1A to host Entree to Business Breakfast
Regional economic development organization takes over longtime ABiz event.
Section Business News
Christiaan Mader acquiring, relaunching The Current
Under Mader's ownership, the magazine will float a new model for local journalism.
Sunland’s former IT manager admits to illegally pocketing $2.7 million
Richard Borek used company funds to buy cell phones and electronic tablets from two nationwide cellular phone companies, sold them online to another company and kept the money.
Edwards, Musk meet on potential Tesla deal in La.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards met with Tesla CEO Elon Musk over the weekend in hopes of striking a deal to allow the U.S. electric automaker to sell its vehicles in the state.
Top 50 luncheon to benefit Moncus Park
The Top 50 luncheon, joined by a half-million-dollar match from the Schumachers and yet another generous gift from the Moncus family, aims to help finish what IND Media started 12 years ago.
Metal Shark wins $54M U.S. Navy contract
Jeanerette-based company’s proposal was selected from a field of six competing shipyards.
One A’s El Koubi named Young Leader by French-American Foundation
Those selected for the program meet with local and national leaders, explore the cultures of both nations and exchange ideas on social, economic, and political issues critical to trans-Atlantic relations.
Metairie Marcello’s closes, Saltgrass steaks moving in
Lafayette-based restaurant group is transferring reservations and functions booked at the Metairie location to the Downtown New Orleans restaurant.
Report: Louisiana has second-worst economy in U.S.
On a more positive note, Louisiana tied with Texas and Washington for most exports per capita.
Uber, Lyft regulation bill quietly suffocated in La. Senate committee
Rep. Kenny Havard's House-backed measure to standardize rules and expand access to smaller cities was expected to be heard by a Senate committee Tuesday. Instead, it was shelved.
Acadiana’s Top 50 Private Companies: coming July 17
As many area companies struggle to regroup and retool their business models in a time of economic uncertainty it becomes more critical to focus on their successes and the people behind them.
Rêve buys The Lab in a not-at-all-hostile takeover
Lab owner Thomas Peters dispels the rivalry myth and taps meteoric Rêve to buy his beloved craft café.
The massive vessel-assembly buildings and buzz of activity at Metal Shark’s Franklin shipyard are a sight to behold. But the way the company has diversified into military and major commercial contracts is the real story of its success.
One Acadiana announces Acadiana Day
On Monday, May 15, One Acadiana will guide a caravan of leaders from the nine-parish region into the Louisiana State Capitol to show their pride for Acadiana in what they have dubbed “Acadiana Day.”
IEM gets $227M to manage Louisiana flood aid program
The contract was signed April 21, ending weeks of controversy over the selection of a firm to administer the program.
It may seem like a lot of intangible feel-good nonsense, but your brand represents people’s perception of everything about your company.
Frances McIntosh headlines Acadiana Women’s Network April session
The first session of the Acadiana Women’s Network will offer local businesswomen the tools to become a leader in 2017 with guest speaker Frances McIntosh this Thursday.
Local brewers relieved as ATC softens new, stricter regs
The state office of Alcohol & Tobacco Control announced new regulations on on-site sales and events that, according to one local craft brewer, would have put several independent Louisiana brewies out of business.
How to make Lafayette a ’Smart City’
Smart Community Summit convenes notables to talk building a tech-aided Lafayette
Youngsville biz named finalist in Cox pitch contest
Cox Business and Inc. Magazine have announced that RNvention, based in Youngsville, is a finalist in the Get Started Louisiana Pitch Contest.
An investment group led by the Super Bowl MVP-winning quarterback infuses $10 million into delivery app.
’Influencing the Influencers’ workshop March 15 at Petro Club
Attendees will learn how to best market their business and services.
State agencies offer creative small-biz workshops
Turn your small creative business into a cultural enterprise with the “Creating Profits with Passion Boot Camp.” But you need to be SEBD certified to do it.
WAITR Job Fair set for Friday, March 3, 11 a.m.
The company is looking to hire 600 drivers across major markets — 60 drivers in the Lafayette area alone.
Burger King’s parent company buying Popeyes
The parent company of Burger King and Tim Hortons is buying Popeyes for $1.8 billion, with plans to accelerate the growth of the fried chicken chain.Such a move fits Restaurant Brands International’
Entrepreneurs wanted for Get Started Louisiana
Local start-ups will vie for a $10,000 prize package during New Orleans Entrepreneur Week.
Lafayette health exec convicted in kickback scheme
Tom McCardell was found guilty by a federal jury following a four-day trial.
Pro Connector poll says Lafayette is pro Connector
Connect Lafayette’s push to show support for the project leans on a survey method that overrepresents white baby boomers.
Charlie Goodson, DoubleTree by Hilton win tourism awards
Also at annual banquet, Lafayette Travel President & CEO Ben Berthelot named to the Executive Committee of the LTPA.
Two plead in wire fraud conspiracy case
Randy LeBlanc and Jahorae Johnson, both of New Iberia, are facing 20 years in prison each for their role in ripping off their employer, Acme Trucking Lines.
’Best job ever’ meets oil bust
Paul Ayo at E's Kitchen shuts 'er down, citing a slumping economy and legal issues for the sudden closure.
Giles Automotive building $5 million Volvo dealership
Facility will accommodate several new Volvo models coming to the market in the next two years.
LC, BR, NOLA heavily exposed to trade disruptions
That’s not to say Trump will incite a trade war, but it’s not to say he won’t either. If he does, Lake Charles, Baton Rouge and New Orleans could be hard hit.
December La. jobless rate dips as labor force shrinks
Louisiana's unemployment rate dipped to 6.1 percent in December as people kept leaving the labor force.
Nexstar gets FCC nod to purchase KLFY
Nexstar Broadcasting Group Inc. announced Wednesday that it has received Federal Communications Commission approval to acquire Media General, the parent company of KLFY TV10.
Nominations open for Leaders in Philanthropy Awards 2017
Community Foundation of Acadiana is currently accepting nominations from the community for the 2017 Leaders in Philanthropy Awards.
ULEDF honors local heroes of August flooding
The Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation will honor the local heroes of the August flood relief effort during its January 2017 luncheon.
NIRC lands pharmaceutical facility
Expansion will allow Crown Bioscience of California, a global drug discovery and development company, to advance treatments for cardiovascular and metabolic disease research.
Bread & Circus pulls controversial T-shirts
The hip pizza and sandwich shop will not sell a T-shirt that riffed on President-elect Donald Trump’s “grab’em by the p***y” remark; instead apologizes.
La. gender pay gap grows from 2014-2105
Median weekly earnings of $630 in 2015 represent 76.1 percent of the $828 median weekly earnings of male counterparts.
Amazon to start charging sales taxes on La. purchases
The online retail giant will start charging sales taxes on all purchases shipped to destinations in Louisiana starting Jan. 1.
Rock ’n’ Bowl has ambitious plans for Downtown
Representatives of the New Orleans institution are already in the old Whitney Bank building at the corner of Jefferson and Lee, measuring dimensions and eyeing a late 2017 opening.
University will assume all oversight for the technology center’s facilities and operations.
The union of the pro team and foodie app comes amid rapid expansion by Waitr, which now has more than 1,200 restaurants in the Gulf Coast region within its network.
Executive coaching organization taps Jim Doré
Oilfield veteran heads up Vistage's expansion to Acadiana.
Mike Maraist, George Marks to be honored at Entrepreneur of the Year Symposium
Longtime banker and businessman, Maraist is ABiz’s 2016 Entrepreneur of the Year; Marks will be honored with the Jillian Johnson Award for Entrepreneurship in the Creative Economy.
Making boudin a guiltier pleasure
Three more local purveyors accused of bilking low-wage workers out of overtime pay.
LUS ‘solar tax’ points to larger issues with the local utility
The quick death of the LUS’s so-called “solar tax” spared the city further embarrassment but pointed to larger issues in the municipally owned utility’s approach to energy.
Two upcoming events for an engaged community
I-49 Connector open house set for Nov. 30 at Progressive Community Outreach Center and update on new airport terminal will be held the following day at Bell Helicopter.
Thib’s Trailers owner faces 5 years after tax evasion plea
Larry Thibodeaux admitted bilking Uncle Sam for nearly $250,000 by under-reporting his income for two years.
LPUA chairman: Repeal ’solar tax’
"There are moments in political life that we have to pick our battles and avoid becoming mired in controversy."
About-face: LUS seeks repeal of ‘solar tax’ ordinance
The new fees caused LUS a headache beyond the value of the issue, LUS Director Terry Huval says.
LUS quietly clouds solar’s future
It is now unlikely that new solar power systems would ever pay for themselves as a result of LUS’ new solar tax and the phase out of Louisiana’s solar tax credits.
DLRBA turns November into Customer Appreciation Month
The Downtown Lafayette Restaurant & Bar Association is offering specials on food, drinks and more in an Eat Lafayette-style campaign to bolster foot traffic ahead of the holiday season.
The CEO of the Downtown Development Authority and Downtown Lafayette Unlimited is moving on after four years on the job.
Lake Chaz microbrewery expanding sales to Lafayette
Crying Eagle Brewing Company of Lake Charles has begun offering three of its beers in Lafayette bars and restaurants and will begin selling those same brews in select Lafayette stores beginning next week.
Leadership Lafayette deadline Monday (Oct. 31)
Training initiative accepts approximately 25 individuals annually.
A potential partnership between Acadiana Food Hub and Waitr could be the breakthrough conscientious consumers have been waiting for.
Dr. Loren Scott’s Economic Outlook, 2017-2018
As promised to ABuzz subscribers, here’s the respected economist’s report on how the state and local economies will perform over the next two years.
ABiz seeking Entrepreneur of the Year nominations
We need your nominations by Oct. 27, so our committee can narrow the field and choose another standout leader who will be honored in the November-December issue of ABiz and at the Entrepreneur of the Year Symposium.
LOGA’s Don Briggs suffers serious head injury
Longtime LOGA chief fell down a stairway in North Carolina on Sept. 30.
ATC Group Services buys Mass. environmental firm
As a result of the planned acquisition, Lafayette-based ATC will grow to approximately 1,900 employees and more than 100 locations.
1A weighs in on transportation funding
Ahead of Wednesday’s regional task force meeting in Lafayette, One Acadiana releases recommendations for a statewide transportation funding solution.
Ex-employee gets two years for stealing from Belltech Group
Prosecutors say Franklin woman stole more than $61,000 from Lafayette construction company.
Gachassin appeals $1.6M ethics fine
Local developer and his Cartesian Company claim Ethics Adjudicatory Board was wrong when it found them in violation of the state’s Code of Ethics and ordered them to pay a record $1.6 million.
Lafayette: 5th-worst economic growth in U.S.
The effect of lingering low oil prices is exacting a toll on the Hub City.
Jobs and workers drop in La; jobless rate level
Louisiana's economy lost more jobs in August, though the unemployment rate stayed flat because workers exited the economy just as quickly.
Farm damage from August floods pegged at $277 million
Total agricultural losses in the March and April floods are currently calculated at $367 million.
Governor’s office, contractors recruiting workers for flood rebuilding
Officials are hoping to create a workforce to put Louisiana flood victims back in their homes faster after the August floods.
Leadership Lafayette seeks next class
Leadership Lafayette has graduated more than 650 local participants who rank among the area’s CEOs, elected officials, executive directors and community-engaged citizens.
Cox expands eligibility for Connect2Compete
Families that are eligible for reduced-school lunches can now benefit from heavily discounted internet service at home.
IRS offers tax help to La. businesses
The government has extended until Jan. 17 the deadline for companies and individual taxpayers in declared disaster areas to file returns and make certain tax payments.
Gov. John Bel Edwards talks flooding, transportation to Top 50 crowd
The governor devoted much of his Sept. 1 address to ABiz’s Top 50 Private Companies to the recent flooding and recovery, telling the audience that the Louisiana National Guard is the finest in the nation.
Catherine Doucet Romero gets 10 years for defrauding investors of $2M
It didn’t take the onetime theme park promoter very long to go back to her old tricks.
Circle K buys Louisiana gas station brand Cracker Barrel
The deal marks the end of one of Louisiana's oldest convenience store brands.
Study finds union decline hurting all workers
Average weekly earnings for nonunion private-sector male workers would have been 5%, or $52, higher in 2013 if the share of union workers had remained at 1979 levels, study from left-leaning Economic Policy Institute finds.
JohnPac opens Texas distribution center
Crowley-based company manufactures polypropylene from granulate to end product, creating everything from yarns to fabrics for products like bulk bags, small poly weave bags and BOPP bags.
Onetime licensed architect turned unlicensed home builder bilks another client, lawsuit claims.
1A hosts A Conversation with Carville & Matalin
Get to know America’s best-loved bipartisan couple as One Acadiana hosts An Expert's Perspective: A Conversation with Carville & Matalin.
Lafayette began seeding a high-tech playing field more than a century ago, and it’s now paying off with a growing roster of major-league companies.
Waitr expands to California via app acquisition
Purchase comes only a month after app developer’s big announcement to open an operations hub in Lafayette.
Gulf Coast Young Professionals Summit begins this Thursday
The 2nd Annual Gulf Coast Young Professionals Summit will be held this Thursday and Friday, Aug. 11 - 12, at the UL Lafayette Student Union with the goal of producing action-oriented thoughts leaders who are poised to lead locally, regionally and nationally.
BBB yanks used car dealer’s accreditation
Consumer complaint leads organization to take action against Premier Asset Management.
TEDx speaker lineup hints at a provocative second year
Lafayette locals will probe sensitive issues for the 2016 edition of the successful speaker series.
City releases I-49 workshop reports
Neighborhoods along the proposed I-49 Connector weigh in on the controversial interstate project.
Truston Technologies awarded two patents
First patent enhances the offshore cargo transfer between deeper draft vessels and smaller vessels and second patent supplements coastal protection measures in areas with low-density soils.
Oil prices drop to lowest low since May
If oil prices keep dropping, our modest recovery will stall.
A bad taste in his mouth leads a retired Lafayette pharmacist to perfect a recipe that has become a successful family business.
Oats & Marino Involved in Simultaneous Billing During Whistleblower Suit
The Lafayette law firm received a controversial multi-million dollar contract from DNR in connection with what Collins says was a phony environmental project in the Atchafalaya Basin.
Put your idea on the dating scene tonight at JSP
Civicside is casting a wide net for project ideas. Why not throw yours in the dating pool?
Gulf Coast Young Professionals Summit announces keynote speaker
Registration is now open for the GCYP Summit, which will be hosted at the UL Lafayette Student Union on Thursday and Friday, August 11 - 12.
Parish Parcel offers ex-pats a taste of home
“Cajun culture is something that we should be packaging and distributing to the world.”
UL/NRG Energy agreement powers 5-acre solar lab
For a university well-versed and well-steeped in energy history, the move is as forward thinking as it is economically sensible.
ABiz State of the Economy luncheon: first, the good news
Company behind Waitr app announces development of 100-job tech operations center in Lafayette.
SLCC’s new scaffolding program holds promise for both immediate work and advancement.
May home sales take big jump from April
Despite a big climb from April to May, Lafayette Parish home sales lag 2015 numbers by 10 percent.
Appeals court cites fraud in denying workers’ comp benefits
Despite seeing four orthopedists and later citing “a lack of mental acuity,” Todd Romero’s worker compensation benefits were given “the boot” by the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal.
LHC Group acquires 2 companies with $44 million in revenue
As of March 31, LHC Group had 284 home health services locations, 61 hospice locations, 11 community-based service locations and six long-term, acute-care hospitals with eight locations.
Judge again clears way for seizure of Moreno’s BR property
Proposed River District property, along with the Port of Iberia yard that once housed Dynamic Industries, will be sold to satisfy the nearly $60 million Moreno owes New York-based Goldman Sachs bank.
Southern Lifestyle Development promotes four employees
Lafayette-based real estate development firm is working on more than 30 projects throughout the state.
KADN, KLAF being sold for $40M
Minority-owned TV group out of Texas picks up local stations in Nexstar divestiture.
Three Lafayette stores shuttered
Three Lafayette stores have closed in the River Ranch area — Maxwell’s Market, Mignon Faget and Knotting Hill.
Four more La. employers issue layoff notices
Approximately 360 workers across the state could be let go in latest round of cuts.
Rêve Coffee Roasters expanding to BR
Micro roasting coffee company is the newest tenant announced for the burgeoning gourmet food hall set for the mixed-use Square 46 development in Mid City on Government Street.
Greg Gachassin gets his ’day in court’
Charged with multiple violations of the state's Code of Ethics, the Lafayette developer finally had his say this week — four years after he was charged.
ATC Group buys Sage Environmental Consulting of Austin
Acquisition expands Lafayette company’s air quality consulting service capabilities.
High-end auto detailing company opens in Lafayette
Tim Washington converts his hobby into Full Attention to Detail.
Bell Helicopter expects full production in late 2017
Company officials say Bell Helicopter, which opened an assembly plant in Lafayette in August, so far has hired 27 of the planned 115 employees who will eventually produce 200 new helicopters annually.
Topshelf owner responds to 3rd Circuit opinion
Jimmy Greco says the appeals court ruling sets a dangerous precedent for private reception halls, ball fields and even churches.
Youngsville sports facility loses tax appeal
Topshelf Sports has been ordered to pay nearly $43,000 in back taxes to the school system.
1A unveils region’s largest LED-certified site
At 536 acres, Freeland is first such development-ready site in Acadia Parish.
Hygiene for Humanity drive benefits homeless
BBR Creative is hosting its 2nd Annual Hygiene for Humanity Donation Drive to benefit the homeless in the community.
La. jobless rate up slightly in January to 5.9 percent
A separate survey showed payrolls rose slightly in January from December, but are more than 15,000 below year-ago levels.
ATC staffing up Lafayette office
Environmental consulting firm has re-established its headquarters at 221 Rue de Jean and plans to hire 50 additional workers in the next two years.
Lafayette home sales fall 16.38% in February
Parish home sales reported to the MLS totaled 194 compared with 232 in February last year.
Billy Frey fined in ’book-cooking’ scheme
U.S. Labor Department says popular boudin spot Billy’s went to great lengths to short-change workers; must pay $138K in back wages and penalties.
Community partners from Lake Charles to Lafayette addressing workforce needs at the Industrial Trades Career Fair on Thursday, March 3, at the Cajundome.
Top Cypress Bayou execs booked on theft charges
Two top executives at the Chitimacha Tribe-operated Cypress Bayou Casino in St. Mary Parish are facing charges following their arrest by Louisiana State Police on theft and other charges.
George Rodrigue Lecture welcomes Stephen Utz
Utz will lecture on the late Walker Percy, the novelist and philosopher who lived his life out in Covington.
Booth space available for LEDA’s May job fair
Annual job fair takes place Tuesday, May 10, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cajundome Convention Center.
New location is in the Creative Bloc office suite in Capital City’s Downtown area.
LED seeking CEOs for roundtable talks
The application period for LED’s CEO Roundtables continues through March 31 for sessions that will commence in July.
KADN, affiliates, set to go dark on Cox
The dispute involves negotiations over a new distribution agreement.
Veterans Boulevard restaurant is third in growing Sicilian restaurant chain that got its start in Lafayette.
Unemployment rate falls in La. as labor force shrinks
Louisiana's unemployment rate ticked down in December, with jobless numbers falling because people continue leaving the labor force.
Bruce Foods sells popular Mexican brands
January sale is New Iberia company’s third divestiture in two years.
Initial unemployment claims in La. rise
The continuing slump in oil prices exacts a toll on the state's labor market.
KATC parent co. and Dish settle
After a three-day blackout on Dish Network, Cordillera Communications stations across the country including KATC TV3 in Lafayette are again being transmitted by the satellite provider.
After rain deluge, rare winter floods on Mississippi River
Heavy rainfall has already inundated a levee in northeast Louisiana. Part of the Mississippi River levee near Alsatia, in East Carroll Parish, collapsed.
Levee Board Lawsuit Alive and Well
Out of the news cycle and moving slowly, a regional flood authority’s action against the oil and gas industry remains in appeals courts on both the state and federal levels.
Judge dismisses suit challenging biz tax change
Lawmakers scaled back dozens of tax breaks earlier this year to generate more money for the state treasury and stop deep cuts to public health care services and colleges.
Airport terminal tax comes to an end
Unique funding mechanism (well, unique for Lafayette) to help finance $90 million passenger terminal could serve as model for future projects.
Blue Bell resumes ice cream sales in La. on Dec. 21
The company has resumed production in its hometown of Brenham, 70 miles northwest of Houston.
Don Pippin Jr. buys Sunbelt Business Brokers of Lafayette
Lafayette businessman also owns Sunbelt franchises in Beaumont and Lake Charles.
Sexiest Downtown Bar? Why Pamplona, of course!
Pamplona and the rest of the 2015 Downtown Awards winners will be celebrated Wednesday, Nov. 18, at Gordon Square from 5:30-8 p.m.
In Memoriam: Ed Krampe, 1940-2015
If you had the opportunity to play Monopoly with him, you would have an insight into Ed Krampe.
Innovation in the Midst of a Downturn
With more exhibitors than ever, LAGCOE celebrated 60 years fueling the local economy.
LHC Group profit rises in third quarter
LHC Group, a Lafayette-based home nursing company, reported its third-quarter profit climbed to $8.8 million, or 50 cents per share, compared to $6.2 million, or 36 cents per share, a year ago.
Movassaghi appointed to airport committee evaluating architects/engineers
Former state transportation chief is only outsider on five-man committee evaluating qualifications for architecture and engineering firms.
Cookie delivery biz opens in Lafayette
The Cookie Caravan offers fresh-baked cookies delivered right to your door.
Global Data Systems opens new international headquarters
Global Data Systems celebrated the grand opening of its new international headquarters in Lafayette with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday.
Lafayette Regional Airport set to break record
The Lafayette Regional Airport is on its way to exceed last year’s passenger record as the number of enplanements and deplanements continue to soar for 2015.
Longtime State Farm agent/developer John Montesano Jr. dead at 84
The former city council member died peacefully in his sleep Wednesday.
Group finds Mexico hurt US by dumping subsidized sugar
The U.S. International Trade Commission has ruled unanimously that Mexico hurt farmers in this country by dumping heavily subsidized sugar on U.S. markets.
Ahrens’ day-to-day biz unaffected by FINRA fine, \"suspension\"
The local financial adviser cites cost of litigation, desire to end \"false rumors\" in settlement agreement with regulatory authority.
I-49 Lafayette Connector enters planning and design phase
I-49 Lafayette Connector will upgrade to interstate standards the 5.5-mile stretch of U.S. 90, running south from I-10 to just beyond Lafayette Regional Airport, representing a critical section linking Lafayette to New Orleans.
Stoli Group USA mixes with Bayou Rum
In a bid to reach international rocks glasses and muddle with the world's mojitos, Louisiana Spirit's Bayou Rum has joined forces with vodka giant Stoli USA.
Councilman seeks to block apartments near LA Ave-I-10
"I have found that the major factor in securing better jobs, better retail options and higher level of businesses has been our housing market."
Entrepreneur of the Year nominations deadline Friday at noon
Surely you know a local businessman or businesswoman deserving of this honor.
Kergan Bros. wins top award from Sonic Industries
Local Sonic franchisee Ted Kergan receives Troy Smith Award, company’s highest honor.
N.O. entrepreneur launches airline Glo
New airline offering non-stop flights from Louis Armstrong to Shreveport, Little Rock and Memphis beginning in November.
Local Whole Foods spared from job cuts
With reports that Louisiana Whole Foods locations will bear some part of a swath of cuts, Lafayette's store is unaffected, a local manager says.
Tsunami Sushi Bar to open New Orleans location
Big Easy sushi snobs will get a taste of how Acadiana rolls.
Todaros expand Marcello's to Metairie
In partnership with Moody family, Sicilian restaurant and wine bar will open on Veterans Blvd. early next year.
Federal court authorizes seizure of Moreno’s BR property
Lafayette businessman had planned major mixed-use development between Downtown and LSU.
Meet the WWMB Class of 2015, a local financial adviser gets a Wells Notice and LCG traffic engineer Warren Abadie talks roads, safety and more.
INNOV8 hosts monthly meetup for local techies
INNOV8 Acadiana and the Opportunity Machine are hosting the first free monthly meetup at LITE Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m.
Lafayette woman faces up to 30 years after fraud conviction
Catherine Doucet Romero admitted to defrauding investors out of more than $1.27 million in a scheme in which she told them they were investing in a manufacturing facility and tannery for exotic skins.
Schumacher, new partner Onex complete purchase of Fla. competitor
Lafayette-based company now operating in 29 states and 358 hospitals.
La. colleges owed $15M from racing commission, audit says
A new audit says higher education, which has struggled with budget cuts, has been shortchanged more than $15 million it was owed from the Louisiana State Racing Commission.
New Iberia-based Bayou Companies announcing major expansion
The local oilfield service company, a subsidiary of St. Louis, Mo.-based Aegion Corporation, set to deliver (much-needed) good economic news at Wednesday’s Iberia Parish Council meeting.
Boudreaux pleads ‘not guilty’ to felony theft
Architect Henry Boudreaux was indicted by a Lafayette grand jury on a single count of theft over $25,000.
Lafayette General buys Regional Med Center
Lafayette General Health, the parent company of Lafayette General Medical Center, has announced the purchase of the Regional Medical Center of Acadiana. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
Local tech leaders weigh in on the challenges and opportunities in their fast-growing sector, along with the economic role they aim to play in Lafayette’s future.
The popular Downtown music venue wants out of Downtown — zoning-wise — but might be party to a broader solution to the moratorium on new bar licenses in the district.
Frank’s International announces 4th Annual Chili Cook-off
Frank’s International has announced its 4th Annual Chili Cook-off and is now accepting team registration forms for the yearly charity event taking place this November at Blackham Coliseum.
The City-Parish Council Tuesday will vote on an ordinance for final adoption that would codify non-traditional transportation services like Uber and Lift to the current ordinance that regulates traditional taxicab and limousine companies.
Lafayette-based web-developer Bizzuka Inc. looks to cancel out the noise in mobile communication, and diversify its skill set in the process.
The Adventures of Fred and Stella
Jewelry manufacturer Stuller Inc. is proving the future is now with its robot associates.
Potenza Inc. acquires Information archiTECH
With the acquisition of software developer Information archiTECH, Potenza Inc. creates Potenza Innovations and moves into the app and software design market.
Oyster hatchery built with $3M from BP settlement opens
The 7,000-square-foot concrete building, designed to withstand 140-mph winds, is raised 20 feet above sea level and will more than double production of the larvae used to seed oyster grounds
Legal dispute between Covington-based company’s heirs leads to estimated $4.5 million deal for Lafayette company.
14 Lafayette businesses popped in ATC crackdown
More than a dozen bars, restaurants and convenience stores including some well-known and popular eateries were cited for alcohol sales to minors during a recent “2015 Summer Crackdown” by the state office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control.
JSP hosts INNOV8 G60 Practice Pitch Event
INNOV8 Acadiana is hosting a free Practice Pitch Training event at Jefferson Street Pub Wednesday, Aug. 19. The event welcomes anyone interested in practicing his elevator pitch in a pressure-free learning environment.
Charles A. Lanphier gets four years in tax fraud scheme
Feds say Lafayette businessman withheld about $6 million in employee taxes and kept them for himself.
He’s stepped down as publisher of the state's largest newspaper, which he owns — fueling speculation he’s running for office.
Mark Knight bonds out again; question is why
Former Knight Oil Tools CEO's latest quick entrance and exit from the parish jail has some in the legal community scratching their heads.
TEDxVermilionStreet announces speaker lineup
A mayor, a choral director, a civic activist, an ecologist, a physicist, an artist, an architect, two speech pathologists, two civil servants, a fashionista and a bio-engineer walk into a bar...
United nixes direct flight to Denver
United Airlines confirms that it is canceling direct service between Lafayette and Denver after Oct. 23.
Tabasco plans to expand visitor center, open restaurant
McIlhenny Company, the maker of Tabasco Sauce, is expanding and renovating the visitor center at its Avery Island headquarters.The Advocate reports that the company will soon be opening a restaurant s
Goldman Sachs Bank aims to seize Moreno's BR property
Latest in a string of lawsuits puts businessman’s long-awaited Baton Rouge development in peril.
Natural gas outsells coal as nation's top fuel
With natural gas prices dropping and emission restrictions tightening, coal is falling out of favor as the fuel of choice for national power grids.
IAmA JoDu and T-Hu, ask me anything
Terry Huval and Joey Durel face the world in the online mega-community's daily question and answer series.
Florida-based Benedict ad agency expands to Lafayette
Relationships with Tony Chachere’s and other local businesses prompt expansion to area.
Canadian company chooses Lafayette for manufacturing/service center
Logging-tool manufacturing project will result in the creation of 17 direct jobs.
Lafayette Regional Airport has best May ever
First five months of this year up 8.2 percent over same period last year.
Russo holds social media webinar for parents
Developing Digital Citizens is an hour-long webinar presented June 30 at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. by firm owner Jaci Russo, who is also a mother of four.
LEDA's Gothreaux: ‘Expect this year to be a rough one’
Delivering his fourth annual State of the Economy, LEDA chief doesn’t sugar coat the challenges ahead.
Preparing the future leaders of Acadiana’s family-owned businesses is good for everyone.
Bill to loosen financial disclosure heads to Jindal
Volunteers for minor boards and commissions shouldn’t have to follow state ethics rules that require the annual disclosure of financial information, both the House and Senate have agreed.
Stuller designer sparkles in major trade show competition
Travis Withers wins top honor at JCK Las Vegas for domed platinum and diamond pendant.
Local company is leading the vending industry into the 21st century, rolling out vending machines that will accept credit, debit, and mobile wallet payments.
Bryan Knight sues brother Mark, three others in alleged framing
Federal civil rights suit claims former chief executive Mark Knight conspired to have his younger brother arrested in order to gain control of Bryan’s ownership in Knight Oil Tools.
IberiaBank’s Trahan named 2015 Distinguished Citizen
Longtime banker and civic leader will be honored at a luncheon Friday, June 5, at the Cajundome Convention Center.
Boston Globe profiles LUS Fiber
“People in Boston think of their city as a major tech hub. But to see a dynamic broadband Internet market in action, you’re better off heading to Cajun country.”
Equal pay bill wins passage from La. Senate
The Louisiana Senate has backed an equal pay proposal, with senators choosing anti-discrimination arguments over concerns about frivolous lawsuits.
Rep. Bishop's controversial anti-union bill postponed
A contentious anti-union bill has hit a snag in the Louisiana House, with a widely-anticipated debate scrapped amid strong pushback from police, firefighters and teachers.
Initial unemployment claims drop in Louisiana
First-time claims for unemployment insurance in Louisiana for the week ending May 2 decreased from the previous week's total.
The deal will create the world’s third-largest offshore container company.
KLAF-TV to join forces with NBC
KLAF-TV is making the switch to primetime, joining the NBC Network as its affiliate in the Lafayette market.
Gachassin ethics hearing Thursday in Baton Rouge
Alleged ethically challenged developer and state Ethics Board both set to make their cases for summary judgment.
Holbrook Multi Media opens NOLA office
Local company has spent nearly 40 years in the growing Louisiana production industry, providing turnkey production services, equipment, support and post-production, along with offering award-winning advertising campaigns.
Move to regulate cable providers fails
When asked last week to give the Public Service Commission the authority to regulate cable and video service providers, the House Commerce Committee changed the channel.
Billeaud Companies unveils Villa Broussard apartment complex
Broussard-based development group partners with Brown Builders and Fairfield Property Management on Nazaire Road project.
Courtesy Automotive takes over Frenzel Motors
Lafayette-based auto dealer adds Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM to Abbeville portfolio.
Standard & Poor’s upgrades the municipal communications system’s bond rating, indicating confidence in its financial and operational performance.
The ever-growing Lafayette-based Double R Restaurant Group continues to thrive with plans for the expansion of new Romacellis throughout the state.
Tipster in Knight Oil Tools case revealed
ABiz has confirmed that Barret John Lemaire, the director of IT for Knight Oil Tools, knew about the alleged scheme to frame Bryan Knight for some time before alerting officials.
It’s a doozy: Arrest report includes stunning new details in Knight racketeering case
Document reveals how Bryan Knight’s 2014 drug arrest was peppered with red flags and establishes why his older brother, Mark Knight, allegedly set out to frame him.
Former Knight Oil employee Manuel turns himself in
Ex-property manager is last of four implicated in alleged scheme to frame former exec Mark Knight’s brother for possessing illegal drugs.
Mark Knight booted from company board
In what surely comes as no surprise, the embattled director was voted out as chairman and board member.
Initial unemployment claims fall
The state labor department says first-time claims for unemployment insurance in Louisiana for the week ending March 28 decreased to 2,622 from the previous week's total of 2,723.
La. ag industry reports record-breaking year in 2014
For the third year in a row, Louisiana farmers had record-breaking values for many of their commodities.
Starbucks aims to help 25k employees attain college degrees
Starbucks has announced an expansion to a program rolled out last year offering college tuition reimbursement to employees.
Steven Hebert leaves Coldwell Banker Pelican
Firm’s most visible exec and lead market researcher heads to another local real estate/development entity.
Stuller hosts annual bench jeweler workshop
On Saturday, several hundred bench jewelers gathered in Lafayette to improve their craft.
Downtown Whitney Bank building sells for $1.9M
Baton Rouge group enters market with deal that also includes three nearby parking lots.
Global Data Systems buys MidSouth Technologies of Lockport
Combination aims to cement GDS as premier provider of maritime communications services in Western Hemisphere.
Metal Shark scores Naval contract worth millions
A Jeanerette company has a $15.3 million Navy contract to build rigid-hull inflatable boats for foreign military sales, with options that could bring the total to $47.4 million.
Louisiana unemployment rate falls, but so do payrolls
Louisiana's job market sputtered in January as the state recorded the third-highest unemployment rate among the states.
Jeff Kleinpeter out as president and CEO of family dairy
On leave since late January amid immense speculation he would not return, former exec confirms retirement.
Tsunami’s Nonato, Nguyen buy into expanding concept
Longtime employees’ equity position part of new Cypress Bayou location, potential Crescent City site.
Biz groups oppose Jindal tax credits plan
Louisiana's business lobbying groups are calling a centerpiece of Gov. Bobby Jindal's budget proposal for next year a multimillion-dollar tax hike on business.
Nearly 22 years after being purchased by a Georgia-based company, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen still stresses its Bayou State roots.
River Ranch developers land $200M CenturyLink TND
Lafayette-based Southern Lifestyle Development is charged with creating the master plan for a TND near CenturyLink’s Monroe headquarters.
Moreno selling Southern Equine Stables
It’s not just the oilman's prized thoroughbreds that are on the sale block.
Mike Moreno unloading equine interests
Thoroughbred auction house Fasig-Tipton aims to sell Southern Equine Stables LLC's prized runners.
Lafayette’s Blue Victory buys 28 Hardee’s stores in Miss., Ala.
Local franchisee says seven more stores in the works for South Louisiana.
Oceaneering buys C&C Technologies for $230M cash
Houston-based publicly traded company teams up with Lafayette's private mapping and surveying provider to create global “technical and operational powerhouse.”
Initial La. unemployment claims fall
The state labor department figures released Friday show the initial claims decreased to 2,531 from the previous week's total of 2,987. For the comparable week a year earlier, there were 2,220 claims.
Lafayette-based LCS Corrections purchased by Fla. co.
Prison operator The Geo Group will spend $312 million in cash to buy eight correctional and detention locations from the privately held company, founded in Lafayette in 1990 by Jaco LeBlanc.
DIRECTV and KATC hammer out a deal to get the local ABC affiliate back on the satellite service — not coincidentally just ahead of February sweeps.
Major management shakeup at Knight Oil Tools
In response to ABiz’s questions about the removal of Mark Knight as president/CEO of Knight Oil Tools, the company issued a press release confirming Mark’s departure and replacement by Earl Blackwell. But that’s about all it’s saying.
Major management shakeup at Knight Oil Tools
In response to ABiz’s questions about the removal of Mark Knight as president/CEO of the oilfield services company, Knight Oil Tools issued a press release confirming Mark’s departure and replacement by Earl Blackwell. But that’s about all it’s saying.
Probe into canceled Medicaid contract continues
Assistant Attorney General David Caldwell said the probe into the contract that had been awarded to Maryland-based Client Network Services Inc., known as CNSI, will start running into time limits for bringing further charges later this year.
Kam Movassaghi retires from Fenstermaker
After a decade as president of the consulting engineering firm, former DOTD chief says he will remain active in the profession but has no specific plans.
ABiz’s entrepreneur symposium airs on AOC 1 Dec. 31
Local public access channel sets four air times for inaugural event.
ESI Fabrication announces $3M expansion
A $3 million expansion is underway for ESI Fabrication, including construction of a massive metal cutting and parts fabrication facility at its New Iberia location.
Bollinger Shipyards changes hands
There’s a change in ownership at Bollinger Shipyards, a major builder of military and commercial vessels in the Gulf Coast with its 10 shipyards.
Honeywell completes $33M expansion in BR
A $33 million modernization project at Honeywell’s chemical and refrigerant gases manufacturing facility in Baton Rouge has been completed.
Two Curious Goods conspirators get 10 yrs
Sentences ranging from 3.5 years to almost 10 years were handed down to the six men charged in a synthetic marijuana sales and money laundering scheme operated through Curious Goods stores.
One of the most common complaints from fresh college graduates around Louisiana who are eager to join the local workforce is that they only seem to find qualified jobs out of state, forcing many of them to leave the home they love for the sake of their career.
Open Technology Institute says LUS Fiber’s home Internet is the Speedy Gonzales of the world.
Just hours before this issue was going to press, Coldwell Banker Pelican Real Estate’s Steven Hebert delivered more upbeat news: “With some amazement, I can report that at some point last week, Lafayette Parish real estate sales surpassed last year’s annual record of $674 million."
2014: Biggest year ever for Lafayette real estate market
For the real estate market in Lafayette Parish, 2014 has proven a record-breaking year.
Coca-Cola Lafayette has recently secured the exclusive pouring rights to serve its products within the Cajundome for its numerous recreational and athletic events.
Lafayette man busted for benefits fraud
State police say a 47-year-old Lafayette man, who collected more than $83,000 in disability benefits, is accused of operating two businesses out of his home at a time when he claimed he had no...
The Big Picture For Calcasieu Parish
A new study analyzes the state of the Lake Charles region and the impact 19 industrial projects will have on residents. Officials in Lake Charles have known for some time now that big business was...
LHC Group’s Keith Myers named 2014 Entrepreneur of the Year
Founder of Lafayette-based home health/hospice provider will receive ABiz‘s annual honor at a first-ever Entrepreneur of the Year Symposium Thursday, Dec. 18.
LUS: System is safe, crash unrelated to email issues
This week's crash of LUS Fiber's Internet service, coming on the heels of an email problem, has some customers worrying about their service.
JPMorgan Chase invests in future of La. workforce with $1M donation
JPMorgan Chase is giving $1 million to Louisiana's community and technical colleges, to help with workforce training efforts to match students to available jobs. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - JPMorgan Chase...
Schumacher Group refinances debt
Lafayette-based emergency department staffing and management company raises $120 million in senior credit facilities through GE Capital, Healthcare Financial Services. Schumacher Group, the...
An investment group led by Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets will buy the Louisiana power company Cleco for $3.4 billion. PINEVILLE, La. (AP) - An investment group led by Macquarie...
Forecast: Lafayette 4th fastest-growing MSA; Lake Charles on fire
Economist Loren Scott says Louisiana is in the midst of an industrial boom unlike any other in its history, with more than $100 billion in industrial projects either under construction or in the...
What's going down at Daily Advertiser?
Investors aren't enthusiastic about parent company Gannett's spinoff plan, and that's bad news for employees. [Editor's Note: Amid what's being called a "redesign" of the newsroom (for us at...
Perficient Bringing 245 tech jobs to Lafayette
Software development center represents third such project in Hub City this year. St. Louis-based Perficient Inc. President and CEO Jeff Davis announced in early September that the company will...
The search is on for a new airport director
A replacement is expected by January to fill the vacancy left when Greg Roberts resigned after allegedly pointing a fake gun at an engineer during a June meeting. A nationwide search is under way to...
Georges still putting millions into Advocate
Daily paper constructing new digs near production plant on Rieger Road at Siegen Lane, near I-10. Design by Remson|Haley|Herpin Architects Lafayette's Lemoine Company was awarded the contract to...
La. AG sues State Farm, alleges pattern of fraud
"In some cases, we've found that these parts are nothing more than used junk yard parts. In others, we've found them to be foreign knock-off parts of questionable quality." AG Buddy...
The old Daily Advertiser building on Jefferson Street is being rehabbed as the owner prepares to move it back into commerce. The old Daily Advertiser building on Jefferson Street is being rehabbed as...
Omega Protein to expand Abbeville plant
Omega Protein Corp. says it's adding a new steam dryer and cooling tower to increase peak processing ability at its plant in Abbeville. ABBEVILLE, La. (AP) - Omega Protein Corp. says it's adding a new...
Not in my backyard: US sending dirty coal abroad
"Although the administration is moving forward with climate change regulations at home, we don't consider how policy decisions in the United States impact greenhouse gas emissions in other parts...
Louisiana agriculture officials say prices for long-grain rice are projected to drop this year. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana agriculture officials say prices for long-grain rice are projected to...
Weekly jobless claims decrease
First-time claims for unemployment insurance in Louisiana for the week ending July 19 decreased from the previous week's total. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - First-time claims for unemployment insurance in...
Petroleum Club Takes Over Stewart's La Marquise
Oil Center-based private facility extends its offerings with special events venue in failed women's store.
Newspaper industry insiders question John Georges' expansion plan. [Editor's Note: Below is an excerpt from an essay in News Evolution or Revolution: The Future of Print Journalism in the Digital Age,...
One year later, is his expansion plan paying off? This story originally appeared in Baton Rouge's Business Report and is its copyrighted material. © 2014 Baton Rouge Business Report reserves all...
Family owned Baton Rouge milk and ice-cream producer aims to put PR nightmare behind it. In a letter posted Thursday on the company's Facebook page, company CEO Jeff Kleinpeter explains the steps...
Greg Gachassin unloads Kaliste Saloom hotel for $4.9M
Faced with paying a hefty ethics fine, the local real estate developer sells another property, his Wingate by Wyndham hotel. Google Images/May 2013 On June 23 Greg Gachassin and his brothers sold...
$6M overbilling settlement against Acadian moves forward
Both parties' agreement to reduce $17 million judgment to $5.9 million settlement proceeds without objection. [Editor's Note: This story has been corrected to reflect the current size of the class of...
Advo: Cleco chief's golden parachute $29 million
Utility company's remaining top six executives stand to pocket $20 million total if the company is acquired. Bruce Williamson The Advocate dug up some interesting tidbits in corporate filings about...
ABiz is once again seeking nominations for its annual list of Acadiana's Top 50 Private Companies. On July 22 ABiz will publish its fifth annual Top 50 list of private companies as a cover story,...
OSHA fines Acadian Fine Foods $122K
Federal agency cites Church Point food processor for 16 serious and repeat violations, including willfully overexposing workers to CO2. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health...
Feds renew tariff on frozen Chinese crawfish
The International Trade Commission has renewed the antidumping tariff on frozen Chinese crawfish meat into 2017 - expected but good news after a bad crawfish season. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The...
UL football injects nearly $30 million into local economy
When Cajun Field's capacity swells to more than 60,000, economic impact will reach $47.5 million annually. UL Director of Athletics Scott Farmer In 2013 alone, the Ragin' Cajuns football program had...
What's all the fuss about Costco?
A Costco lover breaks down the pluses of the warehouse club and explains why you'll want to check it out. Prada and Fendi handbags. I'm not kidding you. Prada handbags at a wholesale club? You...
Stirling brings Costco, other big names to new Ambassador center
Commercial real estate firm confirms plans to purchase 58 acres of Boustany family land to construct $100 million shopping center. [Editor's Note: A planned Friday update to this story explaining how...
Acadiana Regional Airport becomes more attractive to potential business
Acadiana Regional Airport in Iberia Parish could see a surge in development in the coming years with its recent selection as a Cleco SmartSite. Acadiana Regional Airport in Iberia Parish could see a...
Lawmakers second guess red money keeping budget in black
In recent weeks the chatter in the Capitol's hallways has been ratcheted up by a small handful of lawmakers and special interests who wonder if Russia's military move on Ukraine should influence...
There's no way around it, Lafayette Regional Airport needs a new terminal, an expanded parking lot and a bigger ramp, yet that can only happen if voters approve a one-of-a-kind tax this fall. There's...
Hilton changing flag to Doubletree
West Pinhook Road property purchased for $30.5 million in late April. The Hilton Lafayette, purchased in late April by an out-of-state partnership, is set to undergo a multi-million-dollar renovation...
Keg owners banned from biz for two years
Their liquor license revoked, John Slaughter Jr. and his family can't have any involvement in The Keg for two years, nor can they work for an establishment that sells alcohol. Photo by Robin May Keg...
Fate of Keg, Tuffy's, Arcadian, Jerseys on tap Monday
ATC Commissioner Troy Hebert holding administrative hearings in Lafayette today. The fate of The Keg and three other local bars hangs in the balance as Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control...
Notes from the Legislature's regular session
Surrogacy births, ethics exemption for Heitmeier, term limits and increased penalties for heroin distribution. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Legislation to regulate surrogacy births in Louisiana is nearing...
Canadian company bringing new 400-job technology center to Lafayette is same entity behind the disastrous healthcare.gov rollout Photo by Robin May Flanked by local officials Monday, Gov. Bobby Jindal...
CGI bringing 400-job technology center to Lafayette
World's fifth-largest IT company will anchor UL Research Park on West Congress Street Photo by Robin May CGI's James Peake announced Monday that the Canadian company is bringing a technology center...
Longtime Lafayette retailer ventures online. Photo by Robin May Brother Abdalla and daughter Alicia Mouton For more than three decades Brother's on the Boulevard has been a standby in Lafayette's...
Fresh Perspectives: Our INDesign Commercial Winners
The annual juried competition recognizes excellence in architecture, interior design and historic preservation in Lafayette and the five surrounding parishes. Each year IND Media's INDesign Awards...
Lafayette-based insurance broker/risk management group bought by Florida firm for undisclosed sum; principals Landry and Harris continue to run local operations. Lake Mary, Florida-based...
U.S. jury hits Takeda, Eli Lilly with $9B penalty
The drug companies said Tuesday they will "vigorously challenge" the decision, which was handed down by a Lafayette jury in federal court Monday. TOKYO (AP) - On Monday a U.S. jury in...
Senators rewrite payday lending restriction bill
Under a bill that received the backing of a Senate judiciary committee, a person would be limited to 10 short-term loans a year from payday lenders. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -Under a bill that received...
Notes from the La. Legislature's regular session
Revenue Secretary Tim Barfield told lawmakers Tuesday that he expects the state to collect $100 million in back-owed taxes through an amnesty period planned for later this year. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)...
Lafayette firm donates aerial vehicle to Nicholls
Nicholls State University students in the field of "geomatics" - the use of data about the earth's surface - will have access to the latest advancements in surveying technology with the...
Ethics Board seeks upwards of $1.5 million from Greg Gachassin
The board hopes to recover all fees paid, plus one-half, along with what could amount to hundreds of thousands in additional penalties. There is very little in the Louisiana Board of Ethics' Feb. 3...
Move is part of company-wide consolidation of residential call centers. Atlanta-based Cox Communications is consolidating its Louisiana call centers in Baton Rouge, resulting in the loss of 58 jobs in...
800 new tech jobs on way to Bossier City
A computer services company announced Tuesday that it plans to open a new technology center in Bossier City, creating 800 new jobs and bolstering efforts to position northwest Louisiana as a center...
Local companies buy stakes in Wing Nutz
Lafayette-based public company American Restaurant Concepts buys ownership in franchisor of Wing Nutz restaurants, while businessman Seenu Kasturi's private equity firm acquires 50 percent interest in...
After years of delays, Mike Moreno's proposed mixed-use development on Nicholson Drive in Baton Rouge is set to take off.
Bruce Foods sheds two of its four plants
Bruce Foods of New Iberia has sold part of its brand and two of its four manufacturing plants to South Carolina-based McCall Farms.
Reuters: Target, Neiman Marcus not alone in cyber attacks
Sources familiar with attacks on other merchants, security breaches not yet publicly confirmed, claim at least three other well-known U.S. retailers were targeted. Sources are telling Reuters that...
Recent hires, promotions and news from the world of Acadiana business Monday, Dec. 16, 2015 Erica Geoffroy has joined Allison Marine Holdings as marketing director, a newly created position. A...
Around Town: Mellow Mushroom takes over old Bako’s
Before you go off on this "cursed corner" on Johnston and Doucet, think about why its previous concepts failed.
Treasurer warns about investing in Puerto Rico bonds
Louisiana investors who use mutual funds to save for college, retirement or a rainy day could unknowingly be investing in high-risk Puerto Rico bonds. Louisiana investors who use mutual funds to save...
C'est What? Moreno buys Troy Aikman's Dallas home
In the months leading up to his company's bankruptcy, the ostentatious businessman was dropping millions on yet another home. A Dallas-based website that caters to the "truly real-estate obsessed...
A dearth of country music concerts at the Cajundome in 2014 could spell trouble for the facility's bottom line. A dearth of country music concerts at the Cajundome in 2014 could spell trouble for the...
Supporters of redrawing the Lafayette-Vermilion parish border say accuracy is at stake. And maybe a little tax revenue. By Walter Pierce Oct. 15, 2013 In 2004 landman Don Bertrand was headed south on...
Local print company celebrates a half century in business. Local print company celebrates a half century in business. By Lisa Hanchey Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013 While in high school, Edmond deBoisblanc...
Our dependence on foreign oil is now a matter of choice, as we have the resources, means and technology to free ourselves - and stop supporting countries with savage practices. A recent news headline...
IberiaBank buying Memphis branches of Trust One Bank
IberiaBank has signed a definitive agreement to buy the Memphis operations of Trust One Bank, a division of Synovus Bank. IberiaBank has signed a definitive agreement to buy the Memphis operations of...
Clancy DuBos remembers the steely tenacity and Southern charm of the first woman elected to Congress from Louisiana. Graciousness is rare in a politician. Genuine kindness ranks not far behind. Most...
Will big oil pay to save our wetlands? It didn't take long for the oil and gas industry to play a political trump card in the nascent but epic legal battle over who should pay to rebuild Louisiana's...
Phillip Smith turns his love of riding the water into Louisiana's first full-sized cable wake park on Mills Street. Phillip Smith turns his love of riding the water into Louisiana's first full-sized...
Four steps to moving state sales taxes into the 21st century Four steps to moving state sales taxes into the 21st century By Michael Leachman and Michael Mazerov Friday, July 19, 2013 Antiquated...
In a fight over oil royalties, it's landowners 2, oil company 0. In a fight over oil royalties, it's landowners 2, oil company 0. By Walter Pierce Friday, July 19, 2013 So far so good for four...
Are Lafayette smokers ready to quit puffing, at least in the traditional sense, and start vaping up on electronic cigarettes instead? For Swamp Vapor, which opened the doors of its new retail shop on...
Laborde & Neuner now NeunerPate. Laborde & Neuner now NeunerPate. By Heather Miller Monday, June 17, 2013 Jim Pate and Frank Neuner of NeunerPate Lafayette corporate defense attorneys Frank...
According to those who know it best, Louisiana's famed oyster industry is in a precarious state. According to those who know it best, Louisiana's famed oyster industry is in a precarious state. By...
Tax overhaul: Looking to IRS scandal for momentum
WASHINGTON (AP) - The storm engulfing the Internal Revenue Service could provide a boost for lawmakers who want to simplify U.S. tax laws - a code that is so complicated most Americans buy commercial...
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Protesters rallied in dozens of cities Saturday as part of a global protest against seed giant Monsanto and the genetically modified food it produces, organizers said. LOS ANGELES...
Stocks jump after home prices, confidence surge
NEW YORK (AP) - A rally that that brought the stock market to record highs this year came back to life after U.S. home prices rose the most in seven years and consumer confidence reached a five-year...
Our public bodies would do themselves, and us, a favor by adopting the ABA's Modern Rules of Order.' Our public bodies would do themselves, and us, a favor by adopting the ABA's Modern Rules of...
Lafayette entrepreneurs find creative ways to get into the restaurant business on a dime. Lafayette entrepreneurs find creative ways to get into the restaurant business on a dime. Photos by Robin...
The Lafayette Parish Bar Foundation hosted its annual Champions of Justice awards breakfast earlier this year at the City Club in River Ranch. The Lafayette Parish Bar Foundation hosted its annual...
There's no shortage of lawyers in Lafayette - one for every 185 of the 225,000 residents living in the parish - and our attorney population shows no signs of slowing. Lafayette Bar Association...
If Lafayette doesn't make critical public infrastructure and quality-of-life investments, we're playing a losing hand for the future. You can bet on that. If Lafayette doesn't make critical public...
Another Oil Center Renaissance
Ruth Ann Menutis is executing big plans for the city's center. Ruth Ann Menutis is executing big plans for the city's center. There's a significant amount of redevelopment going on in the Oil Center,...
For farmers in Acadiana, sugar cane, rice and soybeans remain the top crops in 2012. The state of the agriculture industry in Louisiana, despite being confronted with an arsenic scare in this year's...
Cyber Monday likely to be busiest online sales day
Bye-bye Black Friday. So long Small Business Saturday. Now, it's Cyber Monday's turn. NEW YORK (AP) - Bye-bye Black Friday. So long Small Business Saturday. Now, it's Cyber Monday's turn. Cyber...
‘12 Days of Christmas' price tag: $107K
Add seven swans, six geese and five golden rings to the list of Christmas gifts that cost more than they did a year ago. PITTSBURGH (AP) - Add seven swans, six geese and five golden rings to the list...
An extreme makeover is in the works for Lafayette's second oldest shopping center. The nearly 6-decade-old Winnwood Shopping Center is undergoing a major facelift - the new version having as much sex...
Oil and gas tax exemptions largely escape legislative scrutiny this year. Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012 By Jeremy Alford While the Revenue Study Commission might give way to some minor reforms in terms of...
Controversial legislation involving standby vessels may be on hold until next term. The leader of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association recently took U.S. Rep. Jeff Landry, R-New Iberia, to task over...
Louisiana ranked in top states leading economic recovery
Louisiana ranks sixth overall in Area Development magazine's 2012 Top States for Doing Business. According to a recent survey from Area Development magazine called Top States for Doing Business,...
A local filmmaker's effort to help others use the Sony F65 got him noticed by the major electronics manufacturer. Bobby Holbrook of Holbrook Multi Media garnered the attention of both Sony Europe and...
A local web design company is offering websites to its clients within 24 hours. What if getting a website was like getting a tattoo? You walk in, and a few hours later you leave with a work of art. So...
I certainly do. Before I get on my soapbox, I want to acknowledge how blessed I am to be in Louisiana. My firm is supported and hired by some of the most amazing clients and businesses. A good...
A new office at Martin Hall on campus could pay huge dividends for Lafayette's economy. Gary Breit's success as the director of UL Lafayette's new Office of Innovation Management could have a...
MidSouth Bank and Andrus Insurance Again Team Up for Entrée to Business Breakfast
Dr. Loren Scott will present his economic forecast for 2013-2014. MidSouth Bank and Dwight Andrus Insurance will once again join ABiz to produce the 9th annual Entrée to Business presentation,...
Bottom Line: Workforce Wellness a Net Positive
Investing in the health of employees can result in increased productivity and reduced health care costs. A once-novel concept in the business world, the general perception of employee wellness is...
Mignon Faget expands to Lafayette
Popular New Orleans-based jewelry designer brings her nature-inspired forms to Camellia Boulevard. New Orleans native Mignon Faget is expanding her popular jewelry line to the Hub City, opening a...
State's sugar cane crop set to suffer $60 million hit from Hurricane Isaac. After surveying sugar cane fields in south Louisiana that suffered the wind and rain of Hurricane Isaac, state Agriculture...
FuzziBunz founder appears on Shark Tank
This Friday's episode of ABC's Shark Tank will feature Acadiana businesswoman Tereson Dupuy, founder and CEO of FuzziBunz diapers.
Oil-spill tests aim to minimize future disasters
The largest energy outfits in the Gulf have teamed up to create the Marine Well Containment Co., aiming to improve rapid response to future oil spills. In a simulated crisis staged by the federal...
Bankers want feds to maintain sugar supports
Sugar is the world's most heavily subsidized commodity and a strong sugar policy is the only way to level the playing field for Louisiana sugar cane growers, says American Sugar Cane League General...
The administration's Gulf leasing plan prompted an unlikely alliance. By Jeremy Alford July 26, 2012 While federal oil and gas issues traditionally divide industry supporters and environmental...
Most of the highest paid state employees can be found in Louisiana's colleges and universities. But are they worth what they're being paid? By Jeremy Alford July 26, 2012 There are 185 state employees...
Chef Marc Krampe heats up the kitchen in new Johnston Street venture By Leslie Turk July 26, 2012 Southern Hospitality Kitchens, the parent company of Charley G's, is developing a new concept for the...
Patrick Juneau There's nothing pretty about the oil spill claims BP is paying, but Lafayette attorney Pat Juneau contends the process is yielding significant benefits for the state. By Jeremy...
Local commercial real estate professionals weigh in on everything from the state of the local economy to the presidential election, interest rates and Lafayette's recent accolades. Local commercial...
All signs point to a robust retail market in Lafayette. With retail sales continuing to hold the top spot as the standout economic indicator in the parish and national retailers getting back in...
So far For fiscal year 2011/2012 - Nov. 1, 2011, to June 14, 2012 - the Top 10 commercial permits issued by Lafayette Consolidated Government in the city of Lafayette and the unincorporated areas of...
Developer Hammy Davis breathes new life into the old Mayfair Window and Door Co. warehouses on Cameron Street. By Leslie Turk Beau Box Vice President Monty Warren had been looking for warehouse space...
Waste Facilities of Lafayette, which was in the middle of developing a waste transfer station on Sunbeam Lane in north Lafayette when the City-Parish Council revoked its permit and immediately halted...
Acquitted on forgery and fraud charges, decorator Judy Lyons is pursuing her defamation case against a wealthy oil-patch family in federal court and wielding a law used against the Mob to do it.
Johnston Street store in the works. By Leslie Turk If you like Rouses' Lafayette store, you'll love its newest location in New Orleans' Warehouse District. And if all goes as planned, the second...
Lafayette artists and entrepreneurs are utilizing Kickstarter.com as an innovative means of fundraising. By Erin Z. Bass Last summer, Jeremy Broussard with Corvus Press launched a Kickstarter campaign...
You nominated 'em and we picked 'em. By ABiz Staff You know what it's selling or promoting. It's vibrant and engaging. Its colors are rich. You want to stay. That's some of the criteria ABiz...
An explosion of traditional neighborhood developments is about to go off as the brain trust behind River Ranch and Sugar Mill Pond make the model affordable for the rest of us. By Walter Pierce The...
Elise Bouchner How a local company saves businesses one meeting at a time By Emily Henagan Sit in on a local meeting where oil industry executives are effectively planning this year's goals and...
Fruge Named Business First Bank's Local Prez
The local banker sees no conflict in retaining some duties at SBA loan provider Louisiana Capital. By Heather Miller Louisiana Capital President and CEO Andre Fruge has been named Business First...
LHC Group reviews strategic alternatives' to boost stock price. By Leslie Turk No doubt hit by cuts to Medicare and faced with the uncertainty of further reductions, LHC Group announced Feb. 15 that...
A new cottage industry of iPhone and other Apple product repairs is thriving in Lafayette. By Heather Miller America's most popular smart phone has sparked a handful of new businesses popping up...
A report by Greater New Orleans Inc. purports to outline the effect of the drilling permit moratorium. By Alex Woodward In his January State of the Union address, President Barack Obama told Americans...
The Big Business of Health Care
The Big Business of Health Care Health care jobs are driving this economy, and the sector remains red hot. By Leslie Turk Since at least 2005, health care has been the largest employment sector in...
Agave No. 2 Popular downtown Mexican concept expands to Bertrand Drive. By Leslie Turk ** Agave No. 2** Popular downtown Mexican concept expands to Bertrand Drive. By Leslie Turk Downtown Lafayette's...
One Cup at a Time Moore Haus Coffee heats up the office coffee market with single-cup brewing. By Erin Z. Bass Cajuns love their coffee and have been known to stay loyal to their favorite brand, but...
Baking Power Young entrepreneurs are turning their kitchen skills into business success. By Elizabeth Rose Young entrepreneurs have emerged in the baking business in Lafayette, establishing their own...
Ringing Off the Wall The upward trend in retail sales that began in 2010 has continued in 2011, creating what will likely be the second-best year on record for Lafayette Parish. By Leslie...
InventureWorks has found a home in Gordon Towers on Vermilion Street, overlooking the atrium of what was once a very attractive old hotel. Now it houses businesses ranging from Poupart's Bistro to a...
ABiz looks back on the diverse announcements, transactions, issues and happenings that helped define the local business community in the past year. Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011 ABiz looks back on the...
Wednesday, November 23, 2011 Louisiana has passed two bills aimed at discouraging businesses from hiring undocumented workers, with significant potential penalties for employers. By David Jacobs In...
Wednesday, November 23, 2011 Silent for days, the Grand Theatre comes clean on speculation it was down-playing the seriousness of bed bugs. By Heather Miller As of Nov. 14, The Grand Theatres in...
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 Third Circuit ruling partially vindicates former Pathfinder employee. It reads like a bad script for a bad movie, but for Nakia Edmond it was anything but. Sexually...
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 By Erin Z. Bass Cell phone companies like AT&T and Verizon push the boundaries of wireless communications. Wednesday, September 28, 2011 By Erin Z. Bass Cell phone...
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 By Leslie Turk How much La Fonda tradition will follow Gabe Bako? Gabe Bako Wednesday, September 28, 2011 By Leslie Turk How much La Fonda tradition will follow Gabe...
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 By Walter Pierce **The $1.1 billion University Medical Center should begin rising in New Orleans' Mid City soon. But economic, demographic and legal variables could play...
**An experienced chef takes Bon Repas seasoning from jar to truck **By Nancy Deville An experienced chef takes Bon Repas seasoning from jar to truck By Nancy Deville It doesn't take long to recognize...
**Banks line up to garnish the C-P councilman's wages, begging the question about whether he is fit to serve. **By Leslie Turk **Banks line up to garnish the C-P councilman's wages, begging the...
Wednesday, July 27, 2011 By Wynce Nolley STM aims to arm students with the best technological tools for 21st century learning - and kicks the initiative up a notch with a student-run help...
Wednesday, July 27, 2011 By Nancy Deville A national recession and high gas prices haven't stopped consumers from enjoying their weekends on the road. Wednesday, July 27, 2011 By Nancy Deville A...
Wednesday, June 29, 2011 By Leslie Turk Popular restaurateur Gene Todaro takes it down a few notches. The restaurant doesn't quite take off like you'd hoped, and within a year a driver (who's not even...
Wednesday, June 29, 2011 By Heather Miller The ambiguity over a slew of new banking regulations could actually be what's hindering our economic recovery. The what you don't know won't hurt you' idiom...
Wednesday, June 29, 2011 Written by By Andrea Gallo When a D.C.-based company reneged on a contract to provide 20 international nurses to Opelousas General, the hospital sued it for fraud and won a...
Wednesday, May 25, 2011 Working hand-in-hand with local and regional economic development groups, Le Centre shines an international spotlight on the Cajun economy. By Ted McManus Not only do Philippe...
Wednesday, May 25, 2011 ** Lafayette's movie business is steadily growing and offers plenty of chances to see locals and landmarks on the big screen this summer. By Erin Z. Bass** Diners at...
Wednesday, May 25, 2011 LGMC's fitness center moving in. By Leslie Turk Vacant since early 2008, the Townhouse at 111 Auditorium Place is about to shape up. Wednesday, May 25, 2011 LGMC's fitness...
Devastated by a 2005 arrest for which she was later acquitted, the woman credited with bringing the faux finish craze to Lafayette 25 years ago has another shot at vindication.
Kleinpeter builds Lafayette distribution center
Wednesday, April 27, 2011 Baton Rouge-based Kleinpeter Farms Dairy is building a distribution center and office on a 3-acre site in the Lafayette Regional Industrial Park on Pont des Mouton...
Wednesday, April 27, 2011 A late August trade mission aims to help local companies increase their business by exporting their equipment, goods and services to Peru and Chile. By Ted McManus South...
MidSouth acquiring new branches in Dallas/Fort Worth area
As part of the deal, MidSouth will acquire approximately $70 million in loans and to assume more than $150 million in deposits. MidSouth Bank is jumping on a bank bankruptcy in Texas that is allowing...
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 ** Lafayette's yarn shops are producing a new generation of knitters. By Erin Z. Bass** When Kim Gunniss opened Yarn Nook in 2004, it was the only yarn shop in Lafayette....
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 Businesses taking advantage of Lafayette's broadband capabilities are driving profits and improving their bottom lines. By Erin Z. Bass When Chris Rader started his IT...
La Fonda's Gabe Bako has been absent for weeks. By Leslie Turk The conspicuous absence of what was once the most visible face at La Fonda is leading to lots of questions - and very little...
Whitney executives eligible for severance payments once deal with Hancock Holding is complete. By Rebecca Mowbray When Hancock Holding Co. revealed Dec. 22 that it was merging with Whitney Holding...
Wednesday, February 23, 2011 Snubbed by one of its longtime rivals in a takeover attempt, IberiaBank marches on. By Heather Miller A little more than a month after Whitney Holding Corp. announced its...
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 Shops at Martial lands new burrito concept. By Leslie Turk A new competitor is entering Lafayette's design-your-own burrito category. Texas-based Bullritos is opening a...
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 The Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce dropped a bunker buster on the Lafayette business community when it gave longtime state senator and chamber champion Mike Michot...
Wednesday, December 29, 2010** Hotel-motel tax receipts lagged in the first half of 2010, but August kicked off a robust rebound. By Erin Z. Bass** Responsible for bringing tourists to Lafayette, the...
Wednesday, December 29, 2010 Despite dire forecasts in much of 2010, the oil and gas industry is optimistic about 2011. By Nathan Stubbs It was looking like 2010 would be a good year for oil and gas...
A protracted legal battle over the assets of late Lafayette businessman Pat LeBlanc led his widow to evict several companies he once owned with his brother, including The Acadiana Gazette.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010 New commercial development in Youngsville allows residents to shop closer to home. By Walter Pierce What happens when a bedroom community starts getting its own...
Wednesday, November 24, 2010 Celebrating its Ruby anniversary, Stuller diversifies to weather the downturn and rising price of gold. By Erin Z. Bass Rubies, at least in terms of what they represent in...
Wednesday, November 24, 2010 A successful business venture between a Lafayette-based energy company and a group of Korean investors blossoms into a friendship. In February oil veteran Roy Melton, a...
Wednesday, November 24, 2010 The self-serve frozen yogurt competition heats up in Lafayette, and locals are lining up to chill out. By Erin Z. Bass Photos by Robin May It was a combination of Original...
Wednesday, November 24, 2010 Sporting goods retailer eyes La. Ave. By Leslie Turk Academy Sports + Outdoors, Acadiana's largest sporting goods retailer, plans to open a second Lafayette store in the...
Wednesday, November 24, 2010 A two-year lease with the Lafayette Public Library booked the sale of the Jefferson Street Market. By Mary Tutwiler When Rob and Catherine Robison shuttered Jefferson...
Wednesday, October 27, 2010 The long legal battle between A&B Bolt and its founder continues. By Walter Pierce Photos by Robin May Louisiana's Third Circuit Court of Appeal has let stand a bitter,...
Country's top burger coming to Lafayette. By Leslie Turk The burger Zagat rates No. 1 in the country is coming to Ambassador Caffery at Settlers Trace, and a familiar face is bringing it. Country's...
Wednesday, September 29, 2010 Don Hargroder managing Jackie Edgar Ford. By Leslie Turk It's becoming increasingly clear that auto dealer Don Hargroder isn't partial to any brand. Though primarily a...
Wednesday, September 29, 2010 FDIC accuses First Bank and Trust of unsound practices. By Walter Pierce Data compiled by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation shows that New Orleans-based First...
Hurricane Katrina: 5 Years Later Effects on Lafayette Parish On Aug. 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina, one of the five deadliest hurricanes in the country's history, wreaked havoc on New Orleans, sending...
**Wednesday, August 25, 2010 Written by Annie Bares Social networking sites are making it easier to connect with friends old and new - but those permanent posts can be costly.** Technology makes...
**Wednesday, July 28, 2010 Written by Nathan Stubbs A pending disciplinary case against Lafayette attorneys Kevin Stockstill and Daniel J. Stanford could have serious implications for their practices...
Wednesday, June 30, 2010 Written by Jeremy Alford A behind-the-scenes look at how the budget was passed, warts and all. The day the House first sent the state's $26 billion budget to the Senate, the...
**Wednesday, June 30, 2010 Written by Annie Bares From a broken iPhone screen to a cell that's been through the wash cycle, myPhoneMD can fix it. ** It took several spirited conversations and a chance...
**Wednesday, May 26, 2010 Written by Leslie Turk Johnston Street Java aims to help its customers escape the daily stresses of life in an atmosphere that will remind them of a simpler...
**Wednesday, May 26, 2010 Written by Leslie Turk An eyesore for the past year and a half, not to mention the perception the abandoned project created about the state of local construction, the Reserve...
Written by Jeremy Alford Wednesday, April 28, 2010 As more people turn to the Internet for their news, local and state governments are wondering whether paying newspapers to run public notices is the...
Yes, VP Biden, it's a big [expletive] deal. Here's the skinny on how - and when - health care reform will impact you. After a year of debates and stalls, it's finally here: the Patient Protection and...
Lafayette's first outdoor lifestyle center, Parc Lafayette, will open across from River Ranch. Coming soon to the prime quadrant at Kaliste Saloom Road, Camellia Boulevard, Long Plantation Road and...
Acadian Companies' safety/training center covers 19 acres - with 24 more to grow From a converted horse stable in Maurice to a new, state-of-the-art facility in Lafayette, the Safety Training Academy...
One Lafayette company is helping its executives step it up when it comes to their health. Flo Ziegler took advantage of an opportunity her employer, Stone Energy, offered to its executives in late...
With far-reaching legislation pending on the federal level and a fiscal crisis enveloping the state, Acadiana's health care industry is at a major crossroads. All the political hustle and bustle...
Holidome undergoes multimillion-dollar transformation into Holiday Inn Lafayette A $5.5 million renovation has turned the former Holidome into the “Holiday Inn of Lafayette.” Known for quality service...
Lafayette Chamber Releases 2010 Focus
The Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce will be at the forefront during 2010 advocating for a comprehensive development plan for the parish and for innovative initiatives to expand the economy....
A different look at cap and trade: President Barack Obama’s greenhouse gas emissions bill could lead to a completely different future for Louisiana’s chemical plants and oil producers. Due chiefly to...
Jindal, Vitter push to expand OCS drilling, but Interior Department is pushing back Louisiana’s top Republicans are pressuring the U.S. Interior Department to deliver on a plan first launched by...
Could drilling actually lessen greenhouse gases? Just consider the following: • Louisiana spews more industrial carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than any other state in the nation, which equates to...
The hubbub around north Louisiana’s Haynesville Shale play continues to hog investments, oftentimes at the expense of coastal properties. If you believe the studies, economic analysis and corporate...
Lafayette financial advisers weigh in on the local fallout from the Stanford scandal. There’s a sucker born every minute. The line was spoken 140 years ago and attributed to P.T. Barnum, creator of...
Area credit unions are weathering the financial crisis — but it’s not yet clear what impact the March failure of two large corporate credit unions will have locally. Consumers making a major purchase...
January’s dip, however, may not be a true sign of where we’re heading. When Lafayette’s December sales tax numbers came in, there was a collective sigh of relief. The parish was more than holding on,...
As those kernels of hope once held for corn get popped by a heated economy, investors and politicians are taking interest in another kind of ethanol made from agricultural waste. Faster than you can...
Lafayette Regional Airport’s passenger counts are down slightly from a banner year in 2007, but can May’s all-time high numbers keep pace for another record-breaking year? Greg Roberts, Lafayette...
$4-per-gallon gas is just starting to change local drivers’ buying habits. Sharon Moss says high gasoline prices are fueling hybrid sales but have not affected the luxury car market. photo by Robin...
IberiaBank snags a failed Arkansas bank’s deposits and branches, predicting there may be more opportunities to come. IberiaBank's Daryl Byrd photo by Robin May IberiaBank Corp., parent company of...
Having a spokesperson — most likely a woman — is becoming increasingly critical in a world where any misstep can be posted on YouTube in a matter of seconds. Julie Calzone of Lafayette-based Calzone...
After 100 years as a mutual savings bank, Home Bank plans an initial public offering. Mike Maraist and John Bordelon photo by Robin May When businessman Mike Maraist joined the board of Home Bank in...
Too many beans, too few counters
Demand for CPAs and accountants is at an all-time high. Alan Hebert is one of the lucky ones. When construction began a year ago on his new River Ranch office on Camellia Boulevard, Hebert fully...
So far, Lafayette Parish has been able to absorb the new inventory of hotel rooms, and the heated competition is making overnight stays more pleasant. Jim Haidet saw a lot of potential in the...
Louisiana may soon be the first state to push its retirement savings into a self-styled, terror-free index. While certainly patriotic, money managers warn the financial losses could outweigh the moral...
How a massive toy recall affects Lafayette retailers and parents He's got his own video section at the Lafayette Public Library. More than 3,300 parents and kids turned out to see him and his friends...
Only days after killing his golf course development Chateau Mirage, John Montesano tries to revive it with an appeal to the council. Keeping up with the twists and turns of John Montesano's Chateau...
UL President Ray Authement thought his land-swap deal involved longtime friends of the university, but those friends may have created yet another headache for him. There was no smoking gun in...
Spurred by a fast-growing medical sector and Go Zone incentives, developers scramble to get office complexes off the ground. The southeast corridor of Lafayette stretching from Verot School Road down...
Questionable content in some legal advertising could cause trouble for the entire profession. They're easily recognizable tricks of the trade. Anything from images of snarled and charred automobiles...
A California company's announcement that it has funding approval to take over north Lafayette's failed Couret Place leaves more questions than answers. What last week appeared to be good news for...
The Baton Rouge Area Foundation and the Baton Rouge Area Chamber are leading the charge to create an economic development corridor that would stretch through Lafayette across south Louisiana. It arcs...
Downtown continues its drive to diversify business and entice Lafayette residents to shop and live in the heart of the city. While an encouraging renaissance has been under way in downtown Lafayette...
Tax Increment Financing brings north Lafayette Target center closer to fruition. The State Bond Commission approved tax-increment finance bonding last week for a north Lafayette shopping center ' the...
After two years of turmoil, one of Lafayette's premier art galleries is moving out of its flagship downtown location. Earlier this month, Jennifer Grand gave notice to her landlord, Roselawn...
Local companies offer an array of anti-spam services to outsmart crafty, bulk e-mailers. Chances are you instantly delete the e-mails advertising "V!agra" at rock bottom prices or hot OTC...
Critics see rash of payday-loan stores as predators on low-income earners. One elderly Acadiana area woman calls into the local Better Business Bureau office because she doesn't understand why her...
Sign companies are dealing with overwhelming demand and an employee shortage since the hurricanes. Thousands of electric signs bit the dust along with everything else Katrina and Rita destroyed, and...
A Lafayette native hopes to take westward bound oilfield personnel off the road and into the air ' and he wants a promise to upgrade the airport's nearby terminal facilities. Oilfield execs and...
The new man at Lourdes' helm says 21st century medicine calls for physician partnerships and new facilities — which likely means a significant Lourdes relocation.
Darla Montgomery's switch to TV10 is about respect and money ' lots of it. Darla Montgomery has raised the bar in local TV. At 43, the petite African-American news veteran, who still looks like she's...
2005 Retail Sales Jump 13 Percent It seemed a big deal at this time last year, when overall taxable sales in Lafayette Parish increased 3.6 percent from 2003 to 2004, rising to a record-breaking $3.85...
Cox Communications Refocusing on Acadiana
Acadiana's Cox Communications has three new faces ' and a new outlook on customer service. Despite that it was thriving in the Lafayette market, mainly because of its position as a cable monopoly,...
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