Agave No. 2

Popular downtown Mexican concept expands to Bertrand Drive.
By Leslie Turk

The Big Business of Health Care

Health care jobs are driving this economy, and the sector remains red hot.
By Leslie Turk

Since at least 2005, health care has been the largest employment sector in Lafayette and today makes up 13.7 percent of the metro area’s overall work force. That steady rise in health care employment means Lafayette is besting — in terms of the concentration of jobs in health care — both the state and nation, which respectively have 13 percent and 12.8 percent of total employment in this sector.

Baking Power
Young entrepreneurs are turning their kitchen skills into business success.
By Elizabeth Rose

Young entrepreneurs have emerged in the baking business in Lafayette, establishing their own small businesses to fill market voids and using nontraditional methods to stake their place in the bakery community.

Ringing Off the Wall
The upward trend in retail sales that began in 2010 has continued in 2011, creating what will likely be the second-best year on record for Lafayette Parish.
By Leslie Turk

Lafayette Regional Airport is shattering monthly records, unemployment in Lafayette Parish is down to 5 percent, our middle class had the sixth fastest growth rate in the country between 2006 and 2010. And there is even good news on the horizon for natural gas prices. While the commodity remains cheap, the cooler weather, more switching from coal and efforts to export some of America’s over-abundant supply of natural gas have analysts predicting prices may go up significantly.