One Acadiana campaign achieves fundraising goal

The Campaign for One Acadiana, a five-year initiative focused on a long-term vision of making Acadiana one of the most high quality, sought after regions in the South for business and talent, announced today that it has achieved its fundraising goal. With the participation of a diverse group of more than 120 investors, including businesses and individuals from across the region, The Campaign has secured more than $3 million per year for the next five years. Investments are anticipated to increase in the coming months as more businesses become involved.

Investors in The Campaign for One Acadiana include businesses of all sizes, representing a number of different industry sectors. Collectively, investors have a presence in each of the region’s nine parishes comprised of Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, and Vermilion parishes. Coordinated by the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, The Campaign was designed with input from business leaders and other regional stakeholders, including local economic development groups and Chambers of Commerce. 

The Campaign aims to deliver a new, highly professional, nationally competitive economic development program for the region, which will help manage Acadiana’s current and long-term growth, retain and grow current business, and diversify the economic base by attracting new emerging growth industries and professional talent.

Jim Prince, retired CFO of Stone Energy and Fundraising Chairman of The Campaign, expressed his gratitude to all those involved, “I want to commend and thank the members of our regional business community who are seizing the initiative to build a more competitive Acadiana. We are witnessing something new for this area. Our region has never pulled together like this before, and it is a very exciting time. I encourage businesses and individuals not yet involved to join us as we help shape the future of our economy.”

David Callecod, President & CEO of Lafayette General Health and Chairman of The Campaign’s CEO Advisory Council, stressed the strength and the diversity of the investors, “This campaign brings together an exceptional group of leaders. Whether an investor is a small business or one of the region’s larger employers, it’s clear that all of us care deeply about the direction of our regional community.”

Sue Soileau Brignac, President & CEO and Chairman of the Board of Washington State Bank, shared excitement about being invested in The Campaign, "I believe the One Acadiana initiative is one of the most important things we can do as a region. The strategy set forth by this program  is transformative and results-driven, and I am certain that we will see unlimited economic development opportunities as a result of coming together as nine parishes with one vision and voice."

Joseph Zanco, CFO of Home Bank and Chairman of the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the importance of marketing the region as a whole, “The resources provided by this campaign will finally enable Acadiana to compete for jobs and talent as a region of nearly 700,000 people with a vibrant culture and unique entrepreneurial spirit.”

Jason El Koubi, President & CEO of the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, said, “The One Acadiana initiative provides an unmatched opportunity for our business community to help set the vision and priorities for our region’s future.  As we celebrate this milestone, we are now turning our full attention to implementing this bold, new economic development program under a diverse group of leaders.  We have the planning, leadership, and financial resources in place to take our region to the next level for our businesses and families.”

For more information on how to become involved with The Campaign for One Acadiana, contact Missy Bienvenu Andrade at missy@oneacadiana.org or (337) 408-3652.

List of Investors

 

Lafayette Economic Development Authority

Lafayette General Health

The Lemoine Company

LHC Group

Jim Moncus

PHI, Inc.

Reneé and Herbie Schilling

South Louisiana Community College

Stuller

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

 

Acadian Companies

CGI

Cox

The Daily Advertiser

Dwight Andrus Companies

Entergy

FENSTERMAKER

IBERIABANK

The Moody Company/Louisiana State Newspapers

NeunerPate

Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center

The Perret Group, L.L.C.

Townsquare Media 

Washington State Bank

Women's & Children's Hospital/The Regional Medical Center of Acadiana

 

Acadiana Bottling Company, Inc.

AMG Specialty Hospitals

Atmos Energy

Bell Helicopter

BETA Land Services

Billeaud Companies

Broussard Brothers/Acadian Contractors, Inc.

Capital One Bank

Chase Bank

Cleco

CLM Equipment

Community Foundation of Acadiana

Dupré Logistics

Haynie & Associates

Home Bank

IND Media

Jones Walker

KATC Communications

Knight Oil Tools

Lafayette Coca Cola Bottling Company

Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission

Liskow & Lewis

M&M International

McDonald's of Acadiana

McIlhenny Company

MidSouth Bank

The Picard Group

Rayne State Bank

Schumacher Group

Shop Rite

SLEMCO

Townsend Addiction Recovery Centers/Hedge Media Group

Young's Industries, LLC

 

The Acadiana Advocate

Baldwin Redi-Mix

Butcher Air Conditioning

Chevron

Jim Doyle, Coastal Chemical Co., LLC

GRS Property Management

Gulf Coast Bank

Heymann Family Foundation

JD Bank

Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital

Lamar Advertising

Park Place Surgical Hospital

RUSSO

Stirling Properties

Vidox

Whitney Bank

 

AT&T

Angelle Architects, LLC

Architects Southwest

Ardent Services LLC

Badger Oil Corporation

BBR Creative

Beau Box Real Estate

BEGNEAUD Manufacturing

Don and Andy Begneaud

Cabot Corporation - Franklin, LA

Cabot Corporation - Ville Platte, LA

Calzone and Associates, Inc.

Cane River Pecan Company

Citizens Bank

Clem L Development

Coldwell Banker Pelican Real Estate

Community First Bank

Compass Health

Copper Crowne

Darnall, Sikes, Gardes & Frederick

Diocese of Lafayette

Doug Ashy Building Materials

Drake Pothier Allstate Insurance Agency

Dunn's Furniture & Interiors

EY

The Evangeline Bank and Trust Company

Farmers Merchants Bank & Trust Company

First National Bank

Golfballs.com

Grand Isle Shipyard, Inc.

Halliburton

Investar Bank

J. Ronald Landreneau & Associates, Inc.

Landry Harris & Co.

Jimmy Mallia

Manuel Builders, LLC

Moncla Companies

Noble Plastics

Onebane Law Firm

PAR Realty

Pecoraro Law

Pellerin Energy Group, LLC

Pinnacle Group

Pizza Hut

Place de Lafayette

Postlethwaite & Netterville

Prejean Creative

Jim & Nancy Prince

REALTOR Association of Acadiana

Regions Bank

Regions Insurance

SIDES & Associates

The Southwest Group

Southwest Insurance Services

St. Martin Bank & Trust Co.

David Trahan

Tri-Parish Bank

Truston Technologies, Inc.

Uniglobe Associated Travel

Van Eaton & Romero