Big Six: Who are the companies driving Acadiana’s recovery?
As Acadiana recovers from the economic downturn brought on by COVID-19 and flagging oil and gas prices, the region will likely rely on a few key businesses to help spearhead the recovery.

As Acadiana recovers from the economic downturn brought on by COVID-19 and flagging oil and gas prices, the region will likely rely on a few key businesses to help spearhead the recovery.

Lafayette’s Downtown Development Authority is pushing for the creation of a new parking committee and benefits district after backlash halted Lafayette Consolidated Government’s planned changes to parking meter hours and rates downtown.

Vestal, the planned live fire concept restaurant in downtown Lafayette owned by award-winning Lafayette chef Ryan Trahan, will open in early April, he said. Trahan announced on Facebook Thursday he is accepting applications online to staff the restaurant, which will be at 555 Jefferson St. in the former Antlers location.

Since the iconic Don’s Seafood in Downtown Lafayette closed in 2020, there has been a lot of curiosity about what would happen to the building. Since the 1930s, the restaurant was a staple of the district and a favorite dining destination for locals and visitors. Wonder no more.

Downtown Lafayette Unlimited, the private, nonprofit corporation that works with the Downtown Development Authority, appointed nine new members to its board for 2021.

Adam Daigle, Business Editor of the Acadiana Advocate joined Jan Swift to discuss the biggest business news of 2020 and the Advocate’s upcoming Economic Summit to be held virtually on January 13, 2021.

Soon after moving to Lafayette for a job at a law firm, Bryan Dupree came across a group of French tourists downtown. Dupree, who speaks French fluently, answered a few questions for the tourists but couldn’t help them find a place to purchase a postcard.
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Construction officially began for a new sewer lift station for Downtown Lafayette on Wednesday, which is set to expand the district’s residential capacity. The new lift station will cost $840,000, and the money is being fronted by the Lafayette Public Trust Financing Authority, but 90% will be reimbursed by the Lafayette Utility System. The project is expected to be completed by the end of March 2021.

It was like walking onto a Hallmark movie set for local artist Kelly Russo. Last year, downtown Lafayette took decorating for Christmas seriously, and along with it, came the Window Wonderland competition. Russo was one of 30 artists who decorated storefronts in hopes of winning and bringing Christmas cheer.

Lafayette, LA – Do you hear what we hear? Downtown Lafayette is becoming a Winter Wonderland once again this December. Downtown Lafayette Unlimited is producing “Merry & Bright,” a series of family-friendly holiday events in Downtown Lafayette sponsored by Lafayette Coca-Cola Bottling Company. The seasonal celebration includes a Christmas tree decorating contest, a concert featuring Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble, a competition for best holiday window display, a Candlelight Christmas featuring traditional carols, and a Movies In The Parc season finale —all taking place throughout December and following guidelines for safe outdoors events.

The best kind of Downtown Lafayette is a clean one. That’s why the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) used both public and private resources to respond to one of our most important stakeholder initiatives: more trash cans in our district.

Downtown Lafayette Unlimited (DLU), the private, non-profit organization that works hand-in-hand with the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), has hired a Marketing and Communications Manager to assist with event planning and execution, content creation, and marketing of the district.