INITIATIVES

Revolving Loan Fund Economic Development Brownfields Entrepreneurial Development Rural Business Assistance LOGIC Workforce Training Business Recovery Section 219 Initiative LUCA Technical Assistance Technical Assistance

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The Acadiana Regional Development District works with local and state governmental entities and businesses to prepare for, promote, and provide long-term employment and economic stability.  ARDD prepares grant applications for governmental entities, generating millions of dollars to fund needed improvements to the communities' infrastructure and other governmental services.  These improvements enhance the ability of local governments to attract new businesses and industries and help existing companies expand.  Sources of funding include the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration, Delta Regional Authority, Louisiana Community Development Block Grant Program, and many others.

301(B) PLANNING GRANT

Designated as an Economic Development District under the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration, participating member parishes of District Four receive favorable consideration when submitting grant proposals to the Economic Development Administration for public works projects. Awarded projects also receive a 10% bonus added to the award amount if they are District members.

Services provided under the Economic Development Program 301(b) Planning Grant may include:

• Assistance to members with Public Works applications or other EDA grant applications
• Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (updated annually) **
• Needs assessments of each parish in the region (updated annually)

The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy is a compilation of projects, demographics, economic factors, and goals for the Acadiana region. The greatest responsibility for ARDD, as an Economic Development Administration designated economic development district is to maintain the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the eight parish/county region. Developing and maintaining the CEDS is an ongoing activity involving input from local elected officials, business and labor leaders, state and federal legislators, education and other segments of the community.

DELTA REGIONAL AUTHORITY (DRA)

The Delta Regional Authority is a federal-state partnership designed to remedy severe and chronic economic distress by stimulating economic development and fostering partnerships that will have a positive impact on the region’s economy. The DRA helps economically distressed communities leverage federal and state programs focused on basic infrastructure development and transportation improvements, business development, and job training services.

The Authority covers eight states and 240 counties or parishes. No state is required to participate with the Authority.  The State of Louisiana has 46 designated parishes in the DRA including five parishes in our region; Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, St. Landry, and St. Martin. 

ARDD participates with the Louisiana Association of Planning and Development Districts and the State of Louisiana to provide services to designated parishes in the Delta Regional Authority (DRA).

Federal funds are prioritized in the following order, with transportation and basic public infrastructure projects receiving at least 50% of the appropriated funds:

1. Basic public infrastructure in distressed parishes and isolated areas of distress
2. Transportation infrastructure for the purpose of facilitating economic development
3. Business development with emphasis on entrepreneurship
4. Job training or employment-related education, with emphasis on use of existing public educational institutions located in the region

The Authority may provide matching funds for other state and federal programs. However, there is a 90% cap on the federal share unless the project is in a distressed county.

BUSINESS INCENTIVES

In partnership with the Louisiana Association of Planning and Development Districts and Louisiana Economic Development, the Acadiana Regional Development District offers business incentive assistance to individuals, government entities, and businesses.

Services provided include:

• Technical assistance and research
• Computerized mapping of enterprise zones
• Hosting of annual Business Incentives Briefing

(Due to overhead costs, some fees may apply for computerized maps.)

Business Incentives Programs offered through Louisiana Economic Development include:

• Quality Jobs Program—a refundable tax credit to encourage targeted businesses to locate in Louisiana, create quality jobs and to promote economic development.
• Industrial Property Tax Exemption—is Louisiana’s original incentive program, for capital investments, and is for MANUFACTURERS only.
• Restoration Tax Abatement—an economic development incentive to encourage the expansion, restoration, improvement, and development of existing commercial structures and owner-occupied residences in Downtown Development Districts, Economic Development Districts, or Historic Districts.
• Enterprise Zone Program - a jobs incentive program which creates Louisiana Income and Franchise tax credits and Sales/Use tax rebates to businesses that hire at least 35% of their new jobs with Louisiana residents from one of four target groups.

For more information on the many services offered to small businesses by Louisiana Economic Development, click here.