The Lafayette Economic Development Authority, in conjunction with One Acadiana, Lafayette Utilities System and Lafayette Consolidated Government, announced on May 3 that a 22-acre site in LEDA’s Northpark has been certified under the Louisiana Economic Development Certified Business Sites program. The Pont des Mouton Road site is now classified as development-ready for companies seeking opportunities for relocation or expansion in south Louisiana.
This is the first LED-certified site in Lafayette Parish and the eighth certified site in the Acadiana region.
The Lafayette site differs from the seven previous certified sites in that it’s designated a “business site,” which is defined as 10-25 acres, versus the existing industrial sites, which are 25 acres or larger.
The site in LEDA’s Northpark is part of a larger 35.4-acre tract. Northpark was established in 1983 as a 125-acre park and now has 12 businesses operating in it, including an AT&T Call Center, Coastal Environmental, Flight Safety International, Global Data Systems, ABS Health & Beauty Solutions and WESCO (distribution).
“Since its development, Northpark has catered to specialized firms in the technology, manufacturing, aviation, communication and energy sectors,” Gregg Gothreaux, LEDA’s president and CEO said in a press release. “The certification on the Northpark site demonstrates the site’s valuable location within an established business park with access to two interstates and superior utility infrastructure that is in close proximity to other commercial development.”
The business site is suitable for a business park, mixed use development or Planned Unit Development. It has undergone a rigorous review process by LED and an independent, third-party engineering firm. Specific site details, such as zoning restrictions, title work, environmental studies, soil analysis and surveys, are assessed for compliance and authenticity.
“Having a catalog of development-ready sites is a key advantage in the business recruitment process because quality certified sites are often the first places site selection consultants and companies will review when seeking a new location,” Jason El Koubi, president and CEO of One Acadiana, says in the release. “Our growing portfolio of certified sites allows our region to be considered for more nationally competitive projects, and this Business Site, ideally located in LEDA’s Northpark, adds a new type of site product to that portfolio.”