Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards highlighted the announcement by CGI that the company has surpassed its full employment target at the Lafayette IT Center of Excellence.
Located on the 143-acre University of Louisiana at Lafayette Research Park, CGI has hired more than 400 employees, exceeding the employment goal established when the company announced its selection of Lafayette in April 2014.
CGI has an annual payroll exceeding $22 million in Lafayette. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project is resulting in 405 indirect jobs, for a total of more than 800 jobs in the Acadiana region.
According to CGI, its Lafayette center is solving complex business and IT challenges for clients seeking services from a technology partner that shares a common time zone, language and understanding of client business operations.
"Not only is CGI a major economic driver in Acadiana, it has become a vital community partner to Lafayette and the entire state,” Edwards said.
“We extend our gratitude and congratulations to CGI for reaching this hiring milestone. As CGI continues to grow, they have my assurance that the State of Louisiana and all of our economic development partners will provide them with the resources they need to thrive.”
A strategic partnership including the University, Louisiana Economic Development, and the Lafayette Economic Development Authority was formed to attract and recruit CGI to Lafayette. The University provided support by leasing land for the center.
“The dynamic collaboration between UL Lafayette and CGI has focused on creating internships, capstone projects and employment opportunities for our students,” said University President Dr. Joseph Savoie.
“We’re producing high-quality undergraduate and graduate students from across multiple disciplines who are able to find jobs right here at home, thanks to CGI and other innovative companies in our region.”
LEDA President and CEO Gregg Gothreaux said, “We look forward to CGI’s continued growth in Lafayette and to working with the company and our community partners to make Lafayette a premier high-tech hub in the southeastern U.S.”