Acadiana Planning Commission

What Acadiana Planning Commission does

The Acadiana Planning Commission (APC) is a regional governmental planning organization and political subdivision of the State of Louisiana, headquartered at 101 Jefferson St., Suite 201 in Lafayette, LA. It serves as an Economic Development District for seven parishes in south-central Louisiana — Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, and Vermilion — and is governed by the Parish Presidents of those parishes. APC functions as a regional facilitator that brings together local governments, state agencies, and federal partners to plan and fund infrastructure, economic development, transportation, broadband, watershed management, and brownfields projects across the multi-parish region. It also serves as the fiscal agent for the Louisiana Watershed Initiative (LWI) Region 5, a 16-parish flood-mitigation effort, and operates the Acadiana Regional Gauge Network — a watershed monitoring infrastructure evolved from FEMA's first watershed analysis network.

APC's core technology stack consists of GIS Services, an Interactive Maps and Data Portal, and watershed monitoring and modeling tools (H&H modeling). Its products and services are delivered as programs and initiatives rather than a unified software product: the Acadiana Fiber to the Home Initiative ($30M NTIA-funded broadband expansion to 22,000+ households), Acadiana Gauge Network (regional flood monitoring), Biopharmaceutical Economic Cluster Development (with UL Lafayette), University Avenue Corridor Revitalization, the FY2025 EPA Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant Program ($1.2M), Invest Acadiana (Opportunity Zone initiative with One Acadiana), the 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (adopted March 2022), and core services in GIS mapping, grant writing, and community planning.

The business model is grant-funded public administration. APC does not charge for its planning, grant writing, or technical assistance services to local governments. Revenue streams consist of federal grants (EPA, NTIA, DRA, USDA, FHWA, FEMA, EDA), state funding (including Louisiana Watershed Initiative appropriations), and pass-through technical assistance services. Customer segments are local parish and city governments (primary), property owners and developers (brownfields use case), and regional stakeholders/partners (state and federal agencies, non-profits). APC has facilitated major regional economic outcomes including First Solar's $1B+ manufacturing facility in Iberia Parish (700+ jobs, $40M annual payroll) and water treatment plant upgrades benefiting over 6,500 families in Opelousas. The organization has earned NADO national recognition, including the 2022 Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Award for the Acadiana Regional Broadband Initiative.

Name

Acadiana Planning Commission

Legal name

Acadiana Planning Commission

Website

https://planacadiana.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Acadiana Planning Commission is a Louisiana regional governmental planning organization and political subdivision serving seven parishes, functioning as a federally-designated Economic Development District that secures grants and coordinates broadband, watershed, transportation, and economic development projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Economic Development Services

NAICS

Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (925120), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Real Estate Public-Private Partnership (PPP) & Infrastructure-Adjacent Real Estate Advisory (BPAJANAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Regional Education Service Agencies (ESAs/BOCES/Intermediate Units) (EDADABAC), Design-Build / EPC General Contracting (IMAFAAAD)

Keywords

• Regional economic development
• Transportation planning
• Watershed management
• Broadband infrastructure
• Brownfields assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

Lafayette

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal Grants: APC secures and administers federal funding from agencies including EDA, EPA, DRA, USDA, FHWA, FEMA, and NTIA for regional development projects
2. State Funding: State appropriations and programs including Louisiana Watershed Initiative funding for flood mitigation and regional planning
3. Technical Assistance Services: APC provides free technical assistance to local governments for grant preparation and planning, reducing application time and costs for rural communities

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Acadiana Planning Commission (APC) is a regional governmental planning and economic development organization that delivers planning, grant writing, and technical assistance services across seven south-central Louisiana parishes. Its service portfolio spans transportation planning (Metropolitan Planning Organization), watershed management and flood mitigation, broadband infrastructure expansion, brownfields environmental assessment, community and economic development strategy, and GIS mapping and data services. APC secures federal and state funding on behalf of member parishes and coordinates multi-parish regional projects.

Product overview

The Acadiana Planning Commission (APC) is an economic development district serving seven parishes (Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, and Vermilion) in south-central Louisiana. Rather than a unified software product, APC offers a portfolio of regional development programs and services including: the Acadiana Fiber to the Home Initiative (broadband expansion), the Acadiana Gauge Network (watershed monitoring), Biopharmaceutical Economic Cluster Development, University Avenue Corridor Revitalization, Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant program, Invest Acadiana (Opportunity Zone initiative), the 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan, and core services in GIS mapping, grant writing, community planning, safety coordination, and regional collaboration. These programs work together to build infrastructure capacity, secure funding, and foster sustainable economic growth across the region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Invest Acadiana: A partnership between One Acadiana and the Acadiana Planning Commission focused on Opportunity Zone development and rural wealth creation in the seven-parish Acadiana region.
• Acadiana Watershed District (AWD)

Products and services

• Acadiana Fiber to the Home Initiative Broadband expansion initiative that secured $30 million in federal NTIA funding to bring fiber connectivity to rural parishes and communities across the Acadiana region, encompassing over 22,000 households and 2,000 businesses.
• Acadiana Gauge Network Watershed monitoring initiative that evolved from FEMA's first watershed analysis into a $1.2 billion flood mitigation program, providing regional rainfall and water level monitoring across Acadiana.
• Biopharmaceutical Economic Cluster Development Economic development initiative partnering with UL Lafayette to establish Acadiana as a center for biopharmaceutical manufacturing, targeting industry growth and job creation in the region.
• University Avenue Corridor Revitalization Project Catalytic revitalization project that funded demolition of a motel to build high-quality housing, part of transformative development along the University Avenue corridor in Lafayette.
• Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant Program Environmental assessment program funded by a $1.2 million EPA FY2025 Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant covering Abbeville, Eunice, Opelousas, and Ville Platte for Phase 1 and Phase 2 environmental site assessments and reuse planning.
• Invest Acadiana Opportunity Zone initiative partnership with One Acadiana to market and attract investment to rural OZ communities, producing prospectuses for Abbeville, Breaux Bridge, Church Point, Eunice, New Iberia, Opelousas, and Ville Platte.
• 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan Long-range transportation planning document adopted in March 2022 that guides regional transportation infrastructure development for the Lafayette Metropolitan Planning Organization area through 2050.
• GIS Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 22,000 households and 2,000 businesses gained broadband access through $30M NTIA grant
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Delta Regional Authority (DRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDRA is a federal-state partnership that invests in transportation infrastructure, basic public infrastructure, workforce training, and business development. APC is a DRA-designated local development district that helps eligible parishes, cities, and organizations apply for and secure DRA grants. DRA has invested millions in Acadiana projects including broadband, water infrastructure, and airport improvements.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPA provides brownfields assessment and cleanup funding through various programs. APC received a $1.2 million FY2025 Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant to fund environmental site assessments and reuse planning in four Acadiana communities.
• Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLDEQ's Brownfields Program works with APC on brownfield site assessments. Eunice and Ville Platte had developed brownfield inventories through LDEQ technical assistance grants.
• Louisiana Brownfield NetworksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative network supporting brownfields redevelopment efforts across Louisiana. APC works with this network including EPA, LDEQ's Brownfields Program, South Louisiana Brownfield Coalition, and Kansas State University TAB program.
• Kansas State University Technical Assistance to Brownfields (KSU TAB)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical assistance provider for brownfields programs providing expertise and guidance to APC's brownfields initiative.
• South Louisiana Brownfield CoalitionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner supporting regional brownfields assessment and redevelopment efforts.
• National Telecommunications Infrastructure Administration (NTIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNTIA's Broadband Infrastructure Program provided $30 million in grant funding that APC secured for broadband expansion to rural parishes, reaching over 22,000 households and 2,000 businesses.
• U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPC is designated as a U.S. E.D.A. Federal Economic Development District, providing framework for regional economic development planning and funding access.
• Louisiana Watershed Initiative (LWI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPC serves as fiscal agent for LWI Region 5 (Acadiana Watershed District), managing $1.2 billion in watershed funding. The initiative addresses regional flooding through science-based hydrological boundaries covering 16 parishes.
• University of Louisiana at LafayettecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPC partners with UL Lafayette to establish Acadiana as a center for Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing through the Biopharmaceutical Economic Cluster Development initiative.
• Louisiana Economic Development (LED)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerState economic development agency providing incentives including LED FastStart workforce solutions program and Quality Jobs program for businesses locating in Louisiana.
• Invest AcadianacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between One Acadiana (regional chamber of commerce) and APC focused on Opportunity Zone development and investment attraction across the seven-parish region.
• City of AbbevillesupportingOthersLead partner for brownfields assessment activities in Abbeville, overseeing site evaluations and redevelopment planning.
• Opelousas Downtown Development DistrictsupportingOthersLead partner for brownfields assessment activities in Opelousas, coordinating with APC on site evaluations and redevelopment planning.
• Eunice Main Street ProgramsupportingOthersLead partner for brownfields assessment activities in Eunice, coordinating with APC on site evaluations and redevelopment planning.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• One Acadiana: Regional chamber of commerce for the Acadiana region and APC's partner on the Invest Acadiana Opportunity Zone initiative; comparable on regional economic development focus but operates from a private-sector membership model rather than governmental planning authority.
• Louisiana Watershed Initiative: Statewide flood-mitigation framework administered through the Louisiana Office of Community Development; APC is the LWI Region 5 fiscal agent, making LWI the program-level counterpart that defines and funds much of APC's watershed work.

Direct peers

• Northwest Louisiana Council of Governments: Multi-parish COG in northwest Louisiana providing regional planning, transportation (MPO), economic development, and GIS services — analogous organizational model to APC at a different regional scale.
• South Central Planning & Development Commission: Regional planning and development commission serving the Houma-Thibodaux area, providing transportation planning, economic development, and GIS services — directly comparable in mission and program mix to APC.
• Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission: Regional planning agency designated as MPO and EDA Economic Development District, coordinating transportation, economic development, and community planning across multiple counties — a structurally and functionally close peer to APC.
• Imperial Calcasieu Regional Planning & Development Commission: Regional planning and development agency serving the Lake Charles area in southwest Louisiana, performing MPO transportation planning, economic development, and grant facilitation for member parishes — a direct structural peer to APC.
• Capital Region Planning Commission: Regional planning commission serving the Baton Rouge MSA, with overlapping functions in transportation planning (MPO), comprehensive planning, and economic development district activities — structurally the closest Louisiana analog to APC.
• Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham: Regional planning council and MPO serving a multi-county area, providing transportation planning, economic development, GIS, and grant administration — directly comparable in mission, scope, and federal-designation profile to APC.

Broad incumbents

• Louisiana Economic Development (LED): State-level economic development agency that partners with APC and channeled LED FastStart and Quality Jobs incentives to the First Solar facility; broader statewide scope but overlapping mandate in industrial attraction and cluster development.

Others

• National Association of Development Organizations (NADO): National membership association for regional development organizations including EDDs and planning districts; APC has been recognized with multiple NADO awards and is part of this peer community, making NADO the natural association-level peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AcadianaPlanningCommission
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/acadiana-planning-commission
• Xx.com/plan_acadiana

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Acadiana Planning Commission