MANDEVILLE, LA – In 2015, St. Tammany issued 15 percent more commercial building permits than in 2014.
That according to The St. Tammany Economic Development Foundation’s (STEDF) fourth quarter reports on St. Tammany economic trends and parish growth.
Brenda Bertus, CEO of STEDF, said, “Commercial building permits indicate growth. As we see an increasing number of permits being requested and issued, we see evidence of a strong business climate in St. Tammany.”
In 2015, overall growth of the parish economy increased by 3.5 percent from 2014. All five economic factors that influence the St. Tammany Economic Growth Index saw increases over 2014.
Total sales for the year increased by over $200 million, with a 10 percent increase between the third and fourth quarters of 2015. The highest monthly gains over the corresponding months in 2014 occurred in January (6.9 percent), June (9.3 percent) and July (6.8 percent).
The Economic Trends report discusses employment, sales tax collections and housing trends as well as other factors that contribute to the state of the local economy.
The Parish Growth report measures overall parish growth, combining economic factors into a unifying picture.
STEDF leads economic development in St. Tammany Parish, attracting new businesses and employment opportunities to the area. The organization seeks to improve parish residents’ quality of life by strengthening and supporting the business climate.
