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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Waitr Holdings Locates in Downtown Lafayette, Louisiana

02/18/2019
Waitr Holdings, a growing technology firm, will locate its headquarters in the downtown district of Lafayette, Louisiana. The company plans to create 200 new direct jobs.

The company deploys online apps for convenient delivery of restaurant food to customers throughout a multistate network of drivers. From Lafayette, Waitr will lead corporate growth initiatives as the company expands to a national footprint.

Over the next 18 months, the company is expanding into 48,000 square feet of office space in the former Washington Life Building located on Jefferson Street in Lafayette.

Founded in Lake Charles where it continues to operate headquarters, Waitr also operates a Technology Operations Center in Lafayette on Bertrand Drive.

Waitr Holdings Chairman & CEO Chris Meaux said, “Our commitment to Lafayette and Louisiana is unwavering; and as Waitr has grown, I have discovered that partnering with local restaurants has not only driven our success, but resulted in our mutual success. Today, we are very happy to collaborate with new partners, including the technology companies in Lafayette. We thank Governor Edwards, Secretary Pierson, LED, the Lafayette Economic Development Authority, and the City of Lafayette for not only making us feel at home, but for their commitment to Louisiana’s entrepreneurial community.”

To secure the project, the State of Louisiana offered the company a competitive incentive package that includes a $1.5 million performance-based grant to offset headquarters facility renovation costs; a $1.25 million higher education grant to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to support a pipeline of talent to Waitr and other technology employers through the university’s School of Computing and Informatics; and the comprehensive workforce solutions of LED FastStart®, the nation’s No. 1 state workforce training program. Waitr also is expected to utilize Louisiana’s Quality Jobs Program.

“From an idea to a small business, and from a small business to a major disruptor in the food delivery industry, Waitr is an example of Louisiana ingenuity with a strong vision for growth.”

“We’ve worked tirelessly to grow Lafayette’s tech sector and establish the Opportunity Machine as the premier entrepreneurial incubator on the Gulf Coast,” said LEDA President & CEO Gregg Gothreaux. “As a community, we’ve worked in a singular direction, diversification of our economy using technology to produce quality jobs for our graduates and our citizens. The team at Waitr embodies the entrepreneurial spirit of the region that has driven so much of the community’s progress over the past 50 years. We look forward to working with Waitr as they continue to grow in and support the community.”

“Waitr has been a true South Louisiana success story,” said President & CEO Troy Wayman of One Acadiana. “From incubation, to proof of concept, to its incredible growth and expansion, Waitr is a testament to the strength of Acadiana’s tech sector and its world-class workforce. By supporting our tech entrepreneurs, we’re creating jobs, enabling business growth, and making our region a national and global leader in innovation. 1A is proud to see this company continue to grow and call South Louisiana home.”

“Downtown Lafayette is thrilled to welcome Waitr to their new corporate office on Jefferson Street. Their investment in downtown sends a clear message that this is an attractive and viable place to do business,” said CEO Anita Begnaud of Lafayette’s Downtown Development Authority. “We are excited about the impact Waitr’s presence will have on the vibrancy of the heart of our city.”

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