Louisiana climbed a dozen spots in Site Selection magazine’s annual “Governor’s Cup” ranking of business-development projects among states. It is the Pelican State’s highest perch in the 23-year history of the ranking.
When ranking based on a per-capita basis, Louisiana comes in first for 2010, jumping nine spots from its 2009 ranking. Texas and Ohio rank ahead of Louisiana on the 2010 list of best business-development projects. The state ranked 15th for 2009 and 27th for 2008.
Cited among the state’s accomplishments in 2010 were Nucor Corp.’s announcement of a multi-phase iron and steel plant in St. James Parish that is projected to create 1,250 jobs; Globalstar Inc.’s relocation of its corporate headquarters from California to St. Tammany Parish (500 new jobs); and Aeroframe Services’ addition of 300 new jobs at Chennault International Airport in Calcasieu Parish.
“Since day one we have made economic development and job creation the top priority of our administration,” says Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret in a press release touting the ranking. “Thanks to this focus, including our efforts to create a more competitive business climate, aggressively support small business development and provide turnkey workforce solutions for expanding companies, we continue to receive positive national recognition for our economic results. We will continue to work hard every day to help position Louisiana’s economy to outperform the South and the U.S. on a regular basis.”
There will soon be a whole lot of shakin’ going on at Benny’s Sportshack Supplement Depot, a new concept by Opelousas native Benny Nele. Located at 2002 Johnston St., the supplement shop, smoothie bar and café, featuring hot off the press paninis and wraps, plans to open in late May.
Philip deMahy Sr., a once respected New Iberia ad exec, was sentenced May 2 to spend the next two years (he faced up to 100 years) in a state penitentiary after state and federal investigators found dozens of images depicting children engaged in lewd sexual acts on his personal computer.
This year’s Cool Town issue is all about people who are not native to South Louisiana but made a conscious decision to be here, to be among us, to participate in our culture and contribute to it.
A shelved ordinance transferring $200,000 from a northside drainage project to a south Lafayette development may not break any laws, but it stinks to high heaven.
An effort to restore a shuttered dancehall and document other vacant or razed honky-tonks could serve as a model for saving an endangered species of entertainment.
Lafayette’s gene pool has been host to a long line of eccentric characters who have blurred the lines between crazy, genius, disturbed and curiously entertaining.
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