Lafayette Region Manufacturing

Forging Ahead in Acadiana

Significant manufacturing operations in Acadiana – located in South Central Louisiana along the Gulf of Mexico – take advantage of its robust logistics infrastructure which ships cargo by air, freight train, and port around the world every day. The region’s major employers include a diverse mix of industry from healthcare to construction. Major manufacturing investments in the region include:

Stuller, Inc.

Matt Stuller founded Stuller, Inc., one of the largest jewelry setting manufacturers in the world, over 40 years ago. Its manufacturing and administrative headquarters in Lafayette employs approximately 1,600 people who provide next-day delivery of more than 200,000 different items to 40,000 jewelry professionals worldwide. Due in large part to Stuller’s business model, both FedEx and UPS have significant cargo operations at Lafayette Regional Airport providing top-notch logistics capabilities to manufacturers around Acadiana.

Metal Shark

From its fully self-contained facility in Iberia Parish, Metal Shark produces a wide range of custom monohull and catamaran center console and pilothouse patrol boats, fireboats, pilot boats, passenger vessels, and other specialty vessels up to 250 feet. Customers include the U.S. Coast Guard, Navy, foreign militaries, port operators, and commercial entities worldwide. In April 2016, Metal Shark was awarded a competitive federal grant for small shipyards to support modernization, increase productivity, and to maintain competitiveness in the global marketplace.

Cameron

With two facilities in the Acadiana region, Cameron’s Valves and Measurement – A Schlumberger Company – is a leading provider of valves and measurement systems for the oil and gas industry. Beyond selecting Acadiana for its strategic location, Cameron continues to take advantage of the region’s quality workforce, employing over 500 area residents.

Bold Incentives

Acadiana values its manufacturing industry, and will align state and local resources to provide customized incentive packages for businesses looking to grow. A few standard incentives are outlined below. You can find a full list of standard incentives here.

Industrial Tax Exemption Program

Provides a 100% property tax abatement for an initial five-year term with an option for a five-year renewal on manufacturer’s qualifying capital investments.

Quality Jobs Rebate

The Quality Jobs program offers a cash rebate for companies that create well-paid jobs and promote economic development in Louisiana.

A Quality Workforce

A right-to-work state for more than three decades, Louisiana ranks in the Top 10 for lowest rates of private workforce unionization. It is also home to LED FastStart, the nation’s No. 1 state workforce development program, which creates customized workforce recruitment, screening, and training solutions. With a growing labor force of nearly 318,000 in the region, competitive wages, and a strong education pipeline, Acadiana’s workforce is waiting for you. A number of Louisiana universities have specific programs and research strengths related to the manufacturing industry and graduate new engineers each semester.

National Center for Advanced Manufacturing (NACM)

Originally formed in 1999, the NACM is a state of the art research and production center focused on applying advanced manufacturing technologies to lightweight composite and metallic materials in support of the NASA space program and adjacent industries. Located at the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, it is a partnership between NASA, Louisiana State University, the University of New Orleans, and the State of Louisiana.

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

UL Lafayette’s College of Engineering is its largest undergraduate program boasting over 2,700 undergraduate students, 177 master’s students, and 41 PhD students representing 45 states and 25 countries. The college focuses on providing “hands-on” learning experiences with a strong emphasis on internship and cooperative learning experiences. Over 200 companies regularly recruit its Engineering and Technology graduates.

South Louisiana Community College (SLCC)

SLCC offers technical diplomas, workforce training, high school dual enrollment and two-year degree programs. It maintains 8 campuses across the Acadiana region, and offers 35 areas of study via traditional, evening, and web-based courses. SLCC is focused on job placement, and partners with industry to provide top-notch certification programs in machine tool technology, welding, and other technical fields.

Access and Infrastructure

Acadiana is a prime location for your business. A logistical hub, the region is strategically located at the intersection of Interstates 10 and 49. It provides access to 38 interior states via the Mississippi River and countless international markets via the Gulf of Mexico. Within the Acadiana region alone are: TWO commercial airports, TWO Class I rail systems, FIVE coastal ports, and TWO inland ports.

To Learn More, Contact:

Megan Duhon
Director, Economic Development
megan@oneacadiana.org
337-408-3669

A Better Bottom Line

  1. No. 4: Lowest Industrial Electricity Rate – U.S. Energy Information Administration, EIA
  2. No. 1: Workforce Training Program – Business Facilities
  3. No. 1: Speed for Permitting – Area Development
  4. No. 4: Favorable Regulatory Environment – Area Development

The Right Location is Waiting for You

We’ve got acres of opportunity.

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