2025 Regional Highlights for One Acadiana

Site Staff,
One Acadiana 2025 Regional Celebration
Photo from One Acadiana Facebook page

LAFAYETTE, La (press release) – On Wednesday, Dec. 3, One Acadiana (1A) hosted its 2025 Regional Celebration, honoring the organization’s tenth anniversary and celebrating major milestones. 

“Acadiana’s success over the past ten years has demonstrated that a united, regional approach drives results – and we are proud to celebrate this milestone alongside the many businesses and partners across our nine parishes making this possible,” said One Acadiana President & CEO Troy Wayman. 

Presented by Ochsner Lafayette General, the event brought together over 400 business and community leaders from across the nine-parish region to reflect on a decade of collaboration and regional progress.

One Acadiana shares that this progress included establishing regional target industries, increasing educational attainment, earning national recognition as an Accredited Economic Development Organization and 5-Star Chamber of Commerce, launching the Small & Minority Business Services program, securing Acadiana’s largest private capital investment with First Solar and championing urban core revitalization. 

One Acadiana “Top 10” Highlights of 2025:

• Louisiana Economic Development’s first statewide economic development plan in 16 years
• Certification of three sites across Acadiana, totaling 30 sites certified since 2015
• $1 million invested in Iberia Parish’s Progress Point
• New investment by Green Fuels, DMR Technologies and MMR Group
• LED’s legislative package creating the High Impact Jobs Program and allocating $150M towards site development
• Launching 1A ConnectEd to foster meaningful connections between business and education
• Recognition of 1A staff expertise and achievements
• Hosting the Louisiana Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives annual conference
• 1A Small Business Challenge Winner, Magnolia Pantry, opening in Downtown Lafayette
• Development of the award-winning 1A Ambassador Program

Formerly the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, One Acadiana began its transformation in 2015 into an economic development organization serving a nine-parish region in Acadiana.

To close the Dec. 3 event, One Acadiana announced Chattanooga, Tennessee, as the destination of the organization’s 2026 Leadership Exchange trip. The three-day program allows Acadiana’s top business and community leaders to explore challenges and innovations in another part of the country.

Taking place Sep. 16 – 18, Chattanooga was strategically selected as the upcoming Leadership Exchange destination based on its potential to cultivate growth-oriented discussions and tangible insights that can be applied right here in Acadiana.

Past Leadership Exchange destinations have included:

• 2015 – Charleston, SC
• 2017 – Lexington, Ky
• 2019 – Greenville, NC
• 2022 – Pensacola, Fl
• 2024 – Grand Rapids, Mi

Tickets for the 2026 Leadership Exchange are available now with early bird pricing running through April 3. 

Categories: Acadiana, Lagniappe, Homepage

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