§ 25-172. JEDCO—Economic development.

There is a positive business image in Jefferson Parish, but a lack of sites and buildings hinders the ability to attract new businesses. In order for Jefferson Parish to grow, the parish must retain current businesses and attract new businesses. Businesses pay the vast majority of the taxes of Jefferson Parish. Residential areas are encroaching into commercial and industrial areas.

Jefferson Parish needs business and industrial park development in order to remain competitive. There is a need for a business and research park with a campus atmosphere. Land needs to be provided for business development.

Transportation is an issue in business site selection for access to the types of transportation, especially access to airports, is an important requirement for many businesses today. Transportation is also an impediment to business development due to traffic congestion, limits on the capacity and access to roads and highways, especially the Huey P. Long Bridge. Business development has a communications constraint, including the lack of fiber optics in some areas.

The Jefferson Economic Development Commission developed a five-year strategic plan, The Jefferson EDGE, for economic development in Jefferson Parish that was adopted by the Jefferson Parish Council. As part of the planning process the strengths and weakness related to the economic development of Jefferson Parish were identified.

Strengths:

Strengths identified in the Jefferson EDGE include location advantage of being near New Orleans with its international reputation and excellent transportation network of highways, railroads, airport, and port. This advantage has let businesses develop in Jefferson Parish that are able to serve populations in adjacent parishes including retails services that serve the entire New Orleans region.

Other strengths identified are the business climate, including taxation, permitting and research capacity, governmental leadership, and the quality of life in Jefferson Parish. The quality of life attribute identified in the Jefferson EDGE includes crime rates, the number of hospitals beds or doctors per capita, total square footage of retail shopping, and cultural events (concerts, art exhibits, theaters).

Weaknesses:

The major weakness identified is the limited development opportunities associated with the lack of developable land. The West Bank offers the main opportunities of developable land. It is critical for the infrastructure to be developed, especially the widening of the Huey P. Long Bridge, to support the economic opportunities that are present today and in the future.

Business climate is also identified as a weakness associated with taxation and permitting. Lack of available capital to invest in business startups, particularly for technology businesses is a crucial weakness. Other weaknesses identified include the labor force and education as impediments to higher wage employment, with a lack of high quality public education and few skilled workers resulting in the out migration of talented workers.

(Ord. No. 21939, § 1, 8-6-03)