FAQ Page

St. Landry Economic Development employs a unified vision for economic growth and opportunity across St. Landry Parish, LA. The organization focuses on supporting businesses, attracting new investment, and fostering collaboration among public and private partners.

General

What is Opportunity St. Landry?

Opportunity St. Landry is the website for St. Landry Economic Development. The organization is dedicated to advancing economic development throughout St. Landry Parish by fostering business growth, supporting investment, and strengthening the overall economic environment.

What is the primary function of St. Landry Economic Development?

The organization is committed to moving St. Landry Parish forward through the creation and implementation of a forward-looking strategy of economic and community development. This dedication encompasses business retention and expansion, industry recruitment, workforce development coordination, and long-term strategic planning.

Is St. Landry Economic Development part of St. Landry Parish or any of the local city governments?

St. Landry Economic Development is not a department of any city or parish government. It operates as an independent organization with its own governing board, allowing it to focus exclusively on economic development activities.

How is St. Landry Economic Development governed?

The organization is led by a board of directors, which partners with area organizations, business leaders and community stakeholders. These groups provide oversight, strategic direction, and guidance for economic development efforts.

Does St. Landry Economic Development govern any other boards?

Yes, SLED manages:

• Central St. Landry Economic Development District (CSLEDD)
• Opelousas Downtown Development District (ODDD)
• Vision St. Landry

Does St. Landry Economic Development issue public notices?

Yes. St. Landry Economic Development publishes public notices, meeting information, and updates to ensure transparency. The information, including fraud notices and sexual harassment policies, is intended to keep the public informed about its activities and decisions. 

Entrepreneurial & Business Support

How does St. Landry Economic Development support existing businesses?

The organization serves as a resource to existing businesses and entrepreneurs by assisting with expansion efforts, connecting companies to available programs and incentives, and helping address operational challenges that may impact growth.

What resources are available from St. Landry Economic Development for new and prospective businesses?

St. Landry Economic Development supports entrepreneurs and prospective businesses by providing access to information, development resources, and connections that facilitate successful business formation and growth in the parish.

What is the Cajun Acceleration Station?

Empowering People. Growing Business. Building Communities. The Cajun Acceleration Station exists to help start-ups get to their goals smarter, faster, better.  The center is a co-working, entrepreneurial environment seeking to accelerate the growth of their parish--based businesses in a supportive, highly-networked, work-not-play environment.

Founded in 2010, the Cajun Acceleration Station is a local initiative that aims to attract local start-ups that desire to accelerate the growth of their early and second stage businesses.  The Cajun Acceleration Station (previously know as the Business Resource Center) supports great ideas across a wide spectrum of industry sectors throughout St. Landry Parish and beyond.

In addition to providing the physical space for idea generation and networking, SLED also uses the Cajun Acceleration Station to host classes for local entrepreneurs and business owners. Classes are focused on topics relevant to business startup and ownership such as legal issues, insurance topics, organization, people management and more. 

Site Selection

How does St. Landry Economic Development work with developers and site selectors?

The organization provides data, site information, and local expertise to developers and site selectors. It also helps navigate the development process to identify suitable opportunities within St. Landry Parish. 

What major employers operate in St. Landry Parish?

A diverse base of major employers operates in St. Landry Parish across key industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, energy and industrial services, food production, retail distribution, and entertainment.