ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROFILE [Jefferson Parish, LA]

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROFILE [Jefferson Parish, LA] Compiled by Revised 12/2015 Revised: 01/2016 [Jefferson Parish] A Le er From Our Execu ve Director Jerry Bologna JEDCO Execu ve Director Dear Reader, The advantages of doing business in Jefferson Parish are numerous. An educated workforce, excellent healthcare and proximity to several dis nguished colleges and universi es are just some of the benefits of living, working and doing business in Jefferson Parish. Also, proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi River, major highways and numerous rail lines gives Jefferson Parish a strategic advantage in terms of accessibility into the parish, to the rest of the na on and beyond our borders. Jefferson Parish con nues to be a leading Louisiana parish in terms of popula on and economic viability. Moreover, the parish func ons as the region’s economic engine, steering its economy and development. The Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO), the economic development organiza on for Jefferson Parish, is enhancing Jefferson’s already thriving business climate by undertaking major economic development ini a ves such as the development of the Churchill Technology & Business Park and the Jefferson EDGE 2020, the parish’s economic development strategic plan. Located near the Huey P. Long Bridge, the Tournament Players Club golf course and NOLA Motorsports complex, the technology park’s 500 acres is anchored by the Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy and a conference center, and will soon welcome Delgado Community College’s River City campus and School of Advanced Manufacturing. In 2016, JEDCO will begin implementa on of the last 5 years of the Jefferson EDGE 2020, which will address economic development and quality of life with targeted implementa on strategies. JEDCO plays an ac ve role in furthering the progress of Jefferson Parish’s economic climate. Through JEDCO’s Business Innova on Center and loan programs, tax incen ves and informa onal services, JEDCO has aided in the success of thousands of businesses. For businesses considering reloca ng to or expanding the Parish, JEDCO will develop strategies and a rac ve incen ve packages to help companies grow in Jefferson. JEDCO invites you to take a look at what Jefferson Parish can offer you and your business, and encourages you to call us at (504) 875‐3908 so that we can assist in your business endeavors. 700 Churchill Parkway Fairfield, LA 70094 504‐875‐3908 www.jedco.org Published 01‐2016 Jerry Bologna JEDCO Execu ve Director 01
On The Map 04 Roadways 05 Railways 06‐07 Waterways 08 Air Service 09 Flood Protec on 10 Infrastructure Primary & Secondary Educa on 12 Higher Educa on 13 Popula on Sta s cs 14 Residen al & Commercial Real Estate 15 Parish Taxes 16‐17 Financing Programs 18‐23 27‐28 Major Industries 29 Major Industry Employers Tax Incen ves 30 24 Cost of Labor & Income Entertainment Industry Tax Incen ves 25 Workforce Development 26 Strategic Development Ini a ves 31 Employment & Wages 32‐33 Top Private Companies 34‐35 Top Employers QUALITY OF LIFE 03 11 INDUSTRY Le er From JEDCO’s Execu ve Director BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 01 DEMOGRAPHICS JEFFERSON PARISH [Table of Contents] 36 Parish & Municipal Government 37 Museums & The Arts 38 Shopping & Theaters 39 Conven on Centers & Events 40‐41 Sports & Recrea on 42‐46 Communi es Jefferson Parish, Louisiana ON THE MAP Jefferson Parish is located in southeast Louisiana stretching 60 miles between the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain and the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. A product of the Mississippi River’s delta system, the area that is now Jefferson Parish resulted from the river’s deposit of sediment into the gulf as its course con nued to change. The resul ng diverse topography consists of natural land ridges, bayous, swamps, lakes, bays, and islands. The Mississippi River bisects the parish into two parts that are locally termed the East Bank and West Bank. The East Bank is generally north of the Mississippi River and is composed of the unincorporated areas of Metairie and Jefferson, and the incorpo‐
rated ci es of Kenner and Harahan. The West Bank, located south of the Mississippi River, contains the unincorporated areas of Marrero, Harvey, Terrytown, Crown Point, Lafi e, and Waggaman. Gretna, Westwego and Jean Lafi e are the incorporate areas. The Town of Grand Isle located on a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico forms the parish’s southernmost boundary. JEFFERSON PARISH Jefferson Parish was established in 1825, and at that me it extended west to east from St. Charles Parish to present‐day Felicity Street in New Orleans. However, to accommodate its growing popula on, Orleans Parish annexed property from Jefferson Parish’s eastern side. By 1874, the current boundaries of Jefferson Parish were set. 1825 Jefferson Parish was named in honor of U. S. President Thomas Jefferson on February 11, 1825, a year before his death. 03
ROADWAYS Major Roads provide excellent accessibility. Jefferson Parish is serviced by several major motor freight carriers, including: SAIA UPS Cross Road Centers DHS (interna onal shipments only) FedEx Roadway Southeastern Motor Lines Triple G Express Cross Road Centers (CRC) Churchill Technology & Business Park and JEDCO HQ *For Informa onal Purposes Only 2006 US Highway 90 on the West Bank of Jefferson Parish is the planned future corridor of Interstate 49. 04
Railways Jefferson Parish is serviced by six Class 1 railways and two Short Line railways: *For Informa onal Purposes Only In 2015, a $1.2 billion widening project was completed on the 2015 Huey P. Long Bridge, s mula ng business ac vity on both East and 05
Waterways & Ports JEFFERSON PARISH Jefferson Parish is ideally located in the heart of the largest intermodal transporta on system in the south. With a number of ports and navigable waterways easily accessible from Jefferson Parish, companies have a diversity of op ons when determining how to best transport their materials. 1 Port of New Orleans 3 Harvey Canal 5 Plaquemines Port 7 Bayoou Segne e 2 St. Bernard Port 4 Algiers Canal 6 Intra‐costal Waterway 8 Bayou Barataria AIR SERVICE AIR SERVICE *For Informa onal Purposes Only 1923 06
The Canal was built by the Port of New Orleans to provide naviga on between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain. In 1986, the federal government purchased the canal from the Port of New Orleans. Waterways Harvey 
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Canal 
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St. Bernard 
Port and Terminal 
District 
Port 

of 
South Louisiana 

Plaquemines 
Port 

Located on the west bank in Harvey immediately upriver from the Port of New Orleans Shallow water access via four routes to the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico Approximately 2,000 acres of waterfront property Many of the region’s oil and gas service companies are located here Located 12 miles east of downtown New Orleans and spans a two and a half mile stretch along the Mississippi River Diverse general cargo port and deep water dra access Rail service by Norfolk Southern Railroad with connec ons to six Class I railroads via the New Orleans Public Belt railroad Stretches 54 miles along the Mississippi River, immediately west of Jefferson Parish Comprised of facili es in St. Charles, St. James and St. John the Bap st Parishes Largest tonnage port district in the western hemisphere (over 236 million tons in 2010) Contains a 335‐acre mari me industrial park that provides handling and storage for bulk, breakbulk and containerized cargoes Deep dra bulk terminal primarily handles cement, mineral ores and woodchips Located approximately 20 miles south of New Orleans at the mouth of the Mississippi River 100 miles of deep dra (45 foot minimum) 14 major anchorages WATERWAYS 

Located within ten miles east of Jefferson Parish on the Mississippi River Diverse general cargo port and Foreign Trade Zone Proximity to the American Midwest via a 14,500 mile inland waterway system Served by six Class I railroads, 50 ocean carriers, 16 barge lines, and 75 truck lines Facility includes 22 million square‐feet of cargo handling area and more than six mil‐
lion square‐feet of covered storage area More than 6,000 ocean vessels move through New Orleans each year Cruise terminal serving three interna onal cruise lines (Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian) with des na ons to Mexico and the Caribbean, and three na onal lines (American Cruise Lines, Blount and Great American Steamboat Company) with des ‐
na ons throughout the Mississippi and Ohio River systems JEFFERSON PARISH Port 

Of 
New 
Orleans 
2012 On December 28, 2012, the Huey P. Long Bridge was dedicated as a Na onal Historic Civil Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers. 07
Louis Armstrong Interna onal Airport 
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Fastest growing airport in the United States 10 Domes c passenger airline, 2 interna onal passenger carriers 3 major freight and mail carriers 135 daily flights 41 des na on ci es *For Informa onal Purposes Only 2013 The Louis Armstrong New Orleans Interna onal Airport finalized plans for a brand‐new $546 million airport terminal. Expected comple on date is 2018 by the joint‐venture group Hunt‐Gibbs‐Boh‐Metro. 08
Flood Protec on Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, the US Army Corps of Engineers was authorized and funded to design and construct the Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduc on System (HSDRRS) for southeast Louisiana (including Jefferson Parish). This risk system is stronger and more resilient than it has ever been in the area’s history. The new HSDRRS is capable of defending against a 100‐year level storm surge, or a storm that has a one percent chance of occurring in a year. Over the past ten years, the Corps has strengthened and improved the levees, floodwalls, gated structures and pump sta ons that form the 133‐mile Greater New Orleans perimeter system, as well as approximately 70 miles 
HSDRRS The perimeter system and other HSDRRS projects include 350 miles of levees/floodwalls Quick 
The total program budget is $14.6 billion with a total of 456 construc on contracts Facts 
The total pumping capacity of the HSDRRS to date is 16,000 cubic feet per second In Jefferson Parish, $2.7 million was spent on upgrading 17 pumping sta ons 
$136 million was spent on storm proofing pumping sta ons 
The West Bank & Vicinity (WBV) project, which spans the en re West Bank of Jefferson Parish and parts of St. Charles, Orleans, and Plaquemines Parishes, pro‐
tects these densely populated areas from a 100‐year storm event and contains the Western Closure Complex, the world’s largest pumping sta on WBV Levee System FLOOD PROTECTION Parish 
JEFFERSON PARISH Jefferson 2014 The US Army Corps of Engineers completed the 100‐year storm perimeter system that protects the New Orleans Metro. It successfully performed as designed during Hurricane Isaac. 09
The following companies make up the various infrastructure providers throughout the Parish: Electricity Natural Gas Water and Wastewater JEFFERSON PARISH Solid Waste Disposal INFRASTRUCTURE Telephone and Fiber Op c Communica ons Cable Service 2014 Entergy Louisiana LLC and Entergy Gulf States LLC serve approximately 1.08 million customers in 58 parishes and employ about 4,500 people in Louisiana. 10
As one of the state’s largest school districts, the Jefferson Parish Public School System plays a cri cal role in the region’s economy, culture, and a rac veness to new and exis ng residents. Recent sta s cs indicate that schools and students in Jefferson Parish are unequivocally performing at higher levels year a er year, and the district’s progress is outpacing statewide gains. In 2011, the Louisiana Department of Educa on began assigning schools le er grades based on their academ‐
ic performance. Since then, 75 percent of JPPSS schools have improved at least one le er grade, 53 Jefferson Parish schools have been named as “Top Gains” schools, and the percentage of Jefferson Parish students a ending a higher performing school (le er grade of A, B, or C) has gone from 35 to 81 percent. Number of Schools by Le er Grade Enrollment 81 Public Schools 48,126 53 Private and Parochial Schools 18,840 Source: Jefferson Parish Public School System (jpschools.org), Louisiana Department of Educa on (louisianabelieves.com). A
8
B
5
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According to the U.S. News and World Report, in 2015, the Jefferson Parish Public School System was home to three of the Top 5 High Schools in Louisiana. These schools were the Patrick F. Taylor Science and Technology Academy (2nd), Haynes Acad‐
emy for Advanced Studies (4th), and Thomas Jefferson High School for Advanced Studies (5th). That same year, the USNWR also named these three schools the 24th , 41st, and 102nd Best Magnet High Schools in the country, respec vely. In 2014, five of the Top 10 Schools in Louisiana, as ranked by the state Department of Educa on, were in the Jefferson Par‐
ish Public School System. Three more JPPSS schools ranked in the top 25. The Metairie Academy (Metairie) was named the top elementary school in the state ,and Ruppel Academy (Gretna) was named the top middle school. A
8
B
24
C
20
D
45
C
28
D
27
D
14
F 11
F 5
A
15
B
11
C
14
Jefferson Parish School District Accomplishments and Recogni ons 
A
8
F 4
B
24
C
27
D
11
F 3
2010‐2011 2011‐2012 2012‐2013 2013‐2014
Chart Source: 2013 Jefferson Parish Public School System Report, Louisiana Department of Educa on (louisianabelieves.com). The Daily Beast In 2014, two Jefferson Parish High Schools were named in the list of 100 Best High Schools in the country. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION 2014‐2015 School Year DEMOGRAPHICS_____ Primary and Secondary Educa on 11 Jefferson Parish, New Orleans Metropolitan Sta s cal Area (MSA) and State of Louisiana Approximately 24.9% of the parish popula on and 36.3% of the MSA popula on, ages 25 or older, have a Bachelor’s degree or higher compared to approximately 22.5% for the State of Louisiana. Approximately 87.5% of parish residents ages 25 and older have at least a high school diploma or equivalent. 31.1% of parish residents, ages 25 or older, have an associate’s degree or higher. Parish Educa on A ainment Levels 25 years and older Four Year Colleges and Universi es Greater New Orleans Area Ins tu on Loca on 2014‐15 University of New Orleans New Orleans 9,234 Tulane University New Orleans 12,603 Loyola University New Orleans 4,330 Xavier University of LA New Orleans 2,976 Southern University at N.O. New Orleans 2,674 Dillard University New Orleans 1,200 Our Lady of Holy Cross New Orleans 1,095 Herzing University Kenner 381 Southeastern Louisiana Hammond 14,498 Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Fac inder Two Year Colleges and Universi es Loca on 2014‐15 Ins tu on Loca on 2014‐15 LSU Medicine New Orleans 780 Delgado Community New Orleans 17,152 LSU Allied Health New Orleans 1011 LSU Nursing New Orleans 1050 Metairie 662 LSU Dental New Orleans 392 LSU Public Health New Orleans 116 Delgado has 9 campuses in the region, including one in Jefferson Parish Tulane University New Orleans 787 Nunez Community Chalme e 2,588 Tulane University New Orleans 696 Loyola University New Orleans 611 Sources: Na onal Center for Educa on Sta s cs (nces.ed.gov), LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, Tulane University, Loyola University. CareerBuilder In 2014, Greater New Orleans is Top 5 in the USA for increasing share of “Millennial (22‐34) Jobs”. HIGHER EDUCATION Ins tu on DEMOGRAPHICS Greater New Orleans Area Medical and Law Schools 12 Demographics ESRI Es mates Jefferson Parish’s 2015 Popula on as 433,406 persons, which makes Jefferson Parish one of the most populated parishes in the state. Households By Income (2015) Demographic Summary (2015) Popula on 433,406 Median Household Income $46,302 Households 171,196 Average Household Income $68,187 Families 111,418 Average Household Size 2.51 Household Income Percent Owner Occupied Houses 103,120 < $15,000 13.9% Renter Occupied Houses 68,076 $15,000—$24,000 12.8% Median Age 39.1 $25,000—$34,999 11.3% $35,000—$49,999 14.9% $50,000—$74,999 17.0% $75,000—$99,999 10.7% $100,000—$149,999 10.4% $150,000—$199,999 4.5% $200,000+ 4.5% Parish Race and Ethnicity (2015) 4.3% 2.1% 3.9% 0.5% Age of Jefferson Parish Residents (2015) Percent of Popula on Source: ESRI 2014 Projec ons 28.2% 18.7% 13.6% 12.6% Source: ESRI 2015 Projec ons Age of Residents Source: ESRI 2015 Projec ons Forbes In 2014, Greater New Orleans was ranked #1 Brainpower City in the USA. POPULATION STATISTICS 27.3% 62.9% DEMOGRAPHICS 26.3% 13
Jefferson Parish Average Commercial Rent and Occupancy Rates (Fall 2014) Type of Space Average Price/
Occupancy Class A $23.65 93.9% Class B $17.53 86.7% Class C $14.65 87.1% Class A $17.41 91.6% Class B $13.77 89.6% Class C $15.97 87.7% Office Space Retail Space Avg. Cost Per Square Foot Distribu on Service Center Distribu on Service Kenner $3.00 ‐ $5.50 N/A 94.0% N/A Elmwood/
Labarre $4.50 ‐ $6.50 $7.50 ‐ $9.00 95.0% 95.0% West Bank $3.00 ‐ $4.50 N/A 88.0% N/A Source: Metropolitan New Orleans Real Estate Market Analysis, Vol. 47, April 2015 Average Price of Single Family Dwellings In Jefferson Parish, private residences are assessed at 10 percent of fair market value with no property tax assessed on the first $75,000. East Bank $233,284 West Bank $124,516 Average Price (In Thousands) Residen al (2014) Average price of Single‐family dwellings in Jefferson Parish $233,284 $189,565 $124,516 Source: Metropolitan New Orleans Real Estate Market Analysis, Vol. 47, April 2015 Wall Street Journal In 2015, Greater New Orleans was the #1 “Most Improved Metro in the United States”. RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE Area Occupancy Rate DEMOGRAPHICS________ Warehouse Space 14
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No state property tax in Louisiana Improvements of industrial property assessed at 15 percent of fair market value and land assessed at 10 percent In unincorporated Jefferson Parish and Kenner, private residences are as‐
sessed at 10 percent of fair market value with no property tax assessed on the first $75,000 For 2014 incorporated mills, please see table below: Loca on: Corporate 
Franchise Tax Corporate Income Tax 
Sales Tax 2014 Parish 2014 City Total 2014 City of Gretna—#10 0.06454 0.04871 0.11325 City of Westwego—#44 0.06454 0.02393 0.08847 City of Kenner—#92 0.06628 0.01751 0.08379 City of Harahan—#93 0.06696 0.01562 0.08258 Town of Grand Isle—#61 0.10515 0.01187 0.11702 Average Unincorporated Jefferson Parish — — 0.11235 The rate is $1.50 per $1,000 on the first $300,000 of capital employed in Louisiana, and $3.00 per $1,000 a er the first $300,000 Corpora ons will pay tax on net income computed at the rates contained in the table to the right (the effec ve rate is somewhat less because federal income taxes are de‐
duc ble in compu ng net taxable income) Total sales tax is 8.75 percent  Jefferson Parish sales tax is 4.75%  Louisiana state sales tax is 4%  See table for parish and state breakdown KPMG Corporate Income Tax Percentage Net Income 4% First $25,000 5% Next $25,000 6% Next $50,000 7% Next $100,000 8% Over $200,000 Governing Body Sales Tax State 4.0% Parish 4.75% Total 8.75% In 2014, Greater New Orleans was named #1 Most Cost‐Friendly For Business in the USA. PARISH TAXES 
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BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Property Taxes/ Assessment Ra o 15
JEDCO’s financing programs are designed to assist Jefferson Parish‐based businesses with financing of fixed assets, working capital and inventory. This is accomplished mainly by u lizing the lending resources of the U.S. Small Busi‐
ness Administra on, the Economic Development Administra on, The Department of Housing and Urban Development and the State of Louisiana Office of Community Development. Most loan programs work in conjunc on with bank financing. Under this structure, financing of an eligible project is divided between JEDCO, a private lender and borrower’s equity. Loans are made in the range of $10,000 to $5.5 million. For addi onal informa on, please contact a JEDCO representa ve at (504) 875‐3908. SBA 504 
Loan 
Program 
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EDA 
Revolving 
Loan Fund 
HUD 
Community 
Development Block Grant 
Revolving Loan Fund Provides growing businesses with long‐term, fixed‐rate financing for major fixed as‐
sets, such as land, buildings and heavy equipment Typically includes a loan secured with a senior lien from a private sector lender cover‐
ing up to 50 percent of the project cost, a loan secured with a junior lien from JEDCO (backed by a 100 percent SBA‐guaranteed debenture) covering up to 40 percent of the cost, and a contribu on of at least 10 percent equity from the business Businesses are required to create one job for every $65,000 of “504” financing Typical maximum loan amount is $5 million Manufacturers may be eligible for up to $5.5 million Term of loan is ten years for equipment Term of loan is 20 years for real estate Assists small business expansion projects by leveraging private funds with low‐cost, fully amor zed term loan facili es Eligible uses include working capital, land/building acquisi on, and equipment pur‐
chases Loan amounts range from $25,000 to $150,000 Provides financing to businesses that will create jobs for low‐to‐moderate income per‐
sons as determined by HUD guidelines Loans can be used for land/building acquisi on, new construc on/renova on, equip‐
ment purchases, project’s professional fees, working capital, and inventory. Loan amounts range from $10,000 to $150,000 KPMG In 2014, the Greater New Orleans area was ranked the most economical mid‐sized city for business in the United States. FINANCING PROGRAMS 
Supports small businesses and promotes economic development in the community Loan amounts range from a minimum of $25,000 with a maximum determined by pro‐
ject parameter and availability of funds Eligible uses include land acquisi on, building acquisi on, purchase of equipment, working capital and inventory Maximum term is 20 years based on the useful life of the assets to be purchased with proceeds; rates are nego able BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Louisiana 

Revolving Capital Fund 
(LRCF) 16
Through state enabling legisla on, JEDCO issues tax‐exempt and taxable IDBs to finance land acquisi on, building construc on and the purchase of new equipment Provides financial assistance in the form of low‐interest loans for the environmental clean‐up of designated EPA brownfield sites in Jefferson Parish Applicable to proper es that have been determined to have an actual release or sub‐
stan al threat of release of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant that may present an imminent or substan al danger to public health or welfare Economic 
Development 
Loan Program 
(EDLOP) / Economic 
Development Award Program 
(EDAP) Discre onary program designed to provide financing assistance for industrial or busi‐
ness development projects by providing a minimum of $50,000 for such projects Project must create or retain at least ten permanent jobs in Louisiana Projects building or purchasing publicly‐owned infrastructure must have a public or quasi‐public state en ty or poli cal subdivision of the state as a sponsor for company to apply for EDAP award Projects funding non‐public infrastructure and assets do not require a public sponsor for EDLOP award Project cost may include, but are not limited to, engineering and architectural expens‐
es, site acquisi on, site prepara on, construc on expenses, building materials and capital equipment Small 
Business 
Loan and 
Guaranty 
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Program Facilitates capital accessibility for small businesses by providing loan guarantees to banks and other small business lenders Guarantees may range up to 75% of the loan amount, not to exceed $1.5 million Loan amount may range from $5,000 to $1.5 million Minimum equity requirement of 15 to 20 percent Must be a Louisiana small business and must create 2 new permanent jobs. For more informa on, please view the Louisiana Economic Department’s webpage: www.louisianaeconomicdevelopment.com Site Selec on Magazine In 2015, Louisiana was ranked #4 in Site Selec on Magazine’s “Top 10 States for Business Climate”. This is the sixth consecu ve top 10 ranking for the state. FINANCING PROGRAMS (CONT.) EPA Brownfield 
Cleanup 
Revolving Loan Fund BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Industrial 
Development Bond (IDB) 17
Eligible Jefferson Parish businesses can take advantage of various state and local tax incen ve programs designed to help companies grow, poten ally resul ng in overall net savings. Please note: Louisiana Economic Development (LED) requires applicants for certain programs where noted to file an Advanced No fica on and pay a processing fee prior to crea ng jobs, star ng construc on or otherwise star ng the project. The Advanced No fica on can be submi ed electronically online: h ps://fastlane.louisianaeconomicdevelopment.com In addi on to the processing fee, business are assessed applica on and other fees for many programs. Please contact a JEDCO representa ve with any ques ons regarding these programs at (504) 875‐3908. 
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Quality 
Jobs 
Program 
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Industrial 
Property Tax 
Exemp on 
Provides an annual payroll rebate at a rate of 5% or 6% for new direct jobs for up to 10 years Businesses are also eligible for a full state and par al local rebate of sales/use tax (total of 5%) OR a refundable investment income tax credit equal to 1.5% of certain capital expenditures A business must fall within one of the state’s targeted industries, such as bioscience, manufacturing, so ware, environmental technology, food technology, advanced mate‐
rials, or oil and gas field services, or have a total annual out‐of‐state sales (or Federal Government) of at least 50% or be located within a distressed region to qualify Requires submi al of Advanced No fica on and $250 non‐refundable fee to LED Manufacturing opera ons are eligible for a local property tax exemp on on new in‐
vestments including improvements to the land, buildings, machinery, equipment, and any other property that is part of the manufacturing process Contracts may be granted for five years with an op on to renew the exemp on for an addi onal five years Requires submi al of Advanced No fica on and $250 non‐refundable fee to LED The Pew Charitable Trusts In 2014, Louisiana was named one of only fi een states in the na on that has recovered all jobs lost during the 2008 recession. TAX INCENTIVES 
Qualifying business are eligible for a one‐ me tax credit of $2,500 for each cer fied net new, permanent full‐ me job created. Credits can be applied toward the business’ Louisiana income and corporate franchise tax liability Business are also eligible for a full state and par al local rebate of sales/use tax (total of 5%) or a refundable investment income tax credit equal to 1.5% of certain capital expenditures Na onal workforce must be increased by 10% within the first 12 months, or a mini‐
mum of 5 new jobs must be created within the first 24 months of project start date, whichever is less 50% of net new hires must meet at least one cer fica on requirement, i.e. Enterprise Zone residency, public assistance, lacking basic skills and/or unemployable by tradi onal standards Requires submi al of Advanced No fica on and $250 non‐refundable fee to LED BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Enterprise 
Zone Program 
18
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Commercial property owners and homeowners who substan ally renovate an exis ng structure in a qualifying district or if the structure is a registered His‐
toric Place may be eligible for a five‐year deferred assessment of the ad val‐
orem property taxes on the improvements Contracts may be renewed for an addi onal five years if approved by local governing authority Requires submi al of Advanced No fica on and $250 non‐refundable fee to LED Please refer below for the qualifying districts: Airline Drive Boundaries: Labarre Road, Orleans Parish line and a line 550 feet north and south from and parallel to Airline Drive. Airline Drive Boundaries: Labarre Road to the east, Kenner City limits to the west, and a line 550 feet north and south from and parallel to Airline Drive. Boundaries: Tolmas, Metairie Lawn, Canal #4, Division Street, West Esplanade, Hullen Street and Lake Pontchartrain. City of Kenner Boundaries: The area bounded by the Mississippi River on the south, Kenner Avenue on the north, Compromise Street on the east and Daniel Street on the west. Ames Boulevard/
Marrero Boundaries: The area along Ames Boulevard bounded by the West Bank Expressway to the north, Walkertown Way (formerly Cross Street), down to Haydel Drive, August and Ames Boulevard to the east, bounded by the Giaise Canal and to the south in‐
cluding all proper es and structures at all four corners of the Ames Boulevard and Lapalco Boulevard intersec on, and Victory Drive to the west. Ames Farm Subdivision Oakwood Mall Belle Promenade Mall Boundaries: Lapalco Boulevard to Barataria Boulevard (side), Karen Drive (side) (Richard Subdivision), and Giaise Street (Gulizzo Canal). Boundaries: Whitney Avenue, Orleans Parish line, Terry Parkway, Wright Avenue and a line 725 feet from and parallel to Hector Avenue. Boundaries: Barataria Boulevard, Patriot Street, Jutland Drive, and Lapalco Boulevard. Stonebridge Boundaries: Stonebridge Drive, Lake Timberlane Drive, Lake Lynn Drive, and Trapp Canal. Subdivision, Parcel “C” Business Facili es In 2014, Greater New Orleans was ranked #5 in the “Top 10 for Economic Growth Poten al in the USA”. TAX INCENTIVES (CONT.) Metairie CBD BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Restora on Tax Abatement (RTA) 19
City of Gretna Boundaries: (1) Mississippi River (northern) boundary, Orleans Parish line, the inter‐
sec on of the Orleans Parish line and the Jefferson Parish line south to Stumpf Economic Boulevard (eastern) boundary, Stumpf Boulevard (north) to the Westbank Express‐
Development way and 300 feet south of the Westbank Expressway from Stumpf Boulevard to the western city limit and the western city limit north to the River (excluding Garden District Park Subdivision, commonly known or referred to as “Old Garden Park”). (2) The area bounded by the western City limits to north side of Gretna Boulevard, Belle Chasse Highway/Lafaye e Street to Westbank Expressway (both sides). City of Gretna Boundaries: Various proper es in the vicinity of the West Bank Expressway and Franklin Street Corridor have been defined establishing boundaries for said District. West Bank Please contact a JEDCO representa ve for a complete lis ng of eligible proper es at Expressway & (504) 875‐3908. Proper es included in this district fall within other RTA‐eligible dis‐
Franklin Street tricts within the City of Gretna. Corridor City of Gretna Boundaries: East side of Gulf Drive, the north side of Sixth Street to the west side of Dolhonde, on the west; the north side of Twel h Street on the south; the east side of Mechanickham Amelia Avenue on the east; and the Mississippi River on the north. The Gretna Na‐
Historic District onal Historic District is included within the Mechanickham Historic District. and the Gretna Na onal Historic District Boundaries: From the river ba ure and levee at the junc on of LA 18 and Sala Ave‐
nue or “The Hill”, south to Fourth Street, which includes blocks one (1), two (2), three (3) and four (4) of Sala Avenue and all proper es and structures within these four (4) blocks facing Sala Avenue and also including sites that extend from Sala Ave‐
nue through to Louisiana Avenue or Avenue A. Manha an Boundaries: Encompassing a line that is 180 feet east and west of and parallel to th
Manha an Boulevard, to the northern boundary of the straight line created by 11 Boulevard street and the southern boundary of Lapalco Boulevard. Please contact a JEDCO representa ve with any ques ons regarding eligibility in an RTA district at (504) 875‐3908. Business Facili es In 2015, Louisiana was ranked #1 in “Best Business Climate in the United States”. TAX INCENTIVES (CONT.) City of Westwego Historic District Boundaries: East side of Ocean Avenue from the river to the Fourth Street right‐of‐
way; west side of Hancock Street; the Orleans Parish line; and the Mississippi River BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT City of Gretna McDonoghville Historic District 20

Qualifying manufacturing machinery and equipment (M&E) purchases made in Jefferson Parish are exempt 100% from local and state sales and use taxes Manufacturers must obtain a manufacturer’s exemp on cer ficate from the Louisiana Department of Revenue (LDR) and Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Taxa on and Revenue to avoid paying state and local sales/use tax on eligible M&E Corporate 
Jobs Tax 
Credit Any corpora on that establishes or expands in Louisiana may qualify for a one‐
me tax credit ranging from $72 to $162 for each new job created and filled by Louisiana residents Tax credits can be used to sa sfy state corporate income tax obliga ons, up to 35% of the tax liability May be used in lieu of par cipa ng in the Industrial Tax Exemp on, Restora on Tax Abatement or Enterprise Zone Program Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) 
Created by Congress to expedite and encourage foreign commerce by allowing delayed or reduced duty payments FTZs are secure areas within the U.S. that are legally outside of the U.S. Customs territory for tariff purposes Manufacturing, distribu on and warehouse sites can apply to receive an FTZ designa on through the Port of New Orleans Freeport Law 




Inventory Tax Credit Program Customized So ware Sales Tax Exemp on 



Research and 
Development (R&D) 
Tax Credit Goods and commodi es in public or private storage are exempt from property taxes while moving through Louisiana in interstate commerce to a final des na‐
on outside the state Permits most manufacturers to bring raw materials in the state without having to pay a tax on them un l they have been placed in the manufacturing process Allows ad valorem taxes levied on business inventories to be credited toward state income and corporate franchise tax liability Manufacturers, distributors and retailers are eligible to receive a 100% credit of local inventory taxes paid Companies purchasing certain customized computer so ware are exempted from paying Louisiana and Jefferson Parish sales and use tax imposed on retail sales Customized so ware is defined as so ware prepared, created, adapted or modi‐
fied to the special order of a par cular purchaser, licensee or user To encourage research and development in Louisiana, taxpayers are offered a refundable tax credit to be applied against state income or corporate franchise tax liability Taxpayers are eligible for a credit of up to 40% of Louisiana qualified research expenses (based on employment) Forbes In 2014, Louisiana was ranked number 29 on Forbes’ “Best States for Business“ list. Louisiana now ranks higher in every na onal state business climate ranking than it ever did prior to 2008. TAX INCENTIVES (CONT.) 
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Manufacturing Sales Tax Exclusion 21


Digital Interac ve 
Media and So ware 
Tax Credit Technology 
Commercializa on Tax Credit and Jobs Program 

Business 
Reten on and Moderniza on Tax Credit Program 
Offers accredited investors a 25.2% transferable tax credit on any state income or corporate franchise tax liability based on the amount invested in a qualified Louisiana Entrepreneurial Business (LEB) LEBs are early stage, wealth‐crea ng businesses cer fied by LED Program sunsets on July 1, 2017 Investors in state‐cer fied produc ons of digital interac ve media products and pla orms qualify for a tax credit equal to 18% of qualified produc on expenditures and a 7.2% tax credit on payroll for in‐state labor Cer fied applicants may elect to receive a one‐ me rebate of credits equal to 85% of the face value of the credits in lieu of tax credits at any me during the year Companies that invest in the commercializa on of Louisiana technology can receive a 28.8% refundable tax credit against state income or corporate franchise tax liability of the cost to purchase or lease machinery and equipment and of expenditures for obtaining rights to use technology The business must have an agreement with an in‐state university or school to commercialize the technology Businesses are also eligible for a 4.32% payroll rebate for the crea on of new direct jobs Provides a 3.6% Louisiana tax credit to manufacturers that increase efficiency by at least 10% and must show that without the investment in moderniza on the facility would be at high risk for closure in the foreseeable future or have mul ‐
state opera ons and an established compe ve capital project with an ap‐
proved investment of at least $5 million Par cipa on is this program is at the discre on of the secretary of LED Corporate 
Tax Appor onment 
Program Eligible businesses may use a single sales factor to appor on its income to Loui‐
siana when moving to/expanding in Louisiana for a contract term of up to 40 years Applies to corporate income tax periods beginning on or a er January 1, 2013 and corpora on franchise tax periods beginning on or a er January 1, 2014  A business must receive an invita on from the secretary of LED to apply for par cipa on in this program Corporate 
Headquarters 
Reloca on Program 
Eligible businesses receive a 20% rebate of qualified reloca on costs paid on moving headquarters to Louisiana or expanding headquarters in the state Businesses must create and maintain a minimum number of headquarters jobs and associated payroll and any other performance obliga ons deemed appropri‐
ate by the secretary of LED A business must receive an invita on from the secretary of LED to apply for par‐
cipa on in this program Forbes In 2015, Greater New Orleans was named #3 Big City Winning the IT Jobs Ba le (a er Silicon Valley and San Francisco). TAX INCENTIVES (CONT.) 
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Angel Investor Tax Credit Program 22
Tax 
Equaliza on Program 

Re‐Entrant 
Jobs Credit Program 

Designed to a ract, retain and encourage the expansion of manufacturing businesses, headquarters, warehousing and distribu on establishments in/to Louisiana by elimina ng the tax differen al between Louisiana loca on and compe ng loca on in another state State of Louisiana matches the tax rates of a compe ng state, if necessary, to retain or recruit eligible businesses Applica on must be approved by the Louisiana legislature Any taxpayer who employs an eligible re‐entrant during the taxable year in Louisiana shall be allowed a credit against their corporate income tax liability of $108 per eligible re‐entrant employed, not to exceed 36% of corporate income tax The re‐entrant must reside and e domiciled in Louisiana, been convicted of a felony, and successfully completed the Intensive Incarcera on Program Re‐entrant must be employed in a full‐ me posi on working at least 36 hours per week for at least 6 consecu ve months, and must not have been employed in a full‐ me posi on for 6 months or more since his/her release from custody prior to employment by the taxpayer. TAX INCENTIVES (CONT.) 
Qualifying businesses receive a maximum 12% rebate of new payroll for up to 10 years Businesses must create and maintain a minimum number of permanent full‐ me direct new jobs and new payroll Par al rebate of state and local sales tax on capital expenditures for the facility or a project facility expense rebate equal to 1.2% of qualified capital expenditures may be taken if the employer meets the hiring requirements of the Enterprise Zone program A business must receive an invita on from the secretary of LED to apply for par cipa on in this program BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Compe ve 
Projects Payroll 
Incen ve Program 
WalletHub In 2015, Greater New Orleans was named #7 in the USA for “Economic Environment since the Great Recession”, out of 150 regions in America. 23
Entertainment Industry Tax Incen ve Programs Jefferson Parish 
Film Industry Incen ve 
Program 



Investors in state‐cer fied produc ons with a total base investment greater than $300,000 qualify for a fully transferable Louisiana investment income tax credit of 30% of the in‐state spend  An addi onal tax credit of 5% of payroll up to a salary limit of $1 million is allowed for Louisiana residents employed in connec on with a state‐cer fied produc on Un l January 1, 2020 investors in state‐cer fied, sound recording produc ons qualify for a fully refundable tax credit of 18% of the base investment in excess of $15,000, or if a resident of this state, in excess of $5,000 Project must spend at least $5,000 in Louisiana in a 12‐month period to qualify Musical and 
Theatrical Produc on Income Tax Credit 
Investors in state‐cer fied live musical or theatrical produc ons and/or state‐
cer fied musical or theatrical infrastructure projects may be eligible for a fully transferable or refundable tax credit ranging from 7.2% to 18% of their total base investment. Credits can be applied toward individual or corporate income tax liability. Payroll for Louisiana residents employed in connection with a state‐certified production is eligible for an additional tax credit Tax Founda on + KPMG In 2015, Louisiana was rated a “Top Ten State in the USA for Overall Tax Compe veness”. ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY TAX INCENTIVES Sound Recording 
Investor Tax Credit 
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Mo on Picture Investor Tax Credit Produc ons that have their principal Louisiana produc on office or use a sound‐
stage/alterna ve filming facility located in Jefferson Parish may be eligible to receive a 3% cash rebate on local expenses Qualifying produc on must spend at least $150,000 in qualified local expenses Incen ve cap of $100,000 for new produc ons $15,000 cap increase for subsequent produc ons begun within 12 months of comple on of a project that previously received the incen ve $10,000 cap increase if both produc on office and soundstage are in Jefferson Parish 24
The Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission is pleased to furnish companies with beneficial work‐
force development program informa on detailed below. Whether a company is considering moving to the par‐
ish or expanding in the area, programs like the na on’s premier, turnkey Louisiana FastStart program and the wage reimbursement On‐the‐Job training program, offer substan al incen ves to operate locally. JEDCO staff members are available to help companies iden fy applicable programs based on long and short term individual business needs. Please contact a JEDCO representa ve for more informa on at (504) 875‐3908. 
On‐The‐Job Training (OJT) 

Reimburses 50 percent of qualified wages during the training period of new or exis ng employees with occupa onal skills that are typically required to obtain employment or advance within the company For addi onal informa on, contact the Career and Business Solu ons Center at (504) 227‐1283 (Gretna office) or (504) 838‐5678 (Metairie office) Incumbent Worker 
Training Program 
(IWTP): Customized Training 
Program Can pay most of a company’s new eligible training costs, including equipment, teaching materials and instructor me Provides customized training for exis ng employees as well as pre‐employment training for non‐incumbent workers by an approved training provider; employ‐
ers must have been in business in the state for at least three years and contrib‐
u ng to and in full compliance with the state unemployment insurance tax laws Addi onal informa on is available at the Louisiana Workforce Commission web‐
site, www.laworks.net IWTP: 
Small Business Employee 
Training Program 
Designed for employers of up to 50 employees; employers must have been in business in the state for at least three years and in full compliance with the state unemployment insurance tax laws Employees may obtain training from any approved standardized training course or program from an ins tu on, trade associa on or the manufacturer of a spe‐
cific piece of equipment Addi onal informa on is available at the Louisiana Workforce Commission web‐
site, www.laworks.net Jefferson 
Business 
& Career 
Solu ons 
Center 
One‐stop des na on for employers and job seekers in Jefferson Parish; provides job recruitment and applicant screening assistance Serves as the unemployment office of the Louisiana Workforce Commission Houses the largest state database of qualified job seekers; job lis ngs that can‐
not be filled locally are fed into the database Clearinghouse of labor market informa on The East Bank center is located at 1801 Airline Drive in Metairie and can be reached at (504) 838‐5678, and west bank center is located at 1900 Lafaye e Street in Gretna and can be reached at (504) 227‐1283 Business Facili es In 2015, Louisiana Economic Development’s FastStart training program was ranked #1 in the U.S., making it the top training program in the na on six years in a row. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT 
Provides project evalua on, workforce solu ons, material development, pre‐
employment iden fica on, evalua on and feedback, course delivery, custom‐
ized training and core skills training for new or expanding companies Program is available at no cost to manufacturing companies, corporate head‐
quarters, warehouse and distribu on, research and development or other stra‐
tegic facili es that commit to crea ng at least 15 new jobs, or any service‐
related opera on that commits to crea ng at least 50 new jobs For addi onal informa on, please visit the Louisiana Economic Development webpage: www.louisianaeconomicdevelopment.com BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Louisiana 
FastStart 25
The Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission is pleased to furnish companies with beneficial strate‐
gic business development ini a ve informa on detailed below. These programs are designed for disadvantaged small business owners to gain a compe ve edge in today’s market. JEDCO staff members are available to help companies iden fy applicable programs based on long and short term individual business needs. Please contact a JEDCO representa ve for more informa on at (504) 875‐3908 Economic 
Gardening Ini a ve 
Veterans 
Ini a ve 


Hudson 
Ini a ve 

Provides reviews of core strategies including threats and opportuni es, business strategies and niche markets; business development opportuni es through mar‐
ket research and qualified sales leads; improved Internet presence by increasing business viability and credibility within the market; and advice on how to best use technology to connect with customers Program is open to businesses that have maintained a principal loca on in Loui‐
siana for at least the last two years, have annual revenue between $600,000 and $50 million, employ 5‐100 employees and demonstrate growth in annual reve‐
nue and/or jobs in two of the last five years. Program is designed to help eligible Louisiana veteran‐owned and Service‐
Connected Disabled Veteran‐Owned small businesses gain greater access to purchasing and contrac ng opportuni es available at the state level. 10% of the total evalua on points can be added to the business’s bid on a Re‐
quest for Proposal (RFP) Open to businesses at least 51% owned by a veteran and located in Louisiana Business must have less than 50 full‐ me employees and average annual gross receipts may not exceed $5 million for non‐construc on and $10 million for con‐
struc on companies Program is designed to help eligible Louisiana small businesses gain greater ac‐
cess to purchasing and contrac ng opportuni es that are available at the state government level. 10% of the total evalua on points can be added to the business’s bid on a Re‐
quest for Proposal (RFP) Business must have less than 50 full‐ me employees and average annual gross receipts may not exceed $5 million for non‐construc on and $10 million for con‐
struc on companies Site Selec on Magazine In 2014, Louisiana was ranked #2 in the Site Selec on Magazine’s “Top U.S. Business Climates” annual ranking. STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES 
11‐session business course designed by Babson College that provides entrepre‐
neurs with a prac cal business educa on, access to capital and business support Eligible business owners must demonstrate a commitment to grow their busi‐
ness and create jobs within their community One‐on‐one business advising by business experts and customized business as‐
sistance is available Applica ons accepted for par cipa on in the program receive a full scholarship that covers the cost of program materials and tui on Program is funded by Goldman Sachs and The Goldman Sachs Founda on BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Goldman Sachs 
10,000 
Small Businesses 
Program 
26
The Jefferson EDGE 2020 is the long‐term economic development strategic plan to promote sustainability, job growth and investment in Jefferson Parish. Over the course of its 15‐year history, The EDGE has served as a road map for our community’s development. Through the proac ve efforts of our stakeholders, JEDCO and elected officials, The EDGE has delivered game‐changing ini a ves such as the development of the 500‐acre Churchill Technology & Business Park and quality of life improvements related to the beau fica on of major corridors, educa on and Fat City redevelopment. In 2015, the Jefferson EDGE underwent its last 5‐year update. The industry clusters iden fied below were selected through the planning process with JEDCO board and parish stakeholders as the greatest opportunity for growth in strategic areas of interest and strength in coordina on with regional efforts. While a cluster based approach targets needs of those industries, it does not exclude any industries or businesses from JEDCO’s overall support services, but provides a basis for targe ng limited resources for maximizing long term impact. Health Care The water transporta on industry, as well as the general indus‐
try cluster of trade, logis cs, and transporta on, is a founda on‐
al industry cluster in Jefferson Parish and the region. Jefferson Parish’s hard assets, including the Harvey Canal, interstate high‐
ways, Mississippi River, mul ple Class 1 railroads, and Louis Arm‐
strong Interna onal Airport, combine for a mul ‐modal loca on unrivaled in the Gulf South. In par cular, water transporta on—
both the transpor ng of goods on water as well as the building and maintenance of water‐based vessels—is a highly specialized traded industry cluster with high average wages. Health services is the largest employer in Jefferson Parish. The industry is facing major shi s in the parish—with private opera‐
tors leasing parish hospitals, funding changes from the Affordable Care Act, and the growth of private systems like Ochsner and LCMC, Jefferson’s medical landscape is radically different than it was just a few years ago. Addi onally, the opening of two new medical centers in downtown New Orleans will add hundreds of beds to the regional capacity. These changes mean that the par‐
ish must address workforce development, regionally integrated marke ng, and suppor ng des na on health care to support con‐
nued growth in Jefferson Parish. Business Facili es Magazine In 2014, the Port of New Orleans was named #1 logis cs hub in the na on. MAJOR INDUSTRIES Water Transporta on, Distribu on and Logis cs Louisiana, and especially the New Orleans region, is known for its delicious and unique cuisine and food products. Jefferson Parish’s business case for this cluster is strong: u li es and wa‐
ter are less expensive, and the parish has a larger capacity to produce food products in places like the Elmwood area. Jeffer‐
son also has a tremendous proximity to supply chains, from goods moving in and out of the Port of New Orleans to agricul‐
tural products grown in parishes further west, like rice, sugar‐
cane, bananas, sweet potatoes, and more. INDUSTRY_ Food, Beverage, Fishing and Seafood 27
IT Systems and Products This industry has been the result of tremendous regional planning and development ac vity that came out of a realiza on post‐Katrina that Louisiana can and must be a leader in water management and coastal restora on. These coordinated efforts between govern‐
ment, industry, and philanthropic leaders has resulted in several landmark plans that plan and program billions of dollars of projects and investments to rebuild the coast and help our ci es live with water: the state’s Coastal Master Plan and the Greater New Orleans Urban Water Plan. Now, with the prospect of funding from the RESTORE Act and the se lement with BP a er the 2010 oil spill, this industry is ready to grow locally, and for the best reason—
rebuilding the coastal defenses that protect our region and make it more resilient. MAJOR INDUSTRIES (CONT.) INDUSTRY_____ Water, Coastal, and Environmental Industries This cluster includes businesses that develop, sell, or train on so ‐
ware and other informa on technology products. This cluster, while a targeted industry in many regions across the country, has several strong and growing firms in Jefferson Parish, like Geocent, 365 Connect, ReadSo and Prytania. Informa on technology and informa on systems are a part of every industry and business around the globe; there is not just one kind of IT company. Thus, part of this strategy is to determine what types of IT hold the most promise for Jefferson’s future. Jefferson’s largest employers are in engineering, health care, construc on, water transporta on, and other industries with significant needs. By tying this plan’s targeted clusters together with informa on technology, the IT industry can be the connec ve ssue that helps all Jefferson businesses prosper. Business Facili es In 2015, Louisiana placed #1 for “Economic Poten al, Workforce Training, and Digital Media”. 28
Jefferson Parish Major Industry Employers Number of Jobs Regional Labor Market Area One 4th Quarter, 2014 Source: Louisiana Department of Labor Regional Labor Market One Louisiana Average Annual Rig Counts 4th Quarter 2014 Average annual employment in the mining sector: In 2014 there were 7,881 jobs in the mining sector. There were an average of 111 rigs in 2014 Southern Business & Development Source: Louisiana Workforce Commission In 2014, Louisiana led the na on in mari me employment with 54,850 jobs, contribu ng $11.3 Billion in economic impact in the state. MAJOR INDUSTRY EMPLOYERS Source: Baker Hughes INDUSTRY______ Number of Rigs Number of Jobs 29
The Career and Business Solu ons Center provided by the LA Workforce Commission can connect job seekers with employers. Jefferson Parish and the New Orleans‐Metairie‐Kenner Metropolitan Sta s cal Area (MSA) have a large, educated workforce. The table below gives the average annual wage of various occupa ons by MSA. See the Employment sec on for sta s cs on the Civilian Labor Force, Unemployment Rate and Employment by Industry. New Orleans Atlanta Birmingham Accountant $64,370 $79,000 Electrical Engineer $105,820 Machinist Occupa on Dallas Houston Jackson Jacksonville $67,150 $76,470 $83,190 $55,350 $68,160 $88,000 $89,150 $92,450 $108,210 $77,660 $84,870 $50,140 $39,910 $40,100 $39,970 $42,780 $44,730 $41,250 Welder $46,600 $36,920 $37,100 $35,980 $43,230 $34,640 $41,420 Teacher—Elementary $49,500 $53,980 $50,970 $53,290 $52,770 $40,340 $51,240 Teacher—Secondary $52,320 $56,060 $51,410 $54,630 $53,930 $43,610 $51,600 Registered Nurse $65,280 $65,040 $56,580 $71,750 $75,500 $63,250 $63,010 Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Sta s cs, May 2014 Average Weekly Wage: Manufacturing Industry 2008‐2014 (Annual Average) 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Manufacturing $954 $946 $992 $1,080 $1,111 $1,134 $1,161 Ship and Boat Building $940 $947 $966 $1,149 $1,263 $1,359 N/A $1,583 $1,602 $1,599 $1,735 $1,620 $1,787 $1,944 $972 $912 $1,001 $993 $1,027 $1,057 $1,087 Chemical Manufacturing Machinery Manufacturing Employment Income Total Parish Personal Income (000’s) Per Capita Personal Income 2014 Per Capita Personal Income $19,969,663 $45,932 $41,204 $44,765 $45,932 Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Sta s cs, 2014 *Total personal income es mates are in thousands of dollars and are not adjusted for infla on Income (In Thousands) Southern Business & Development In 2015, Greater New Orleans was ranked #1 for the Decade for “Major Economic Development Wins in the South”. COST OF LABOR AND INCOME In 2014, Jefferson Parish had a per capita personal income of $45,932 which was 111% of the State’s average. The parish’s total personal income of $19,969,663 ranked fi h in the state and accounted for 10.5% of the state total. INDUSTRY______ Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Sta s cs 30
Jefferson Parish Employment Numbers (September 2015 Figures) Jefferson Parish (Not Seasonally Adjusted) Louisiana (Seasonally Adjusted) 205,372 2,036,047 12,488 (5.7%) 128,979 (6.0%) 217,860 2,165,026 Employment Unemployment Civilian Labor Force Employment and Wages By Industry Sector (1st Quarter, 2015) Total Es mated Average Average Weekly Companies Employees Wage ($) 1,104 21,016 $343 Administra on and Waste Services 849 15,348 $614 Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hun ng 22 38 $561 Arts, Entertainment and Recrea on 179 4,440 $1,608 1,243 12,834 $958 934 8,942 $1,447 1,424 30,747 $945 Informa on 152 2,790 $784 Manufacturing 430 9,590 $1,215 Management of Companies and Enterprises 111 3,052 $1,537 Mining 67 1,100 $2,393 Other Services (except public administra on) 1,051 5,685 $652 Professional and Technical Services 1,658 11,022 $1,222 Public Administra on 106 6,083 $1,001 Real Estate, Rental and Leasing 563 3,723 $774 1,895 28,528 $536 Transporta on and Warehousing 461 9,001 $1,078 U li es 30 1,262 $1,385 1,063 10,253 $1,332 Construc on Finance and Insurance Health Care and Social Assistance Retail Trade Wholesale Trade Source: Louisiana Workforce Commission Brookings Ins tute In 2014, the Greater New Orleans area ranked 12th in percentage of infrastructure jobs in the total workforce at 12.8 percent, driven by energy and u lity industries. EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES Accommoda on and Food Service INDUSTRY_____ Industry Sector 31
Top Private Companies in Jefferson Parish The New Orleans CityBusiness magazine publishes the list of Top 100 Private Companies in the metropolitan area annually based on the latest year revenue as reported by area businesses. For the last six years, Jefferson Parish companies have comprised on average 30 percent of the top 100 companies. For 2015, 30 of the top 100 companies are located within Jefferson Parish and presented in the table below. It is important to note that the compila on of the City Business list is dependent upon the submi al of revenue figures from local companies. Since some companies do not report, it is possible that the list is not all‐inclusive. However, companies that contacted JEDCO directly with applicable informa on and asked to be included in the table are also presented below. Other top private companies wishing to be included in the table below should contact JEDCO via telephone (504‐875‐3908). Descrip on of Opera on 1 Ochsner Health System $2,313 Health Care 2 Georges Enterprises, LLC $1,250 Food Distributor and Food Services 3 Acme Truck Line $487.0 Transporta on 4 Ray Brandt Automo ve and Collision Center $465.3 Automo ve Sales and Service/Collision Repair 5 Laitram Corpora on, LLC $426.4 Shrimp Processing Equipment, Plas c Conveyor Bel ng, & Alterna ng Tread Stair Manufacturing 6 Blessey Marine Services, Inc. $256.2 Towing Company of Barges and Marine Vessels 7 Smoothie King Franchises $241.0 Smoothies, Supplements, and Health Snack Retailer 8 Gibbs Construc on, LLC $121.0 Commercial Construc on 9 Weinmann, Inc. $120.0 Investments 10 Favrot & Shane Co. $112.0 Real Estate Development and Management 11 Core Construc on Co., LLC $100.0 General Contractor 12 The McDonnel Group, LLC $85.0 Commercial Construc on 13 David Briggs Entertainment, Inc. $80.4 Retail and Wholesale of Alcoholic Beverages and Mixes 14 Broadmoor, LLC $74.2 Design/Build Firm 15 ProSource Floors, Inc. $44.6 Wholesale Flooring 16 Durr Heavy Construc on, LLC $34.0 General Contractor, Site Prepara on, Demoli on, U li es and Disaster Recovery 17 Gardner Realtors $30.0 Real Estate Broker 18 Ryan Gootee General Contractors, LLC $29.0 General Construc on Forbes In 2014, the Greater New Orleans area ranked #1 on the list of Ci es Where Working‐Age Americans are Moving. TOP PRIVATE COMPANIES Business Name INDUSTRY____ # 2014 Revenue (In Millions) 32
# Business Name 2014 Revenue (In Millions) Descrip on of Opera on Construc on Masters, Inc. $26.0 Construc on 20 Vincent Piazza Jr. & Sons Seafood, Inc. $24.5 Seafood Processor and Ins tu onal Distributor 21 F.H. Myers Construc on Corpora on $21.0 Commercial Construc on 22 Altus—Global Trade Solu ons $19.7 Receivables Management Services 23 Metairie Bank & Trust $13.7 Banking 24 Egan Insurance Agency, Inc. $13.4 Property and Casualty Insurance 25 Garrity Prin ng, Inc. $10.8 Commercial Print Shop 26 Atlan s Interna onal, Inc. $9.6 Lubricants Wholesaler and Exporter 27 Planet Beach Tanning Spa $6.0 Tanning Salon and Spa 28 American Office Machines, Inc. $2.5 Office Equipment and Supply Sales 29 Gambel Communica ons $1.0 Public Rela ons 30 Passport Health of Louisiana $1.0 Travel Medicine/Vaccina ons INDUSTRY_______ TOP PRIVATE COMPANIES (CONT.) 19 Louisiana State University In 2014, LSU officials say Louisiana agriculture industry contributed $12.7 billion to the state’s economy, a gain of 7.6% or $900 million, over 2013. 33
Top Employers in Jefferson Parish Jefferson Parish is the economic engine of the ten‐parish area known as the Greater New Orleans re‐
gion. With an es mated 2015 popula on of 433,406 persons, Jefferson Parish is one of the most pop‐
ulous parishes in the state. Listed below are the top employers located and/or headquartered in Jefferson Parish, ranked by number of employees, as reported by management or personnel directors within each organiza on. JEDCO applauds the efforts of these companies and encourages their con‐
nued progress. Other Jefferson Parish top employers who would like to be included in the table are encouraged to contact JEDCO via telephone (504‐875‐3908). Number of Employees Descrip on of Opera on 1 Ochsner Health System 14,500 Medical 2 Jefferson Parish School Board 6,631 Educa on 3 Acme Truck Line, Inc. 3,150 Transporta on 4 Jefferson Parish 2,485 Parish Government 5 East Jefferson General Hospital 2,068 Medical 6 West Jefferson Medical Center 1,914 Health Care 7 Laitram Corpora on 1,800 Shrimp Processing Equipment, Plas c Conveyor Bel ng & Alterna ng Tread Stair Manufacturer 8 Al Copeland Investments, Inc. 1,725 Franchises 9 Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office 1,597 Law Enforcement/Government 10 Cox Communica ons 1,300 Communica ons 11 Superior Energy Services 1,200 Provider of Produc on Related Services, Rental Tools and Li boats 12 Peoples Health, Inc. 1000 Health Services 13 Blessey Marine Service, Inc. 760 Inland Water Passenger Transporta on/Towing 14 Treasure Chest Casino, LLC 725 Casino 15 City of Kenner 710 Municipal Government 16 MCC Electric, Inc. 642 Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installa on Contractors 17 Readso , Inc. 637 Prepackaged So ware Services 18 Boomtown Belle Vessel 630 Scenic and Sightseeing Transporta on 19 Boomtown Casino 603 Developer, Owner and Operator of Casinos and Related Hotel and Entertainment Facility 20 Cross Road Centers 600 Warehouse and Transporta on 21 Coca‐Cola Refreshments USA 600 Beverage Wholesaler 22 Pellerin Milnor Corpora on 588 Manufacturer of Industrial Laundry Equipment 23 Imperial Trading Co, Inc. 500 Food Distributor and Food Services 24 Marque e Transporta on 500 Mari me Cargo Transporta on & Warehousing SmartAsset.com In 2015, Greater New Orleans ranked #7 “City in the USA for Women in Technology”. TOP EMPLOYERS Business Name INDUSTRY # 34
Descrip on of Opera on 25 Cornerstone Chemical Company 465 Chemical Manufacturer 26 David Briggs Entertainment, Inc. 400 Wholesale/Distribu on Speciality Alcoholic Drinks 27 Barriere Construc on Company 400 Asphalt Paving/Site Development 28 Favrot & Shane Architects 357 Architectural Services and Property Management 29 Republic Na onal Distribu ng Company, LLC 350 Wholesale Wine and Dis lled Alcoholic Beverages 30 Gallo Mechanical Contractors, Inc. 350 Mechanical Contractors 31 Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. 325 Engineering Services 32 Versa Integrity Group 310 Onshore and Offshore Inspec on Services 33 Louisiana Gas Service Company 305 Natural Gas Provider (Atmos Energy Louisiana) 34 Quest Diagnos c Clinic Lab, Inc. 300 Medical Laboratories 35 First Student, Inc. 300 School and Employee Bus Transporta on 36 Audubon Engineering Company 275 Engineering Firm 37 Iberia Bank 275 Financial Ins tu on 38 Versatech Automa on Services, Inc. 275 Manufacturers Pneuma c & Hydraulic Control Devices 39 Postlethwaite & Ne erville APAC 271 Offices of Cer fied Public Accounts 40 First Bank and Trust 250 Financial Ins tu on 41 1st Lake Proper es, Inc. 250 Real Estate Rental/Lease Proper es 42 City of Gretna 249 Municipal Government 43 United Parcel Service, Inc. 225 Parcel Delivery Service 44 Zatarains, Inc. 220 New Orleans Style Seasonings, Mixes and Sauce Manufacturing 45 Geocent, LLC 202 So ware Engineering and Technology Consultant 46 Reinhart Foodservice of LA, LLC 201 Wholesale Foods 47 Whitney Bank 200 Monetary Authori es—Central Bank 48 Hun ngton Ingalls, Inc. 200 Shipbuilding: Engineering, Repair, and R&D 49 Dynamic Industries, Inc. 200 Manufacturer of Oil Field Equipment, Oil and Gas Dehydrators, Produc on Skids, and Offshore Pla orms 50 Macy’s 185 Retail Department Store 51 St. Theresa Medical Complex 168 Adult Care Center 52 Gulf Engineering Co., Inc. 165 Industrial Building Construc on 53 Weinmann, Inc. 162 Investments 54 Belle Chasse Marine 160 Water Transporta on Support Services 55 Broadmoor Corpora on 160 General Contractor; Design/Build Services 56 SEMCO, Inc. 160 Manufacturer of Jack‐Up Boat/Coil Tubing Equipment 57 BN Management Co., LLC 150 Hotel Development and Management 58 ION Geophysical 150 Manufacturer of Underwater GIS Mapping Equipment 59 Beverly Construc on, LLC 150 General Freight Trucking U.S. Census Bureau Louisiana has enjoyed 7 straight years of net in‐migra on since 2009. TOP EMPLOYERS (CONT.) Business Name INDUSTRY___ # Number of Employees 35
Unincorporated areas of Jefferson Parish are governed by a Parish President and Council. The Council consists of seven members, five district councilpersons and two at‐large councilpersons. The current Parish President is: Michael S. Yenni Offices of Jefferson Parish are located at the following loca ons: Joe Yenni Building General Government Building For More Informa on Regarding Parish Departments and Services and to Download Jefferson Parish’s Mobile App, Please Visit: 1221 Elmwood Park Boulevard 200 Derbigny Street Jefferson, LA 70123 Gretna, LA 70053 Phone: (504) 736‐6400 Phone: (504) 364‐2700 www.jeffparish.net Municipali es are each governed by a mayor and council. For more in‐
forma on regarding specific municipali es and their governments, please visit the following websites: City of Kenner, www.kenner.la.us/ City of Gretna, www.gretnala.com/ City of Harahan, www.cityo arahan.com/ Town of Grand Isle, www.grand‐isle.com Town of Jean Lafi e, www.towno eanlafi e.com/ City of Westwego, www.cityofwestwego.com/ Area Development In 2014, Louisiana was named #1 Most Coopera ve State Government in the USA for businesses. PARISH AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT West Bank Loca on QUALITY OF LIFE______ East Bank Loca on 36
Museums and the Arts Jefferson Parish 
Performing Arts Society 
Promotes and facilitates opportuni es for cultural enrichment through performing arts entertainment and arts educa on at two theatres, the Jefferson Parish Performing Arts Center and the Westwego Performing Arts Theater New 86,000 square foot state‐of‐the‐art facility includes a 1,100 seat theater University of 
New Orleans Nims Center Film Studio 
Provides a 110,000 square foot, air condi oned produc on facility with 35 produc on offices, three stages, HD post‐produc on suites, ADR suite, HD screening rooms, audio mix and finishing suite, produc on offices, hair and makeup, and a mo on capture studio Recent expansion includes a 1,200 square foot office/produc on support space and a 2,000 square foot produc on storage and stage access area 
Consists of three 19th Century, Creole Co ages, Blacksmith Shop, and 1859 Fire Sta on (Louisiana Fire Museum), and Depot‐Caboose located in Gretna Na onal Register Historic District Westwego 
Historical Society and Museum Located in the century‐old Fisherman’s Exchange Building and features an early 20th century hardware store, upstairs living quarters with an que furniture, an outhouse, and wooden cistern Gretna Historical Society Museum Complex Located along the Mississippi River in Kenner, Rivertown is a cultural and historical district offering educa onal and cultural exhibits such as the Kenner Science Complex, Kenner Planetarium & MegaDome Cinema, Fine Arts Gallery and Cannes Brulee Na ve American Village; and performing arts produc ons held at the Rivertown Repertory Theater MUSEUMS AND THE ARTS QUALITY OF LIFE Rivertown 
Exhibits and Art Good Magazine In 2014, Greater New Orleans was ranked one of its Top 20 “Ci es of Possibility” in the world. It shares the global recogni on with ci es such as Atlanta, Montreal and Paris. 37
Regional Shopping Malls Lakeside 

Shopping 
Center Located on Veterans Memorial Boulevard and Causeway Boulevard in Metairie Anchored by Dillard’s, JC Penney, and Macy’s Features over 120 retail establishments, including Po ery Barn, Restora on Hardware, Banana Republic, Williams‐Sonoma, and Dick’s Spor ng Goods Clearview 

Mall Located on Veterans Memorial Boulevard and Clearview Parkway in Metairie Anchored by Sears, Target, and Bed, Bath and Beyond department stores The 

Esplanade 
Mall Located on West Esplanade Avenue in Kenner Anchored by Dillard’s, Macy’s, and Target Houses over 100 retail stores and a food court Oakwood 

Shopping Center Located on the West Bank Expressway and Terry Parkway in Gretna Anchored by Sears, Dillard’s, JC Penney department stores and Dick’s Spor ng Goods 12‐screen theater located at Clearview Mall with digital surround sound and stadium sea ng AMC Palace 
Theater 16 16‐screen theater located on Manha an Avenue in Harvey with digital surround sound and stadium sea ng 
20‐screen theater located on Elmwood Park Boulevard in Elmwood with digital surround sound and stadium sea ng AMC Palace Theater 20 The Grand 
Theater 
The new state‐of‐the‐art facility includes a 14‐screen theater at The Esplanade Mall in Kenner Theater features stadium sea ng auditoriums with digital project and 3‐D capabili es, including one 3‐story screen offering a premier digital and sound experience The GOOD City Index In 2014, New Orleans was ranked the #1 “Most Inspiring” City in the U.S. SHOPPING AND THEATERS AMC Palace 
Theater 12 QUALITY OF LIFE Movie Theaters 38
Conven on and Event Centers Alario Center 




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
Pontchartrain 
Center 
Located on the West Bank of Jefferson Parish in Westwego by Bayou Segne e State Park Contains 30,240 square feet of column‐free, hardwood‐maple floor space; 2,400 theater‐type seats, and three mee ng rooms totaling 4,675 square feet Space can accommodate up to 6 basketball courts or 10 volleyball courts Hosts local events such as trade shows, theatrical performances, concerts, grad‐
ua ons, weddings and fund‐raisers as well as regional, na onal, and interna on‐
al spor ng events A fes val park with an amphitheater is planned for the Alario Center fes val rounds, which will host music fes vals and spor ng events containing fixed ven‐
dor booths with outdoor hos ng ameni es The amphitheater will have a sea ng capacity of 3,000‐5,000 people, dressing rooms and mee ng rooms, concessions, restrooms, and office space for event promoters—ameni es to host high‐profile ar sts Located on the lakefront in Kenner on the East Bank of Jefferson Parish Showcases 46,080 square feet of column‐free exhibit/assembly space; 14,681 square feet of mul ‐use mee ng rooms; a ceiling height of up to 35 feet; and accommodates over‐sized mobile equipment with roll‐up doors Hosts a variety of events from concerts and Mardi Gras fes vi es to wrestling matches and cultural events 
Several parades roll in Jefferson Parish, not only on Mardi Gras day but through‐
out the carnival season Family Gras 
A three‐day event held in the neutral ground of Veterans Memorial Boulevard in front of Lakeside Shopping Center celebra ng Mardi Gras in Jefferson Parish with live music and food Zurich 
Classic Held in the spring on the Tournament Player’s Club golf course, the PGA tourna‐
ment a racts golf enthusiasts from all over the world Tarpon Rodeo 
The oldest fishing rodeo in the United States, the Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo is held the last weekend of July and a racts outdoor and fishing enthusiasts from all over the world Gretna Heritage Fes val 
A three‐day fes val held in October in Gretna’s downtown historical district with live music, various cuisine, an Italian Village, and a German Beer Garden Bucktown Seafood Fes val 
Held in the Bucktown neighborhood in Metairie at St. Louis King of France School in October Travel + Leisure In 2015, New Orleans was named the #2 city in the US and Canada and one of the “Friendliest Ci es in America”. CONVENTION CENTERS AND EVENTS Mardi Gras QUALITY OF LIFE____ Many events are held throughout the year in Jefferson Parish. A few are listed below: 39
Zephyr Field 
Home of the New Orleans Zephyr baseball team, the Florida Marlins Triple A affiliate, Zephyr Field is located on Airline Drive in Metairie and seats nearly 11,000 fans Bayou Segne e Sports Complex (Alario Center) 
The complex consists of the main area of the Alario Center which contains NBA‐
sized hardwood floor with sea ng for 2,200 patrons, and a baseball field adja‐
cent to the Alario Center with grandstand sea ng capacity for 650 fans or up to 1,000 with bleachers New Orleans 
Saints and Pelicans Prac ce Field State‐of‐the‐art prac ce facility for the New Orleans Saints NFL team, and New Orleans Pelicans NBA team located on Airline Drive in Metairie, adjacent to Zephyr Field 
Over 11 volleyball nets in a sand se ng located at 1700 Joe Yenni Boulevard in Kenner; league and tournament style play available Tournament 
Players 
Club 
Located in Avondale, the only PGA TOUR facility in Louisiana and home to the Zurich Classic of New Orleans Par for the course is 72 and the yardage from the championship tees is 7520 Contains a 15‐acre prac ce facility allowing for private lessons Coconut Beach Sand Volleyball Complex NOLA 
Motorsports Tennis and social club sponsored by the Jefferson Parish Department of Parks and Recrea on Bayou and 
Swamp Tours Several opportuni es exist for taking chartered tours through the parish’s many waterways Grand Isle 
Beach Front 
State Park Great loca on for water sports, as well as swimming, fishing and crabbing in the Gulf of Mexico; camping facili es available Site of the annual Tarpon Rodeo fishing event Business Facili es In 2014, GNO, Inc., the regional economic development agency in the area, was ranked as the #4 Economic Development Organiza on in the U.S. SPORTS AND RECREATION Double Faults 
Tennis Club QUALITY OF LIFE A full‐featured event facility offering programs for the general public in the form of high performance driving schools, track days, kart rentals, driver educa on courses, spectator events, ridealongs with professional drivers and much more.  In April 2015, NOLA Motorsports was home to the first Indy Car race in state history 40
Lafreniere 
Park Located in Metairie, Lafreniere Park contains picnic shelters, lagoon, open meadow, memorial garden, marsh island, soccer and so ball fields, tot play equipment, walking and jogging trail, carousel and special event facili es 
Located next to Zephyr Stadium in Metairie, LaSalle Park offers an exercise trail, athle c fields, and an urban forest of na ve trees such as bald cypress and red maple Queen 
Bess Island Located off the coast of Grand Isle, Queen Bess Island is the nes ng site for the Louisiana state bird, the brown pelican Lake 

Pontchartrain And Laketown 
Bird sanctuary for the purple mar n; linear park along the shores of the lake Loca on for water sports; public boat launch located at Bonnabel Boulevard and Williams Boulevard Situated along the shores of Lake Pontchartrain, spend quality me with family and friends at Kenner's beau ful Laketown. Launch from one of four lanes, spend the day freshwater fishing off of the lighted pier, or feed the ducks a er picnicking along the scenic coast. LaSalle Park Casinos 

Located on Lake Pontchartrain in Kenner’s Laketown area Offers table games, over 950 slots and live entertainment Forbes In 2014, Louisiana ranked #2 “Most Improved State” on the “Best States for Business” ranking. SPORTS AND RECREATION (CONT.) Treasure Chest Casino Located on the Harvey Canal, Boomtown is the largest riverboat in south Louisi‐
ana, offering more than 30 table games, over 1,400 slots, arcade games, live entertainment and four restaurants New $20 million expansion includes a five‐story, 150 room hotel complete with 8 suites, fitness center, and 4 mee ng spaces. QUALITY OF LIFE___ Boomtown 
Casino and Resort 
41
[community] Fairfield, LA Located on the West Bank of the Mississip‐
pi River at the foot of the newly expanded Huey P. Long Bridge, Fairfield is in a re‐
development and renaissance phase. O en touted as the final fron er for development in Jefferson Parish, Fairfield offers thou‐
sands of acres of land on which to build both commercial and residen al proper es. A newly adopted master plan is in place to guide development of the 9,000 acre area. Fairfield sits at the bo om of the newly‐expanded Huey P. Long Bridge. Connected to the East Bank of Jefferson Parish at the Elmwood Industrial Park, it is only the bridge in Jefferson Parish that connects the east and west banks of the Mississippi River. The state recently completed an extensive expansion of the bridge, resul ng in an increase in economic ac vity on both sides of the river. This up‐to‐date landmark delivers seamless connec‐
vity throughout Jefferson and surrounding communi es across the banks of the Mississippi. It will allow for the con nua on of undeveloped land to come into commerce. Nature abounds in and around Fairfield. Ac vi es include parks, fishing, crabbing, hiking, boa ng and a PGA golf course that is among the best in the south. The new NOLA Motorsports Park pro‐
vides auto enthusiasts with a unique experience. The 1,400‐acre facility boasts a 2.75‐mile race‐
track for cars, motorcycles and go‐karts that reach speeds up to 50 mph, engaging both pro‐
fessional and amateur drivers alike. [Must Sees:] 
NOLA Motorsports Park 
TPC Louisiana Golf Course (home to the Zurich Classic PGA Golf Tournament) 
Alario Center 
Patrick F. Taylor Science and Technology Academy (na onally top‐ranking magnet school)  Churchill Technology and Business Park (in development, home to JEDCO)  Huey P. Long Bridge connec on 
2015 Delgado Community College’s new River City Campus and Center for Manufacturing Excellence to open in late 2016 in Churchill Park Delgado Community College broke ground on their new River City Campus and Center for Advanced Manufacturing in the Churchill Technology and Business Park. 42
[community] Metairie, LA Metairie makes up a vast majority of the land on the East Bank of Jefferson Parish. Located between the City of Kenner to the west and the city of New Orleans to the east, Metairie is home to the largest retailers and restau‐
rants in the area and some of the state’s most trusted hospitals, making it a vital hub of ac vity and commerce. An immense as‐
sortment of available housing within a variety of price ranges make Metairie a popular des‐
na on for any family looking to live, work and raise a family. Nestled between the City of New Orleans and Metairie, Old Metairie is a quaint neighborhood with a historic feel. Elegant homes sit along beau ful, tree‐lined streets, providing the perfect atmosphere to raise a family. The neighborhood evolved at the turn of the century as an outgrowth of the more expensive City of New Orleans. Today, small shops and restaurants with a mix of architectural styles gives this neighborhood a unique and popular charm.. [Must Sees:] 1969 
Lake Pontchartrain 
Lafreniere Park 
Lakeside Shopping Center 
Zephyr AAA Baseball Stadium 
New Orleans Saints and Pelicans Prac ce Facili es 
Bucktown Harbor and Marina 
Veterans Boulevard (Corridor of Countless Retailers and Restaurants) Lake Pontchartrain Bridge opened and was named by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest bridge over con nuous water. 43
[community] Gretna, LA Known locally as “Historic Gretna”, this small city earned its nickname because of its long and storied existence on the West Bank of the Mississippi River. Gretna is home to the Jefferson Parish government and the 24th Judicial Court District. As a separate munici‐
pality, it has its own mayor and government officials. This close‐knit community has a quaint, small town feel, but it is just a short drive across the Crescent City Connec on bridge to end up in the heart of New Orleans. A mix of historic homes and new residences co‐exist in this unique, walkable community. Easy access to any part of the metropolitan area makes the City of Gretna an appealing community to those who enjoy close proximity to city living, without the hassle. Gretna has a quiet, welcoming feel with plenty of restaurants, walkable neighbor‐
hoods and gorgeous views of the Mississippi River and downtown New Orleans. Residents enjoy a bi‐monthly farmer’s market, an annual music fes val and the comforts of small‐town living. [Must Sees:] 1889 
Historic Downtown Gretna 
German American Cultural Center 
Gretna Farmer’s Market 
LA State Fire Museum 
Gretna Heritage Fes val Famous spice‐maker, Zatarain’s was founded in Gretna by Emile A. Zatarain, Sr. He originally took out a trademark to market root beer, but soon expanded to the spices we enjoy today. 44
[community] Kenner, LA Located on the east bank of the Mississippi River, Kenner is the 6th largest city in Loui‐
siana. The city presents residents with opportuni es to live, work and play with‐
out ever leaving the city limits. The com‐
munity has a strong workforce, vast hous‐
ing opportuni es and plenty of recrea on‐
al op ons. Residents can choose between a trip to The Esplanade Mall, a night out at the Treasure Chest Casino or a stroll through Kenner’s new cultural district, Rivertown. Thirteen parks and play‐
grounds pepper the community, appealing to young families and the young at heart. Kenner is home to the Louis Armstrong New Orleans Interna onal Airport, which serves the Greater New Orleans region. The city is a hub for passenger and transporta on exchanges, making an excellent loca on for both business and leisure travel. [Must Sees:] 2015 
Louis Armstrong New Orleans Interna onal Airport 
Rivertown Historic District and Main Street Community 
Chateau Golf and Country Club 
Pontchartrain Center 
The Esplanade Mall 
Laketown Park/Boat Launch 
Treasure Chest Casino The City of Kenner was ranked No. 10 “Most Ethnic and Racially Diverse Small City in America”. 45
[community] Grand Isle, LA The southern‐most town among Jeffer‐
son’s many diverse popula on centers is Grand Isle. Famous for its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and Louisiana beaches, this area provides water‐related ac vi es for the en re Gulf Coast and southern region. The residents of Grand Isle are friendly and always eager to provide visitors with guid‐
ance or a brief history of this culture‐rich gem. The waterside community is home to many camps and summer homes for weekend visits or fishing excursions. If Louisiana is a “sportsman’s paradise”, then Grand Isle is at the heart of the state’s “water sports paradise”. Fishing is a way of life in this community. The local waters provide some of the best salt‐water fishing in the Gulf. Guides and fishing boat rentals are available all year round. People with an interest in outdoor ac vi‐
es, camping, beaches and fun in the sun will feel right at home in this welcoming coastal town. [Must Sees:] 1928 
Grand Isle State Park 
Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo 
Grand Isle Migratory Bird Fes val 
Vast variety of seafood available all year round 
Beachfront proper es and water ac vi es abound 
Public fishing pier and cleaning sta on In 1928, the annual Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo, fishing tournament, was established on the island and is now one of the premier salt‐
water fishing rodeos in the United States. 46