2021 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 192
BY SENATOR BOUDREAUX
A RESOLUTION
To urge and request the Lafayette Economic Development Authority to develop and
implement a comprehensive economic development strategic plan for the northern part of
the city of Lafayette.
WHEREAS, the parish of Lafayette is set apart by its strategic location, a world-class
workforce, a pro business climate, and an unmatched quality of life, which offers the
essential elements to ensure the growth and development of its business community; and
WHEREAS, these attributes, complemented by a high tech infrastructure and quality
real estate, make the parish of Lafayette a unique place to live, work, play, and do business;
and
WHEREAS, there exists in the city of Lafayette areas which have become slums,
blighted, and distressed because of the unsafe, unsanitary, inadequate, or overcrowded
condition of the structures therein, or because of inadequate planning for the area; and
WHEREAS, the northern part of the city of Lafayette is integral to the overall
economic health of the city and parish, however, this area has suffered from decades of
disinvestment while other areas of the parish have enjoyed growth from public and private
investments; and
WHEREAS, in 2008, the Legislature of Louisiana enacted Act 912 of the Regular
Session, which created the "North Lafayette Redevelopment Authority", a political
subdivision of the state, to address, in part, the general and economic welfare of the city
through housing, commercial, office, hospitality, recreation, education, infrastructure and
utility capacity, manufacturing, industrial, research, retail or other activities which will
create or retain jobs, maintain or diversify industry, including new or emerging technologies,
or maintain or increase the tax base; and
WHEREAS, since the enactment of Act 912 of the 2008 Regular Session, the
northern part of the city of Lafayette still lacks the redevelopment that Act 912 sought to
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address, while other areas of the city and parish continue to show a strong foundation for
growth; and
WHEREAS, one reason the other areas of the city and parish show such a strong
foundation for growth could be attributed to the strategic planning of the Lafayette
Economic Development Authority (LEDA); and
WHEREAS, a political subdivision of the state, with its territorial limits and
jurisdiction extending throughout the parish of Lafayette, LEDA was originally created in
the 1970s as a harbor and terminal district, and became LEDA in the 1990s; and
WHEREAS, as written in statute, LEDA seeks to foster and support economic and
industrial development and education in cooperation with private business enterprises,
financial institutions, educational institutions, nonprofit institutions and organizations, state
government and political subdivisions of the state, the federal government, and other
organizations or persons concerned with research, development, education, commercial
application, and economic or industrial development in ways which increase the economic
base of the parish and region; and
WHEREAS, LEDA has the authority to enter into any cooperative endeavor in the
form of economic development assistance between or among the district and the state, any
of its local governmental subdivisions, political corporations, or public benefit corporations,
the United States or its agencies, or any public or private association, corporation, or
individual; and
WHEREAS, LEDA has the authority to enter into any cooperative financing for any
method of financing and economic development project between or among the district and
the state, any of its local governmental subdivisions, political corporations, or public benefit
corporations, the United States or its agencies, or any public or private association,
corporation, or individual; and
WHEREAS, LEDA has the authority to enter into any cooperative development
project between or among the district and the state, any of its local governmental
subdivisions, political corporations, or public benefit corporations, the United States or its
agencies, or any public or private association, corporation, or individual; and
WHEREAS, most of LEDA's money comes from a parishwide property tax that was
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set by the state legislature and never approved by voters and does not require a vote of the
public; and
WHEREAS, LEDA's most recent financial report shows that at the end of 2019, it
had a $16 million net position; and
WHEREAS, although LEDA and North Lafayette Redevelopment Authority are
located within the boundaries of the parish of Lafayette, the economic development,
redevelopment, and monies allocated to those respective political subdivisions have not been
proportionate; and
WHEREAS, other communities across the country have successfully implemented
economic development and redevelopment strategies by partnering with local, state, federal,
and private entities, including but not limited to Austin, TX; Nashville, TN; Greenville, SC;
and Atlanta, GA's Beltline; and
WHEREAS, LEDA is encouraged to use its authority to enter into any cooperative
endeavor, cooperative financing, cooperative development or any other form of cooperative
economic development activity in the northern part of the city of Lafayette, given the fact
that the parish of Lafayette is able to foster an economy that supports a growing population
and diverse industry sectors where a quarter of the local workforce is employed in mining
(energy), construction, manufacturing, and information.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby urge and request the Lafayette Economic Development Authority to develop a
comprehensive economic development strategic plan that at a minimum includes the
planning elements of SWOT analysis, strategic action plan, an evaluation framework, and
a plan for economic resilience for the northern part of the city of Lafayette.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Lafayette Economic Development Authority
assembles a professional, highly qualified economic development consulting team, reflecting
diversity, equity, and inclusion for the purpose of assessing the feasability of redeveloping
the northern part of the city of Lafayette.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the plan developed by the consulting team shall
address all of the following:
(1)(a)How many properties are owned by LEDA in the parish of Lafayette?
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(b)Identify those properties by address and list the usage of each property.
(2)(a)How many properties are owned by LEDA in the northern part of the city of
Lafayette?
(b)Identify those properties by address and list the usage of each property.
(3)(a)How many businesses have been recruited, within the last five years, by
LEDA for economic development projects within the parish of Lafayette?
(b)List the names and purposes of each business.
(c)How much money was spent on the recruiting of these businesses?
(d)List the month(s) and year(s) of the recruiting of each business.
(4)(a)How many businesses have been recruited, within the last five years, by
LEDA for economic development projects in the northern part of the city of Lafayette?
(b)List the names and purposes of each business.
(c)How much money was spent on the recruiting of these businesses?
(d)List the month(s) and year(s) of the recruiting of each business.
(5)(a)How many businesses are currently being recruited by LEDA?
(b)List the names and purposes of each business.
(c)What areas of the parish are these businesses being recruited to locate?
(d)How much money was being spent on the recruitment of these businesses?
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the consulting team shall not be required to
provide any confidential or sensitive information in the plan submitted pursuant to this
Resolution.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the consulting team shall submit the plan
requested by this Resolution no later than December 31, 2021, to the Senate Committee on
Local and Municipal Affairs.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Gregg Gothreaux, President and CEO, Lafayette Economic Development Authority.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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