MANDEVILLE, LA – The St. Tammany Economic Development Foundation (STEDF) has released its third quarter reports on St. Tammany economic trends and parish growth. Total sales and sales tax collections continued to increase, rising more than $150 million and $7.2 million respectively year-to-date. DMV sales tax collections rose nearly $2 million year-to-date.
Brenda Bertus, CEO of STEDF, said, “In 2014, we saw an especially strong third quarter. The third quarter of 2015 did not fare as well—however, year-to-date numbers remain strong in our parish, and our average economic growth continues to rise.”
Year-to-date, overall growth of the parish economy increased by 3.8 percent from the similar period last year.
The number of commercial building permits issued in St. Tammany increased by almost 17 percent year-to-date and rose more than five percent from the second quarter of 2015.
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.
Their 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.
Their Parish Growth report measures overall parish growth, combining economic factors into a unifying picture.
