Kevin Blanchard Named New CEO of Lafayette’s Downtown Development Authority
LAFAYETTE, La (press release) – Continuing its positive momentum in ushering Downtown Lafayette to a higher period of growth, vibrancy and investment, the Board of Directors of the Downtown Development of Authority of Lafayette today voted to hire Kevin Blanchard as its next Chief Executive Officer, replacing Anita Begnaud. The hire comes after an extensive search process that began in November. Blanchard, has served as Executive Director of the Lafayette Public Trust Financing Authority since 2020 and will assume his new role on February 1st.
“As the Executive Director of LPTFA, particularly in its role as Administrator of the Lafayette Downtown Economic Development District, Mr. Blanchard comes as uniquely qualified to perfect a seamless transition to assume the reins of the DDA from Ms. Begnaud,” says Miles Matt, DDA chairman. “He is critically familiar with our current projects, operations and goals, as well as that of current and future downtown stakeholders. I am confident the economic and cultural future of Downtown Lafayette will be in good hands with Kevin.”
Blanchard has built an expertise in community development over his professional and civic life, in a career first rooted in journalism and law. Prior to leading the LPTFA, he was Chief Operating Officer for Southern Lifestyle and Development, after working as Chief Development Officer and Public Works Director at Lafayette Consolidated Government. He practiced as an associate attorney with the Onebane Law Firm, was Editor-in-Chief of the Louisiana Law Review and covered government and politics as a reporter for The Advocate newspaper. He serves on the Evangeline Thruway Redevelopment Team, is a past chair of the Leadership Institute of Acadiana and has served on the boards of One Acadiana, the Lafayette Young Lawyers Association, Civicside and has chaired both the Unified Development Code Steering Committee and the Comprehensive Plan Citizen’s Advisory Committee.
As the leader of the DDA, the CEO leads advocacy for downtown issues and policies, promotes businesses, supports residents and property owners, performs research and market analyses and studies, markets the downtown area as a destination, serves as an information source to its constituents and the public, and aids in facilitating complex real estate and finance deals. In addition to overseeing the DDA, the CEO also manages and provides direction to the executive director of downtown’s nonprofit marketing organization, Downtown Lafayette Unlimited, a membership-based organization tasked with marketing the district and ensuring the vibrancy of the region’s core.
“I look forward to working with all our stakeholders, residents, businesses, elected officials, community members, the development community, and many more to ensure that Lafayette’s downtown continues to be the thriving economic center of our region,” says Blanchard. “I feel my professional experience has led me to this pivotal time in downtown’s history, and I thank the boards of DDA and DLU for their confidence. Both organizations have played a critical role in representing the interests of downtown businesses and residents.”
“DLU could not be more pleased with the decision of the DDA to hire Kevin Blanchard to lead both of our organizations,” says DLU President Luke Sonnier. “Mr. Blanchard has a proven track record in working with local business owners, developers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to guide Lafayette to become a competitive community where business owners choose to locate their companies, residents choose to stay, and people in other communities choose to relocate. Mr. Blanchard understands the importance of the DLU organization, our mission and the interests of our members. We plan to launch a new fundraising event in the fall and Mr. Blanchard’s leadership will be instrumental in guiding our top-notch staff to ensure it is a success and an asset for both the community at large and the Downtown district.”
