KEY TAKEAWAYS: JEDCO has rebranded the 480-acre Churchill Technology Business Park in Avondale as the Churchill Innovation Research Campus to attract new business investment. The campus includes approximately 228 developable acres, with 25 acres certified by Louisiana Economic Development an d a REDI Sites Gold designation. A planned 12,500-square-foot Food Beverage Business Incubator will support emerging food manufacturers, with construction expected to begin in early 2027. The development combines business opportunities with workforce training at Delgado Community College and plans for 118 acres of open space, trails and recreational amenities.   The Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission has rebranded its 480-acre Churchill Technology Business Park in Avondale as the Churchill Innovation Research Campus, launching a new effort to attract advanced manufacturing, research, corporate headquarters and other business investments to the West Bank. JEDCO announced the new identity Oct. 15, positioning the property as a business and research campus with development-ready land, workforce training facilities and opportunities for companies seeking room to expand in Greater New Orleans. The Churchill Innovation Research Campus, or CIRC, includes approximately 228 developable acres, with 25 acres already raised and certified through Louisiana Economic Development’s site certification program. The property also has received a Gold designation through REDI Sites, a national site-readiness program developed by the Site Selectors Guild. According to JEDCO, CIRC is one of six properties in Louisiana to receive the designation. The certifications provide prospective developers and businesses with information about infrastructure, utilities, environmental conditions, wetlands, stormwater management and transportation access, potentially reducing the time needed to evaluate development projects. “CIRC is built for what comes next,” JEDCO President and CEO Jerry Bologna said. “We have the land, infrastructure, talent connections, and partners to help companies make their next move. Whether a business is expanding an existing Greater New Orleans operation or considering the region for the first time, we want CIRC to be a place where companies can build, grow and invest for the long term.” The rebranding is part of JEDCO’s effort to attract businesses in research and development, advanced manufacturing, food and beverage production, corporate operations and other industries. JEDCO will continue serving as the property’s long-term development partner, assisting prospective businesses with site selection, financing, workforce development, incentives and other resources. The campus is also expected to accommodate a new 12,500-square-foot Food Beverage Business Incubator, which JEDCO recently announced as part of its efforts to support emerging food manufacturers and entrepreneurs. The planned facility will include three commercial kitchens, a demonstration kitchen, cold and dry storage, office space and equipment for bottling, baking and blending. An outdoor plaza and culinary garden are also planned. Construction is expected to begin in early 2027. Education and workforce training are central to the property’s development strategy. Delgado Community College’s River City Site and Advanced Manufacturing Center are located on the campus, providing training in welding, precision machining, industrial maintenance, logistics, marine diesel technology and mechatronics. Patrick F. Taylor Science Technology Academy is also located at Churchill, creating opportunities for connections between education and employers. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois said the campus could help the state compete for industrial and technology investments by combining available land with workforce resources. “Louisiana is competing for a new generation of business investment, and that means creating places that connect innovation with the infrastructure, talent and space companies need to turn ideas into investment,” Bourgeois said. The campus master plan also includes approximately 118 acres of open space, with more than five miles of trails, a park, nature preserves and streets designed to incorporate stormwater management. Located within the federal levee protection system, the property is approximately 25 minutes from downtown New Orleans and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. It also offers access to U.S. 90, Interstate 10 and Avondale Global Gateway. The Churchill property has been part of Jefferson Parish’s economic development strategy for more than 25 years. Originally identified as Churchill Park in 2000 through the Jefferson EDGE economic development plan, the site has undergone infrastructure improvements and attracted educational institutions as parish officials worked to prepare it for commercial and industrial development. “For more than two decades, Jefferson Parish has invested in Churchill as part of a long-term commitment to economic growth on the West Bank and across our parish,” Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng said. The campus is intended to serve as a major component of the broader Fairfield development on the West Bank. Michael Hecht, president and CEO of Greater New Orleans Inc., said the rebranding could strengthen the region’s ability to compete for companies requiring larger development sites. “The Churchill property has long represented one of Greater New Orleans’ most significant opportunities for business growth and investment,” Hecht said. “The CIRC identity better captures the full potential of this 480-acre campus, a place where companies can access talent, infrastructure and the space they need to grow over the long term.” JEDCO said the rebranding includes new campus signage, a website, updated marketing materials and expanded recruitment efforts targeting businesses, developers, site selection consultants and investors. Additional information about development opportunities is available at buildatcirc.com. ...read more read less