Carencro, Louisiana

A Thriving Community Shaping Its Future While Preserving Its Past

Fast transforming with robust infrastructure projects, diverse housing developments, and dynamic community engagement.

Carencro, Louisiana, brims with a rich cultural warmth and vibrant community spirit. Situated just north of Lafayette, this charming city of nearly 12,000 residents exudes a welcoming blend of Cajun and Creole heritage. Carencro, originally named St. Pierre, derives its name from a local legend involving carrion crows and a mastodon, highlighting the area’s intriguing historical roots.

Mayor Charlotte Stemmans Clavier, a lifelong resident, passionately describes Carencro as “the most wonderful place on Earth.” Her affection for her hometown is evident as she highlights its diverse and progressive nature, particularly for a Southern community. “We have both the interstate and a very quaint downtown,” she notes, highlighting the blend of modern connectivity and small-town appeal.

The town’s evolution over the past two decades is remarkable. Mayor Clavier mentions that Carencro has seen significant growth in the residential and business sectors. “Probably in the last 20 years, our businesses have expanded from local mom-and-pop operations to more national names,” she says. Carencro’s parks department is also on the upswing, providing residents with improved recreational spaces. These parks offer a green respite amidst the burgeoning development, making Carencro a well-rounded community for families and individuals.

Economic Pillars and Downtown Revitalization

Recent developments have significantly bolstered Carencro’s economic landscape, transforming it into a burgeoning hub of activity. Key sectors and strategic infrastructure projects drive this transformation, shaping a community that balances growth with maintaining its unique charm.

“With the newest addition of the Amazon facility, Carencro is priming itself to be a logistics and transportation hub,” says Brittany Deal, Director of Business Intelligence at the Lafayette Economic Development Authority. The town’s strategic location and the presence of significant companies enhance its appeal as a center for logistics and transportation. “We also have Southwest Freight and FedEx up here,” Deal adds, indicating the area’s growing prominence in the sector.

The historic downtown area of Carencro holds a special place in the community, embodying its traditional family feel. Mayor Clavier emphasizes the significance of the city’s first master plan to revitalize this cherished area. “We are in the middle of the city of Carencro’s first master plan,” she states, highlighting the extensive efforts to modernize infrastructure while preserving its historic charm. The project includes making downtown sidewalks ADA-compliant and addressing an essential need given their original design for horse and carriage traffic.

Transportation is crucial for Carencro, as it provides easy access to nearby urban centers and supports its economic activities. “We have University Avenue, a state highway that connects from exit seven on I-49 to the airport,” Mayor Clavier details. The town is well-connected through significant thoroughfares like Veterans Boulevard and Gloria Switch, facilitating smooth commutes and bolstering its attractiveness for hybrid work arrangements.

Economic Projects and Development

The economic landscape of Carencro is set for further transformation, and several ambitious projects are on the horizon. These initiatives aim to bolster the town’s infrastructure and attract new businesses, enhancing the community’s overall economic vitality.

“Amazon was probably the last major project we worked on with the city of Carencro,” says Deal. Bringing Amazon to Carencro required strategic maneuvering at the state level, ensuring the company’s needs were met while promising substantial job creation. “At the time, they were talking about 500 employees, and now they’re well over 1200,” she proudly states. The project created jobs and necessitated ongoing infrastructure improvements, such as streetlights and enhanced road safety measures for the increased traffic around the facility.

Deal’s role is pivotal in this context. “Each of the municipalities has a dedicated liaison, and I’m the liaison for Carencro,” she explains. Her job involves addressing any issues that arise and facilitating the city’s efforts to attract new businesses. This proactive approach ensures that Carencro remains competitive and appealing to potential investors.

One of the exciting initiatives in progress involves collaborating with Retail Strategies, a company based in Birmingham, Alabama. “We recently took a trip with all of our municipalities, including Carencro, to Retail Strategies,” Deal shares. This company specializes in teaching smaller municipalities the “secret sauce” for effectively recruiting retail businesses. By leveraging this knowledge, Carencro aims to expand its retail offerings, providing residents with more shopping and dining options while boosting the local economy.

Infrastructure and Connectivity Enhancements

Carencro’s robust infrastructure projects encompass modernizing and maintaining essential services while preparing for future growth. These initiatives ensure that the community can thrive both economically and socially.

Mayor Clavier outlines the city’s efforts to upgrade its water and sewer systems, which date back to the early 1900s. “We’re in the middle of replacing thousands of feet of old cast iron water lines,” she says, highlighting the urgency of updating these aging pipes. Additionally, the city is preparing to bid out a new sewer treatment facility, a significant investment in Carencro’s infrastructure that will support future development and improve current services.

The parks department is also seeing revitalization. “We took over running our parks department on December 1st and are working on projects to enhance those parks,” she explains. The city’s focus on green spaces aims to improve residents’ quality of life, provide more recreational opportunities, and maintain the town’s family-friendly environment.

Carencro’s gas lines are also undergoing significant upgrades. The mayor notes, “We received a grant to replace our cast iron gas lines throughout town.” This project is part of a broader initiative to ensure the reliability and safety of the city’s utility services.

Engaging the Community

Carencro’s progress extends beyond economic development to include a range of civic and social initiatives that foster a sense of community and enhance the quality of life. These efforts ensure that the town is a place to live and work and where people feel genuinely connected and valued.

“We look at our citizens as stakeholders,” says Beduze. This perspective drives the city’s efforts to retain and expand its population by making Carencro an inviting place for families to settle and grow. A standout initiative has been the introduction of Senior Bingo. “The mayor had a goal to bring the elderly population out since COVID to network and socialize,” he shares. This program has become a hit, drawing crowds of 120 to 140 senior citizens who gather for bingo, cookies, and coffee. The smiles and joy of participants reflect the success of this initiative, which has also attracted sponsorship from local businesses.

The impact of Mayor Clavier’s leadership is evident in the community’s positive response. “Since Mayor Clavier has come on, it has been transformative,” Deal observes. Her focus on resident-centric decision-making has fostered a sense of trust and collaboration within the community. Mayor Clavier emphasizes the importance of resident feedback in maintaining the town’s standards. “At the close of every City Council meeting, I ask for public input,” she says. This open-door policy encourages residents to report issues, ensuring the town remains well-maintained and responsive to its citizens’ needs.

The mayor’s deep connection to Carencro, where she has lived her entire life, is a cornerstone of her approach. “The people that we have, our citizens, their friends and family, are people I’ve known for a long time,” she reflects. This familiarity extends to newer residents, as Carencro’s population has doubled in the last 20 years. The result is a community where everyone, whether lifelong resident or recent arrival, feels a sense of belonging and mutual responsibility for making Carencro a wonderful place to live.

Residential Development and Workforce Initiatives

Carencro is actively addressing housing challenges and ensuring a steady pipeline of skilled workers, fostering sustainable growth and community well-being. Mayor Clavier reveals that Carencro currently has 1,400 homes in active development.

“Last night, we gave preliminary approval for our first townhome community,” she notes, highlighting a significant step towards diversifying the city’s housing stock. Traditionally dominated by single-family residences, Carencro is now introducing denser housing options to cater to various needs. “I think it’s a good mix for the city,” she adds, reflecting her vision of a balanced community that offers spacious homes and more compact living options.

The influx of new residents, mainly from southern Louisiana, highlights Carencro’s appeal. Mayor Clavier attributes this migration to more affordable property taxes, insurance costs, and the town’s relative safety from hurricanes. “Carencro is on the upswing when it comes to population,” she remarks, a sentiment supported by Deal’s data. “In March 2024 alone, Carencro issued over 50 new residential building permits,” Deal says, a level of activity not seen since before COVID-19. With a median home value of around $188,000, the town remains affordable for many residents, from blue-collar workers to students and older people.

Strengthening Workforce Development

Workforce development is another critical focus for Carencro, particularly in light of current labor shortages, especially in skilled trades. Beduze describes the city’s strategic efforts to bridge the gap between education and employment.

“We’ve seen a demand for diesel truck drivers and mechanics,” he states, highlighting partnerships with high schools and career centers that enable students to graduate with certifications such as a CDL. These collaborations ensure that students are job-ready and equipped with practical skills tailored to local industry needs.

Higher education institutions also play a pivotal role in Carencro’s workforce strategy. “We’ve partnered with the University of Louisiana and community colleges to train future workers,” Beduze explains. The deal adds that the Lafayette Economic Development Authority (LEDA) works closely with institutions like the University of Louisiana and South Louisiana Community College (SLCC) to maintain a robust pipeline of workers. “We created a nursing program with SLCC to increase the number of nurses entering our hospital systems,” she says.

Job fairs are another crucial element of workforce development. “We hold one big job fair every year in the spring,” Deal mentions, noting strong participation from Carencro businesses seeking talent. Carencro’s strategic location within the nine-parish Acadiana region positions it well to draw employees from Lafayette Parish and surrounding areas. “The level of skills among our employees is constantly being elevated through training programs and educational opportunities,” Deal asserts.

Looking Ahead: The Next 18 Months

As Carencro progresses, the future holds a roadmap of strategic initiatives to sustain growth and enhance the community. Mayor Clavier outlines the city’s priorities for the next 18 months, emphasizing the pivotal role of the master plan in guiding development efforts.

The city aims to adopt the master plan by the second fiscal quarter of 2025, setting the stage for subsequent projects. “We would be ready to… look for funding, look at projects, and run those things down,” she explains, pointing to a proactive approach to securing resources and initiating developments.

Carencro’s master plan will help identify key priorities and direct efforts across various sectors. As the town continues to attract new residents and businesses, this comprehensive plan will ensure that growth is managed effectively, balancing infrastructure improvements with community needs.

The path forward for Carencro is straightforward and ambitious, marked by a strong focus on implementing the master plan and pursuing projects that will enhance the town’s infrastructure, housing, and economic opportunities. As Mayor Clavier and her team work diligently to transform these plans into reality, Carencro stands poised for a bright and prosperous future, driven by a collective effort to build a thriving and resilient community.

AT A GLANCE

Carencro, Louisiana

What: A growing town focused on infrastructure, residential development, and community engagement

Where: Carencro, Louisiana

Website: carencro.org