Acadiana Region
Biggest Cities: Lafayette, New Iberia
South Louisiana’s nine-parish region, known locally as “Acadiana,” is substantially diverse — a melting pot of business growth and good times, steeped in tradition and powered by progress. The region offers the workforce talent, pro-business climate, and infrastructure needed to launch everything from global satellites to solo startups. With a low cost of living and an exceptional quality of life, Acadiana provides the perfect environment for businesses to thrive and people to prosper.
Dig Deeper:
- Regional Economic Development Organization: One Acadiana
- See the complete list of parish and local economic development organizations in the comprehensive Directory of Regional Resources on OpportunityLouisiana.com.
Key Sectors
Acadiana’s entrepreneurial spirit is thriving, fueled by a robust economy and strategic location. The region boasts sector strengths in agribusiness, energy, manufacturing, maritime, aviation, and software, offering a wide array of business and career opportunities. Major companies, both in private industry and the public sector, have firmly established themselves in Acadiana. The region is perfectly positioned for growth and expansion with a diverse infrastructure network and a nationally ranked workforce development program.
Culture
There’s a reason The New York Times calls Acadiana “the last cohesive cultural enclave in the United States.” From its vibrant hub city of Lafayette to neighboring locales rich with Acadian French heritage, Acadiana’s residents stay true to their Cajun and Creole roots. It’s a place where the home and heart meet — a colorful mixture of bootstrap-grabbers and envelope-pushers who never sacrifice quality for quantity. A place where working hard means playing harder — and where the only standard of living is living well.