build on our existing assets, including the Acadiana Economic Development Council and Acadiana Regional Alliance, to ensure a well-integrated policy agenda and economic development delivery system. As the Campaign for One Acadiana gathers momentum, I am especially eager to continue the relationship between our organizations as we move forward together on regional economic development efforts.
This initiative will engage business leaders in a sustained effort to cultivate our regional assets and infrastructure with a focused policy agenda; market and sell our region to business and talent; and revitalize the core of our region to offer a more attractive, higher-quality urban experience for young professionals and others.
With the leadership and financial support of the business community behind this initiative, we can quickly begin to address much of the untapped potential in Lafayette and Acadiana.
I urge businesses of all sizes to consider this unprecedented opportunity for our region and to support the effort. I also invite you to join me and other community leaders at the One Acadiana announcement event on Oct. 29 at the Cajundome.
With your leadership and support, the success of this initiative will make Acadiana more competitive, more economically balanced, and more prosperous; while positioning our region as one of the top places in the south to have a great career in an idyllic family environment.
Gregg Gothreaux is president and CEO of the Lafayette Economic Development Authority.