“I’m actually in a slight panic about what we’re going to do in 2019 as an encore,” said Jerry Bologna, president and CEO of JEDCO (Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission) when asked about the organization’s success this past year.
Bologna has every right to be nervous. Jefferson Parish has had an incredible year, arguably the best since Bologna took over as JEDCO’s CEO in 2000. The most high-profile win for the parish being the successful purchase of Avondale Shipyard, Biz New Orleans’ business story of the year for 2018.
“Since the closure of the shipyard was announced [in 2010], GNO, Inc. and JEDCO were working in tandem to find a purchaser,” said Bologna. “Once a potential purchaser surfaced, JEDCO negotiated the local incentives that made the acquisition possible. There were so many jurisdictions and approvals and parties involved. We acted very much like a concierge to put it all together.”
Avondale was just one among almost too many wins to count. Among the highlights include that in March, Fuji Oil announced it was investing $70 million in a new processing facility adjacent to Avondale Shipyard, and in May, U.S. Foods announced that it was tripling the size of its facility in Marrero to create a new distribution center and adding an estimated 83 jobs.
JEDCO has also been working on two big projects throughout the year. The first is the redevelopment of the 100-acre Elmwood Center, which has already seen new retail tenants. The 10-year phased construction of this mixed-use development will include 500 apartments, pedestrian paths and enhanced infrastructure. This year also marked the start of an extensive master planning process for the Churchill Technology and Business Park, a 480-acre site on the West Bank.
“It is a point of pride for our team, which has been hard at work alongside global design and architecture firm Perkins+Will all year to develop a plan that really fits within our vision for the future of Jefferson Parish,” said Bologna.
Speaking of team, Bologna is quick to praise JEDCO’s staff of 18, which he calls “one of the most dedicated economic development staffs in the country” and “one of the few accredited economic organizations in the state.”
How do you follow such a successful year?
“The positive momentum we’re seeing in our schools, in workforce development, that’s all just going to continue,” he said. “We’re going to keep experiencing a shift in industrial and warehouse to the Westbank and we’re going to continue to look at areas like Fat City and Terrytown in terms of housing and neighborhood revitalization.”
