WHY INVEST IN ACADIANA
ABOUT SOUTH LOUISIANA’S ACADIANA REGION
South Louisiana’s nine-parish region, known locally as “Acadiana,” is located midway between Houston and New Orleans. The region offers a pro-business climate, loyal labor force, and diverse infrastructure, making the centrally located region a hot spot for business along the Gulf Coast.
ABOUT INVEST ACADIANA
Invest Acadiana is an initiative powered by Acadiana Planning Commission and One Acadiana to promote Opportunity Zone investment throughout the Acadiana Region.
OPPORTUNITY ZONES IN THE ACADIANA REGION
Acadiana’s nine-parish region includes 25 federally designated Opportunity Zones (OZs) and strike a balance of rural and urban neighborhoods. The OZs are categorized into typologies to serve as a guide for gauging the compatibility of potential projects against the existing environment. Each OZ falls into one of the typologies: Rural Employment Center, Rural Mixed Neighborhood, Rural Residential Center, Urban Employment Center, Urban Mixed Neighborhood, or Urban Residential Center.
Click below to learn more about the OZs within each of the region’s nine parishes.
ACADIA PARISH
Acadia Parish’s Opportunity Zone includes the Town of Church Point and the surrounding rural area.
| CENSUS TRACT | MUNICIPALITY | TYPOLOGY |
|---|---|---|
| 9601 | Church Point | Rural Residential |
EVANGELINE PARISH
Evangeline Parish’s opportunity zones are located within the downtown area of Ville Platte, the seat of Evangeline Parish.
| CENSUS TRACT | MUNICIPALITY | TYPOLOGY |
|---|---|---|
| 9605 | Ville Platte | Rural Residential |
| 9506 | Ville Platte | Rural Mixed |
IBERIA PARISH
The Opportunity Zones in Iberia Parish are located within New Iberia, the seat of Parish Government, and are a short distance from the Port of Iberia and the Acadiana Regional Airport.
| CENSUS TRACT | MUNICIPALITY | TYPOLOGY |
|---|---|---|
| 305 | New Iberia | Urban Mixed |
| 309 | New Iberia | Urban Residential |
| 310 | New Iberia | Urban Mixed |
| 311 | New Iberia | Urban Mixed |
JEFF DAVIS PARISH
Jeff Davis Parish’s opportunity zone is located in the heart of Jennings, the birthplace of the oil industry in Louisiana and the seat of parish government.
| CENSUS TRACT | MUNICIPALITY | TYPOLOGY |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Jennings | Rural Mixed |
LAFAYETTE PARISH
Lafayette Parish’s seven opportunity zones are located within the City of Lafayette, the region’s largest metropolitan area. The zones are all within the following areas: The University Ave Corridor, Downtown, and the Oil Center. Lafayette is home to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, the second largest university in Louisiana, and a city-wide gigabit fiber network.
| CENSUS TRACT | MUNICIPALITY | TYPOLOGY |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lafayette | Urban Employment Center |
| 7 | Lafayette | Urban Mixed |
| 8 | Lafayette | Urban Mixed |
| 9 | Lafayette | Urban Residential |
| 10.01 | Lafayette | Urban Mixed |
| 11 | Lafayette | Urban Mixed |
| 22 | Lafayette | Urban Employment Center |
ST. LANDRY PARISH
St. Landry Parish’s opportunity zones are located in the Cities of Eunice and Opelousas. The Eunice opportunity zone is located adjacent to the Louisiana State University at Eunice Campus while the three Opelousas opportunity zones are in and around the city’s historic downtown.
| CENSUS TRACT | MUNICIPALITY | TYPOLOGY |
|---|---|---|
| 9611 | Eunice | Rural Residential |
| 9613 | Opelousas | Rural Residential |
| 9614 | Opelousas | Rural Mixed |
| 9616 | Opelousas | Rural Residential |
ST. MARTIN PARISH
St. Martin Parish’s Opportunity Zone is in the City of Breaux Bridge and the surrounding rural area.
| CENSUS TRACT | MUNICIPALITY | TYPOLOGY |
|---|---|---|
| 205.01 | Breaux Bridge | Urban Residential |
ST. MARY PARISH
St. Mary Parish’s four opportunity zones are in the Towns of Berwick, Baldwin, and Morgan City which includes the Port of Morgan City.
| CENSUS TRACT | MUNICIPALITY | TYPOLOGY |
|---|---|---|
| 403 | Morgan City | Rural Residential |
| 404 | Morgan City | Rural Residential |
| 405 | Berwick | Rural Employment Center |
| 412 | Baldwin | Rural Residential |
VERMILION PARISH
Vermilion Parish’s Opportunity Zone is located in the heart of historic downtown Abbeville.
| CENSUS TRACT | MUNICIPALITY | TYPOLOGY |
|---|---|---|
| 9507 | Abbeville | Urban Mixed |
OPPORTUNITY ZONE FEDERAL TAX INCENTIVE
What is the Opportunity Zone program?
The Opportunity Zone program was established by Congress in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 to spur long-term private sector investments in low-income urban and rural communities. The program offers federal capital gains tax benefits to investors who re-invest their capital gains into Qualified Opportunity Funds.
What is an Opportunity Zone?
Opportunity Zones are low income census tracts nominated by governors and certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
What are Opportunity Funds?
Opportunity Funds are the investment vehicle that invests in Opportunity Zones. Investors with capital gains can transfer those into an Opportunity Fund within 180 days to take advantage of the tax benefits.
BENEFITS OF OPPORTUNITY ZONE INVESTMENT
OPPORTUNITY ZONES IN THE NEWS
FROM BEING HOMELESS TO BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Young developer is pursuing her dream.
FORBES OZ 20 NOW ANNOUNCED
Forbes—in partnership with the Sorenson Impact Center—has launched a new Forbes list to honor leaders sparking the equitable revitalization of distressed communities identified as Opportunity Zones: The Forbes OZ 20: Top Opportunity Zone Catalysts.
CONTACT INVEST ACADIANA
Interested in investing in one of Acadiana’s Opportunity Zones? We can help you find the opportunity that’s right for you.
OPPORTUNITY ZONE RESOURCES
Use the following links to learn more about the Opportunity Zone Program.
LOUISIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: OPPORTUNITY ZONE INTERACTIVE MAP
IRS: OPPORTUNITY ZONES FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ECONOMIC INNOVATION GROUP: INFORMATION & RESOURCES FOR OPPORTUNITY ZONES
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF STATE HOUSING AGENCIES (NCSHA): OPPORTUNITY ZONE FUND DIRECTORY
INVEST ACADIANA PARTNERS:
