IN Development
by Julie Landry
THE ST. TAMMANY Economic Development Foundation helps businesses thrive in our parish, creating jobs, generating wealth and improving the living status of our neighbors. We work with existing businesses to identify and accommodate needs—whether for their staff or for their operations— through workforce development and community building. And we attract new businesses to the area, helping prospects locate the perfect site for their facilities.
720,000-square-foot facility in Pearl River by 140,000 square feet. The new facility will cover 860,000 square feet. Associated Wholesale Grocers invested over $15 million, committing to create 35 new jobs and retain 280 jobs. But projects often take years to complete—our completed totals in no way represent the full extent of our work. We also cooperate with local land owners to develop Certified Sites in St. Tammany. Site selectors choosing locations for companies prefer to work with Certified Sites; they come shovel-ready for the business. At the moment, we have five Certified Sites in St. Tammany, amounting to over 700 acres worth of available land. We anticipate more Certified Sites by the end of the year. Our databases also includes 120 green fields and 97 available buildings. The wide variety of business and office parks in St. Tammany also makes us an attractive option for businesses. Currently, St. Tammany offers 14 business
St. Tammany Economic Development Foundation So far this year, our dedicated staff has completed 10 projects, announcing the relocation or expansion of 10 different businesses. In total, these 10 companies have funneled over $35 million into St. Tammany, creating 539 net-new jobs and retaining over 2,000 jobs that might have moved elsewhere. Three of these projects brought new companies into St. Tammany. The remaining seven represent expansions of existing businesses—of businesses who chose to grow in St. Tammany and hire more employees. While we hear most often about new businesses, expanding businesses truly reflect the strengthening business climate. These companies are selecting our parish again, and they are able to do so because of their successes here. Both Netchex and Associated Wholesale Grocers committed to expand this year. Payroll-services company Netchex invested over $5 million, committing to create 240 new jobs and retain almost 90 jobs. Associated Wholesale Grocers, national and retailerowned cooperative grocery distributor, expanded their 118
Inside Northside
and office parks: along interstates, beside colleges and in high-traffic areas. Versailles Business Park—the newest of these facilities— has 92 acres in the unincorporated area of Covington. It will integrate a mix of corporate offices and Class A office space with retail and residential spaces. Tamanend, a mixed-use development north of Lacombe, spans 848 acres. The development will contain a business park, residential areas and a satellite campus of Northshore Technical Community College. Increased wealth opens pathways to better lives. And with the St. Tammany Economic Development Foundation working to facilitate economic growth and job generation in St. Tammany, those new investment dollars from new and expanding businesses spread across the parish, benefitting all the residents who build their careers and their lives in the area. Julie Landry is the St. Tammany Economic Development Foundation communications specialist.