News & Stories

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
August 30, 2022

My First Week Downtown

Typically, when you think about a city’s downtown area the first thing that comes to mind is “hustle and bustle.” What appears to be organized chaos in a large metropolitan area. People moving in every direction, sky rises on every block, and sometimes an overwhelming sense of loneliness despite being surrounded by so many people. However, I felt a unique sense of home my first time walking down Jefferson Street in Downtown Lafayette. I was welcomed with warm smiles and “have a great day!” on just about every corner. Not at all what I was anticipating on my first day of work when being tasked to go walk around this new city I now get to call home. Whew, what a relief!

Explore
May 4, 2022

LCG begins drainage project in downtown Lafayette

Drainage construction will begin in downtown Lafayette at the intersection of Jefferson Street and Lee Avenue in front of the old city hall building, according to a spokesperson Lafayette Consolidated Government’s (LCG) Public Works Department.

Development
April 29, 2022

Opportunity Machine celebrates permanent home in downtown Lafayette

Read Clair Taylor’s article for The Acadiana Advocate here.

Business
Development
April 22, 2022

The Insider’s Guide to Festival International

Festival International de Louisiane is set to take over Downtown Lafayette this weekend, converting the city center into a world music mecca like no other. The streets will be packed with throngs of sandal clad weekend warriors—over 300,000 people attend the festival each year, coming from all over the country and around the globe. Everyone knows the bands they want to see and where the stage is, but there’s more to Festival than just the music. This guide to Festival International’s unofficial and off-the-beaten-path events will help you to get the most out of a full week of Downtown festivities.

Events
April 7, 2022

From pigeon poop to luxury pools: See how former courthouse is transformed into apartments

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricanes Laura and Delta impacted the construction, the developers behind the old federal courthouse redevelopment in Downtown Lafayette knew the project would take a lot of work. J. Dyke Nelson, the architect behind the project, said he had to wear a hazmat suit the first time he came out and saw the property.

Development
Business
March 4, 2022

50 from Perficient’s bootcamp aimed at underserved communities get hired on

Perficient, a digital consulting firm with an office in downtown Lafayette, hired 50 graduates from its training bootcamp held last fall.The second Bright Paths Program, an initiative designed to advance STEM education and career opportunities for underrepresented constituencies and communities, was offered at its Lafayette and Detroit locations. Students completed software engineering coursework, learned about the consulting business, connected with mentors, and engineered their own innovative applications, company officials announced Thursday.

Business
January 13, 2022

Sidewalk improvements in Downtown Lafayette set for 2022

Tim Skinner has been a business owner in Downtown Lafayette for almost 30 years. While he has made an investment in the area, Skinner said he is thrilled to see other taking a vested interest as well. “This is the first big project that we see coming that will enhance east of Main,” Skinner said. “When the streets are improved and sidewalks are improved, the more accessible they are it’ll encourage people to invest money in new properties and renovating older properties. ”

Development
January 6, 2022

SchoolMint to move to temporary location downtown, could have permanent space this month

SchoolMint will move into a temporary space in downtown Lafayette and could soon land a permanent home possibly later this month. Company CEO Bryan MacDonald said the company will move into the first floor of the Lemoine building, 214 Jefferson St., and hopes to have employees working there on Feb. 1.

Business
Development
December 9, 2021

A downtown Lafayette performing arts center? DDA wants to make it happen, has site in mind

The Downtown Development Authority is proposing construction of a performing arts center in downtown Lafayette to replace the 61-year-old Heymann Performing Arts Center, which landlocked Ochsner Lafayette General wants to buy. Referring to the idea as “the type of investment that tips the scale,” DDA CEO Anita Begnaud introduced the proposal at the board’s monthly meeting Thursday morning.

Development
November 19, 2021

Merry & Bright: Downtown’s Destination this Holiday Season

Don’t miss out on the third annual Merry & Bright Holiday Series, presented by Lafayette Coca-Cola Bottling Co., happening Downtown this holiday season.The holiday season is a time to come together and celebrate the connection you have to your family, friends, and community. Part of Downtown Lafayette Unlimited’s mission is to foster a downtown district where this can happen, to serve as a gathering place for memories and traditions that stand the test of time.

Events
August 15, 2021

Plans for a new children’s park are underway in Parc San Souci

Parc San Souci has been the go-to place for people living in Lafayette for nearly twenty years. It has served as a place to host events, play and listen to live music, as well as take an iconic photo, but the Downtown Development Authority believes that it’s missing something.

Development
August 5, 2021

Taco Takedown: Your Friendly Food Competition is Back!

After the success of both Chicken Sandwich Snackdown and Burger Battle Royale, we HAD to continue the fun competition amongst our Downtown neighbors. 16 Downtown restaurants will compete for the ultimate title: TACO TAKEDOWN CHAMPION.This exciting month-long food fight is a fundraiser for Downtown Lafayette Unlimited, with $1 per every taco sold going to our non-profit organization. Check out our Facebook and Instagram feeds to see who’s ready to knock-out the competition. Public voting begins August 15.

Events
Sorry! No results found.
Please select a different filter to find more news & stories.