It’s an exciting time for the Lafayette Regional Airport and the Acadiana region. After many years of planning and raising funds, the new Lafayette Regional Airport terminal is becoming a reality. On Thursday, November 8, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new terminal.
The groundbreaking ceremony was a huge draw for legislative officials. Governor John Bel Edwards, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, and U.S. Representative Clay Higgins were in attendance, as well as many state and local legislators and officials. The event marked the next step in the historic process.
In 2014, Lafayette Parish taxpayers agreed to pay an additional one-cent sales tax for approximately eight months to help fund the new terminal, generating almost $34 million. In addition, the airport contributed its own funds and has received funds from a federal grant and the state to help move the project, which is expected to cost approximately $90 million. The new terminal is crucial to economic growth in the Acadiana area and the state.
Congressman Rodney Alexander, Senior Director of Federal Affairs at TPG, attended the ceremony. “We are excited for the Lafayette Regional Airport and the entire region of the state. As a member of the TPG federal team, it is impressive to sit with FAA officials in Washington, D.C. and hear how they are using Lafayette as a financial model across the nation,” stated Congressman Alexander.
Lafayette Regional Airport has impressed the federal government. Instead of going to Washington, D.C. to request money without any funding in their pocket, airport officials went to D.C. to request funds with an impressive amount of money already dedicated to the project.
“The Lafayette Regional Airport did something that not many agencies do, and with that, they have made a name for themselves. They helped themselves first and then asked for additional funding. It’s profound that Lafayette is being used a financial model across the country,” noted Congressman Alexander.
TPG is proud to work with the Lafayette Airport Commission, the local community, and leadership at all levels to see this project move from planning to breaking ground.
The new terminal project is expected to take two years to complete. You can view a live webcam to see the terminal project updates and a time-lapse of the new terminal construction here: https://lftairport.com/new-terminal-update/