At JEDCO, we often talk about creating the conditions for businesses to succeed. That means investing in infrastructure, supporting workforce development, building partnerships and telling the story of Jefferson Parish in a way that reflects both who we are and where we are headed.
That vision is reflected in our “More Here” campaign, a message rooted in the idea that Jefferson Parish offers more opportunity, more innovation, more culture and more room to grow. It reflects the momentum happening across our community and our belief that economic development should strengthen both industry and quality of life.
That momentum is especially visible at the Churchill campus. Located on 480 acres on the West Bank of Jefferson Parish, Churchill represents one of the region’s most significant opportunities for long-term economic growth. Recently designated as a Louisiana Economic Development Certified Site, Churchill continues to gain momentum as a strategic hub for innovation and research and development. Infrastructure improvements are already underway, including the construction of new roadways designed to support future development opportunities and improve connectivity across the campus.
Those investments are helping position the site to accommodate projects like the planned Greater New Orleans Food & Beverage Incubator, a first-of-its-kind facility designed to support food entrepreneurs, manufacturers and consumer packaged goods companies across the region.
The incubator will provide commercial kitchen space, technical assistance, cold and dry storage, packaging resources and business development programming to help emerging brands move from concept to commercialization. In a region known globally for its food culture, this project represents a strategic investment in one of Louisiana’s most authentic economic assets.
Food is one of the ways we tell the story of our region. It is culture, tourism, tradition and business all at once. Yet many food entrepreneurs face significant barriers to growth — from access to licensed production space to navigating distribution and scaling operations. The Greater New Orleans Food & Beverage Incubator is designed to help close those gaps while creating new opportunities for innovation, job creation and small business development.
Importantly, the project also reflects how economic development is evolving. Today, communities compete not only on incentives and infrastructure, but on authenticity, entrepreneurship, placemaking and the ability to support creative industries. The future economy belongs to places that know how to invest in what makes them unique.
That same philosophy inspired the creation of Grand Isle Jewels.
Last year, JEDCO partnered with Grand Isle’s off-bottom oyster farmers and regional stakeholders to launch a unified umbrella brand designed to elevate one of Louisiana’s most innovative seafood industries.
The goal was not simply to market oysters. It was to tell a story about sustainability, resilience, innovation and the hardworking people behind an emerging industry with tremendous growth potential.
In just one year, Grand Isle Jewels has already created meaningful momentum. Farmers are building new relationships with distributors and restaurants, the brand is gaining recognition throughout the region, and local chefs are embracing the product in exciting ways. Partnerships like OysterNight with Chef’s Brigade have helped connect consumers directly to the farmers and businesses driving this work forward while creating greater visibility for Louisiana-grown oysters.
Projects like these reflect what “More Here” truly means.
It means investing in the industries that define our region while creating pathways for future growth. It means supporting entrepreneurs and innovators while preserving the culture and traditions that make Jefferson Parish unique. And it means recognizing that economic development is ultimately about people, creating opportunities, strengthening communities and building a place where businesses and families want to stay and grow.
Jefferson Parish is uniquely positioned to do that.
We are home to global manufacturing and logistics assets, cutting-edge energy projects, growing innovation districts and entrepreneurial momentum. At the same time, we are home to fisheries, restaurants, family-owned businesses and cultural traditions that cannot be replicated anywhere else.
That combination is our competitive advantage
As we continue building momentum across Jefferson Parish, our focus remains clear: support innovation, strengthen small businesses, create opportunities and ensure the next generation sees this community as a place where they can build careers, launch companies, and shape the future. There is MORE HERE in Jefferson Parish.
