Lafayette lauded for innovation
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LAFAYETTE — Lafayette is named one of the “Top 10 Great Innovation Markets in the South” in an upcoming issue of Southern Business and Development magazine.
“From its world-renowned cuisine and festivals to its state-of-the-art virtual reality center and high-tech infrastructure, Lafayette is founded on creativity and innovation,” the magazine writes.
The magazine points to Lafayette’s multicultural and multi-industrial makeup, along with innovative projects such as the Lafayette Utilities System fiber project, the Louisiana Optical Network Initiative, and the Louisiana Immersive Technologies Enterprise as key contributors to the ranking.
Lafayette is the only Louisiana city named in the listings, which also include Raleigh-Durham, N.C.; Austin, Texas; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Orlando, Fla.; Huntsville, Ala.; Winston-Salem, N.C.; Roanoke, Va.; Hampton Roads, Va.; and Savannah, Ga.
The rankings list regions that “know how to be big players in today’s new economy — nurturing and attracting innovation-driven industry and businesses that bring the knowledge economy to their front doors,” the magazine writes.
LITE Executive Director Carolina Cruz-Neira, one of the nation’s pioneers in virtual reality and 3-D visualization, said that the rankings show how progressive Lafayette is when it comes to technology.
LITE is the only facility of its kind in North America open to private industry. Other visualization facilities are reserved for use by government entities and academic researchers.
“Our facility is a part of a city and statewide effort to bring innovative businesses and industry to what we think is fast becoming one of the premier technology centers in the country,” Cruz-Neira said.
“State economic development initiatives, coupled with efforts by city-parish government, local economic development leaders and the airport commission are creating exciting synergies in repositioning Lafayette and Louisiana as a high-tech destination for businesses.”
