'One Acadiana' will benefit rural parishes in economic development

LAFAYETTE - The Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce announced Wednesday that it was officially transforming into a regional business organization known as “One Acadiana.” The transformation is expected to be a good thing for the nine parishes which make up One Acadiana.
One Acadiana’s main purpose is to help nine parishes, including Vermilion, pursue a long-term vision of making Acadiana one of the highest quality, sought after regions in the South for business and talent.
Jason El Koubi, President & CEO of One Acadiana, highlighted the inclusion of current Chamber members, “Everyone who is a current member of the Chamber is automatically a part of this new regional organization. We are not creating a separate organization; we are transforming into a regional organization. We will continue to represent our general membership and are excited to provide new regional engagement opportunities.”
Koubi said the rural parishes will benefit by having One Acadiana on its side as much as Lafayette and Iberia parishes.
One Acadiana will offer local economic directors resources they would not have at a local level.
“There are several ways One Acadiana will benefit the outlying parishes,” said Koubi. “It will provide a highly professional business recruitment effort for every parish in Acadiana. They will work in close partnership with local economic development.”
He said One Acadiana will have a professional website to promote each parish in the nine parishes. There will also be a business recruiter who will try and bring businesses to surrounding parishes.
One Acadiana will be there to help local economic development departments in Acadiana, including Vermilion and Acadia parishes.
“Most economic development directors are one person,” Koubi said. “There is only so much they can do. By having a strong professional, regional organization (One Acadiana), it will contribute to their work.”
One Acadiana also announced its Board of Directors, representing a diverse group of leaders from across Acadiana, who provide ongoing leadership and oversight of the organization’s activities. The Board of Directors is comprised of members with a presence in each of the region’s nine parishes: Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, and Vermilion. Directors include representatives ranging from small businesses to the region’s largest employers, covering virtually every major industry segment.
Koubi was thrilled to announce the organization’s leaders, “I am honored to serve this group of outstanding leaders who all share a passion for advancing Acadiana’s economic future. Under their leadership, we will address the issues most critical to our region’s quality of life, competitiveness, and prosperity by leveraging the abundant resources of our nine-parish region.”
With over 1,200 investors, members and partners, One Acadiana serves as the voice of the regional business community. The organization is located in the city of Lafayette and serves a region of roughly 700,000 people with a vibrant culture and unique entrepreneurial spirit.
There will be a staff of 12 to 22 people who will be employed with One Acadiana.
St. Landry Parish President Bill Fontenot, who as Chairman of Acadiana Regional Alliance serves on the Board of Directors of One Acadiana, emphasized the organization will bring the region together on key issues.
“One Acadiana’s strategies to cultivate regional assets, speak at the Capitol with one voice, and market and sell our region to business and talent will help us tell the story of extraordinary opportunity in Acadiana,” said Fontenot.