When job figures were released earlier this summer for Lafayette Parish, the numbers were good. The 192,000-plus total jobs was the second-highest amount, dating back at least 10 years.
That number could continue to climb while the unemployment rate remains lower than most areas, said Jerry Prejean, Acadiana market president for First Horizon Bank. Prejean was chair last year of One Acadiana, the chamber of commerce for Lafayette and the leading economic development organization for the nine-parish Acadiana region.
“I think Lafayette is certainly handling itself well,” Prejean said. “I think things are going to get even better once you start seeing some of these bigger projects like First Solar come online. People are going to work in Iberia Parish but live and play in Lafayette Parish. Where we’re seeing lift is in a lot of manufacturing.”
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