Focus I April Guide To Community News

APPLAUSE

In February, Parish Proud announced a groundbreaking change to its beloved Parish Proud Day. This year, instead of a single day in September, they’re dividing the celebration into 3-4 mini-Parish Proud Days. Their incredible volunteers have transformed Lafayette with their inspiring work. But as our community grows, so does the need for more impactful projects. To accommodate the large numbers of Parish Proud Day recruits, they’ve decided to spread the love across multiple days and locations. Mark your calendars, rally your friends and come out to volunteer. The next mini-Parish Proud Days will be: Saturday, April 20; a Saturday in late May or June; and Saturday, Sept. 14.

In February, Festival International de Louisiane held its 2024 Premiere Party where it unveiled this year’s Artwork, Pin & Poster and Music Lineup at Warehouse 535 in Lafayette. This year’s Visual Artist is Dusty Reed who was on hand to show off the 2024 Pin & Poster. Born and raised in Acadiana, has worked as a professional artist for more than 15 years. Reed creates many of his pieces from objects and repurposing long-forgotten items you might recognize. Known as “The Cajun Picasso,” Reed is continuously discovering new mediums to use in his art. Festival International 2024 takes place April 24 – 28 in Downtown Lafayette.

Since 2004, the Rooftop Crawfish Boil has been a Downtown Lafayette Unlimited tradition with a two-fold purpose: to bring the business community together and help contribute to the operational expenses of our non-profit whose mission is to preserve, restore and expand Downtown Lafayette. The 20th anniversary takes place on Saturday, April 17 and features amazing views of the downtown landscape, bottomless drinks, expertly prepared crawfish and live music featuring The Rouge Krewe on Saturday, April 17. Tickets for the event include a tray of premium crawfish, potatoes, corn, dip and bottomless beverages including water, soda, wine and beer. To celebrate the event’s 20th year, DLU has some special add ons including beer and champagne buckets, table service and uniquely curated guest gift bags to elevate their attendees’ experience on the rooftop. For more details, visit DowntownLafayette.org.

Acadiana Center for the Arts is hosting an event that calls to the experiences of legendary Creole Jazz brunches at Commander’s Palace and Brennan’s. The Sunny Side Jazz Brunch will be held on April 7 at the home of Carolyn & Kip Schumacher in Lafayette and features a performance of classic New Orleans tunes by the Preservation Hall All-Stars. Attendees will enjoy brunch fare alongside New Orleans-inspired drinks. The event also features a live auction with art-filled and adventurous experiences available for bidding. All funds raised from the Sunny Side Jazz Brunch will support the AcA’s performing arts programs, offering national acts of music, dance, and theater in Lafayette, as well as the expansion of AcA’s Arts in Education work into new schools and parishes around the rural regions of Acadiana. For more details, visit AcadianaCenterfortheArts.org.

JUST IN

In February, Jeff Davis Parish Economic Development with One Acadiana (1A) and Entergy announced that a 18.37-acre site located in Jeff Davis Parish has been certified under the Louisiana Economic Development (LED) Certified Sites program. The LA-26 Benoit Site is Acadiana’s 25th certified site and is the third certified site in Jeff Davis Parish. Working with partners across the region, One Acadiana’s site development efforts respond to the needs of site selectors and relocating businesses. Establishing a landing pad for businesses is crucial to attracting jobs and investment to the Acadiana Region.

In February, One Acadiana (1A) announced the winner of the Small Business Challenge, an initiative aimed at fostering small business growth, while bolstering vibrancy and foot traffic in Downtown Lafayette. After an intensive selection process, Korey Champagne and Alexis Badon of Magnolia Pantry emerged victorious, poised to infuse new energy into our region’s urban core. The Small Business Challenge, a part of 1A’s Vibrant Acadiana initiative, invited entrepreneurs to submit their business ideas to activate a prime location in Downtown Lafayette with a dynamic food & beverage, retail, or other creative business concept. The contestants were incentivized with a significant capital infusion of up to $100,000 and a lease to the historic Sans Souci Building.

In February, the Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony for Boys & Girls Club, at 1200 Field Street in New Iberia.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

In February, One Acadiana (1A) announced the appointment of Megan Duhon as Director of Economic Development. Duhon, a seasoned professional in economic development, will lead and manage all business recruitment, retention and expansion efforts for the nine-parish regional economic development organization. Duhon’s career is marked by notable accomplishments during her tenure as the CEO of the Acadia Parish Chamber, where she played a crucial role in fostering economic growth in the region. Her initiatives included the establishment of the first Economic Development District in Acadia Parish, strategically positioned to generate funds for the acceleration of growth along the I-10 corridor. Notably, her collaboration with state and regional agencies resulted in a significant $16.2 million expansion for Supreme Rice’s parboil facilities.

Jerry Prejean with First Horizon Bank will be the 2024 chair for One Acadiana, which announced its leadership appointments for the year. The economic development organization and chamber of commerce announced officers in January as Blaise Zuschlag with Acadian Companies ended his term as chair and moved into the role of immediate past chair. Prejean, First Horizon’s Acadiana market president, will lead the board in its focus on business development, policy and membership initiatives.