Vermilion Parish
Vermilion Parish is known for its fresh seafood, bountiful agriculture, great access via road and waterways, and a rich history of cultural and eco tourism. This bilingual (English/French), coastal parish is large and diverse with wandering bayous and farmlands, authentic local cuisine, family-friendly festivals and Cajun towns connecting it all. Vermilion is centrally located in the southern part of Louisiana immediately adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico. This proximity to the Gulf makes the parish an ideal location for the numerous companies needed to serve this region’s oil and gas industry.
Infrastructure Assets
The parish is the largest geography of the growing and prosperous Lafayette Metropolitan Statistical Area with over 1,500 square miles within its borders. The welcoming people, gorgeous sunsets and variety of home-grown businesses lend to the parish’s tradition and charm while the opportunity to grow exists with acres of developable property in each of Vermilion’s communities.
Why Vermilion is Right for Your Business:
- Port of Vermilion– 8 miles south of Abbeville on the west bank of the Vermilion River. 8 miles north of the U.S. Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and Freshwater Bayou (FWB). Access is via FWB and GIWW with a controlling depth of 12 feet.
- Abbeville Chris Crusta Memorial Airport – Airport servicing the Gulf of Mexico and local flights.
- South Louisiana Community College Gulf Area Campus – located right off of La. Highway 14, his campus is home to two programs only offered in Abbeville: Industrial/Agriculture Mechanics Technology and Cosmetology. Students in IAMT are learning to repair farm equipment and are being trained by qualified instructors. These students are ready for the workforce after three semesters. Our cosmetology students learn the latest techniques in hair and makeup as well as learning what it takes to operate a salon.
Why Vermilion?
Businesses commonly cite the same main reasons for relocating.
The ability to secure a skilled workforce, tap into new markets, upgrade facilities and/or equipment, lower costs and increase quality of life more often than not are a company’s deciding factors.
In order to make your decision to locate in Vermilion Parish an easy one, we have assembled information in each of these areas to demonstrate why Vermilion may be the right place for your business.
Secure a Skilled Workforce
Using data from the Louisiana Workforce Commission, we can customize an analysis of your potential workforce. We match your proposed positions against our listing of job titles to give you a count of potential employees. We can also assess transferable skills in related industries and give you an idea how you can work with local education providers to create a pipeline of skilled workers to suit your needs.
Tap Into New Markets
We have a dynamic demography tool that allows us to customize a search based on location, socioeconomic factors and a variety of other parameters. For B2B-oriented companies, we will create a listing of potential clients based on your criteria – sales, employee size, industry, location and many, many more!
Upgrade Facilities/equipment
A change of scenery is good for the soul and often good for business. However, finding an optimal location is not always easy. Our team is happy to assist in locating the right commercial property to suit your needs. Whether you need an existing building, raw land or a build-to-suit facility, we are happy to assist. We will team up with our regional partners to look for development-ready properties and petition commercial agents for opportunities that may be harder to locate on your own. Visit our sites and buildings database or contact us directly for assistance.
Lower Costs
Whether it’s lower cost of labor, construction or just overall cost of doing business that is your chief concern, Vermilion Parish may be the right fit. We can compare the wages here versus where your business is currently located, and evaluate the difference in fees and permitting prices. Business taxes and license costs can also be evaluated based on your request. We will show you how your bottom line can improve by doing business in Vermilion.
Quality of Life
Every community talks about their quality of life, but not every community has the world talking about it. Here in Vermilion Parish we enjoy national attention for several of our amenities. Whether you are interested in a quality public school system, family-friendly festivals, mouth-watering food, an abundance of outdoor activities or low-cost housing we can accommodate your wishes in one of our cities or towns. Travelers and new residents come from all over the world to experience our culture, natural beauty and hospitality.
The Right Location is Waiting for You
We’ve got acres of opportunity
Vermilion Parish Quick-facts:
- 2020 Total population = 57,725
- 2019 Average Civilian labor force = 24,087
- 83.9% of the 16+ population in labor force
- 84.4% Per capita income versus state per capita income
- 32.3% of population are blue-collar workers
- 90.7% Daytime population versus total population
- 65.7% of the population are homeowners
- 36.5% of the population is self-employed
- 5.1% unemployment rate (2019 average
Vermilion Parish Partners
In Vermilion Parish, we understand the importance of working as a team. We have aligned or partnered with several organizations across Acadiana to bring you the best business resources available.
Abbeville Harbor & Terminal District
The Abbeville Harbor & Terminal District creates jobs and business opportunities through managing district and port assets in an environmentally sensitive manner, and also through continued growth and development of industry and business across the district area. The District Commission is comprised of the 3rd, 7th, and a portion of the 2nd Wards of Vermilion Parish, in the areas surrounding the Vermilion River south of Abbeville and Intracoastal City. The AHTD owns a facility, the Port of Vermilion, which is primarily an industrial park and the present center of the district’s growth and economic development. In 2012, port tenants employed 400+ skilled and semi-skilled laborers, generated payroll of $20+ million, and constructed projects valued at $55,000,000. The AHTD continues to work to develop and enhance the economy of the district and the surrounding area, and will continue to cooperate with local, state and federal government to secure state and federal grants, and available local funding, for future improvements.
One Acadiana
One Acadiana a business lead, privately funded economic development organization serving a nine-parish area in South Louisiana. Representing over 1,200 businesses throughout the area, One Acadiana’s vision is to make our region one of the most sought-after places in the South for business and professional talent. One Acadiana also serves as the central business organization for Lafayette, providing leadership on local issues as well as the services and resources of a traditional business association.
Kaplan Chamber of Commerce
The Kaplan Area Chamber of Commerce is organized for the purpose of promoting the commercial, civic, industrial and general welfare of the Kaplan area, the city of Kaplan and Vermilion Parish. The chamber is a non-profit, non-partisan and non-sectarian organization.
Vermilion Chamber of Commerce
The Vermilion Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit organization owned and operated by business leaders who care about our community. The Chamber is dedicated to building upon a strong economic base while maintaining the quality of life and vitality of our community and is actively engaged in the promotion, retention, and attraction of business and industry. The mission of the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce is to create a positive business and community environment.
Vermilion Economic Development Alliance
Workforce, industry, and government align to develop Vermilion in the “most Cajun” place on Earth. The mission of Vermilion Economic Development Alliance (VEDA) is to facilitate business growth, retention and expansion, and serve as the contact for industry interested in relocating to Vermilion Parish, Louisiana. As an independent economic development district, VEDA has the luxury of operating at the speed of business without the burden of government red tape, but because the agency is a true alliance, businesses reap the benefits of economic development working alongside elected officials and local municipalities toward a common goal.
Vermilion Parish Police Jury
The Vermilion Parish Police Jury serves as the center for parish government in Vermilion Parish. The Jury provides services to the parish that include: Animal Control, Communications District 911, Homeland Security/Emergency Preparedness, Permits and Public Works.
Vermilion Parish Tourist Commission
Delve into our Cajun mystique, the interesting expressions and unique cultural heritage that makes us the “Most Cajun Place on Earth.” The Tourist Commission staff is available to help you plan your trip and explore the unique sights and sounds (and cuisine) that makes Vermilion Parish so special.
Vermilion Parish has great Gulf access, a variety of home-grown businesses and the opportunity to grow with acres of developable property in each of our communities. Pride and a sense of history and tradition make this parish special. That uniqueness could be leveraged into new and exciting things like business recruitment – our French heritage, historically preserved main streets and rich agricultural industry are just a few of our often-unrecognized assets.
Explore Our Region
- acadia
- Evangeline
- Iberia
- Jeff Davis
- Lafayette
- St. Landry
- St. Martin
- St. Mary
- Vermilion
Vermilion Parish
Vermilion Parish is known for its fresh seafood, bountiful agriculture, great access via road and waterways, and a rich history of cultural and eco tourism. This bilingual (English/French), coastal parish is large and diverse with wandering bayous and farmlands, authentic local cuisine, family-friendly festivals and Cajun towns connecting it all. Vermilion is centrally located in the southern part of Louisiana immediately adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico. This proximity to the Gulf makes the parish an ideal location for the numerous companies needed to serve this region’s oil and gas industry.
St. Mary Parish
In St. Mary Parish – or “The Cajun Coast” – the blending of French, Italian, Spanish, English, African, Native American, and Cajun traditions created a rich and flavorful “gumbo” of communities. The Atchafalaya River basin and the Gulf of Mexico serve as the lifeblood for the parish, which is composed of five municipalities: Morgan City, Berwick, Patterson, Franklin, and Baldwin, as well as the Chitimacha Nation in Charenton.
St. Martin Parish
With a population of approximately 53,000, St. Martin Parish is part of the Lafayette MSA and sits at the corridor of both Interstate 10 and U.S. Highway 90. St. Martin Parish is the only parish to have non-contiguous parts, in that, there are three major geographical areas dividing the 740 square mile parish, including the Atchafalaya Basin, the prairie, and the Bayou Teche area, on which several noteworthy cities, including the parish seat of St. Martinville, are located.
St. Landry Parish
St. Landry Parish is moving forward. Located in the heart of Cajun and Creole heritage, this culturally diverse parish (county) in Southern Louisiana is a unique place both to live and do business – where hard-working people “live their culture” and are building a thriving economic base along with a high-quality trained workforce.
Jeff Davis Parish
People from all over the world visit Jefferson Davis Parish to enjoy and experience rich Cajun and Indian culture. Jeff Davis Parish’s location, natural beauty, climate and small-town atmosphere offer a unique place for your family or business. The parish’s economic base includes health care services, shipbuilding, construction, agriculture, and oil field services. The parish has many industrial sites including the Lacassine Industrial Park on I-10.
Iberia Parish
Iberia Parish, Louisiana and its progressive communities are the place for exciting opportunities. Iberia Parish offers a unique mix of southern fun and hospitality nestled in the heart of “Cajun Country.” Moss-draped Live Oak trees and beautiful antebellum homes serve as the backdrop for a hard-working labor force, cutting edge medical and industrial technology along with worldwide leaders in the exploration of oil and natural gas.
Evangeline Parish
Perhaps no parish in Acadiana is more possessive of its heritage than Evangeline. Its citizens will tell you (seriously, but with a humorous touch, too) that they have the best gumbo, the best boudin (a sausage-like local favorite), and other Cajun delicacies. When it comes to Louisiana French country flavor, no parish surpasses this parish in the northwest corner of central Acadiana.
Acadia Parish
Perfectly located along the I-10 corridor with major US Highways, railways, waterways, a port and airports, Acadia Parish offers the transportation resources needed for productive commerce. Cost of living and sites for business are affordable. This humble community is home to a culturally diverse and devoted population whose work ethic is as strong now as it was when their Cajun forefathers first settled here. Acadia Parish’s quaint charm makes it a great place to live, work and retire.
Lafayette Parish
Affectionately known as the "Hub-City" of Acadiana, Lafayette, LA offers the essential elements needed to ensure the growth and development of its business community. Lafayette is set apart by its strategic location, a world-class workforce, a pro-business climate, and an unmatched quality of life. These attributes, complemented by a high-tech infrastructure and quality real estate, make Lafayette a unique place to live, work, play and do business.