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Southwest Resource Guide

Introduction

This guide has been developed to provide guidance on how to start a business in Louisiana, and, more specifically, in the Southwest Region including the parishes of Calcasieu, Cameron, Beauregard, Jeff Davis and Allen. The guide provides numerous business, government and technical resources that you should assist you when going through the process involved in getting started. It includes such resources such as zoning, permitting, financing, taxation and many others that will be at your fingertips.

We developed the guide to be easy to use. There are three main sections:

  • Local
  • State
  • Federal

Each section contains the resources needed in the Southwest region of Louisiana, as well as state and federal sources. We've also included a little bit of 'lagniappe' (in Louisiana this means a bit extra) such as links to web sites that can provide additional information.

Please use the Table of Contents on the next page to lead you in the direction you need to go. If you should have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact the LED Regional Representative in your area.


We look forward to doing business with you.

Economic Development Contacts

Calcasieu Parish

The Chamber/SWLA
P.O. Box 3110, 120 W. Pujo Street (70601)
Lake Charles, LA 70602-3110
(337) 433-3632 Phone (337) 436-3727 Fax
Website: www.chamberswla.org
Email: mail@chamberswla.org
Chamber and economic development organization representing the 5-parish southwest region.

Entergy Louisiana
Economic Development Group
P.O. Box 1730
Lake Charles, LA 70601
(337) 431-6213 Phone (337) 431-6005 Fax
Web site: www.entergy.com/laed
Email: cmitch1@entergy.com
Economic development activities include recruiting, trade shows, community development and site selection, including a database of available buildings and sites throughout the state.

The Port of Lake Charles
Post Office Box 3753, 150 Marine Street
Lake Charles, LA 70602
(337) 439-3661 or (800) 845-PORT Phone
(337) 493-3523 Fax
Web site: www.portlc.com
Email: marketing@portlc.com
Southwest Louisiana's port including industrial sites and four public agency sites; and two subzone sites.

Lake Charles Regional Airport
P.O. Drawer 5820, 500 Airport Blvd. (70605)
Lake Charles, LA 70606-5820
(337) 477-6051 Phone (337) 478-6826 Phone
Web site: www.flylakecharles.com
Email: info@flylakecharles.com

West Calcasieu Port, Harbor and Terminal District
514 West Napoleon Street
Sulphur, LA 70663
(337) 528-4000 Phone (337) 528-4010 Fax
E-mail: dbpapca@prodigy.net


Chennault International Airport Authority
3650 Sen. J. B. Johnston Ave.
Lake Charles, LA 70615
(337) 491-9961 Phone (337) 491-9972 Fax
Web site: www.chennault.org
E-mail: ciaa@chennault.org

Calcasieu Parish Planning & Development
1011 Lakeshore Drive, 7th Floor,
P.O. Drawer 3287 (70602)
Lake Charles, LA 70601
(337) 437-3600 Phone (337) 437-4100 Fax
Web site: www.cppj.net
Email: planning@cppj.net

City of Lake Charles
Planning and Economic Development
P.O. Box 900, City Hall, 5th Floor
Lake Charles, LA 70602-0900
(337) 491-1440 Phone (337) 491-1437 Fax
Web site: www.cityoflakecharles.com
Email: planning@mail.city-lakecharles.org

Lake Charles Downtown Development
P.O. Box 900, City Hall, 5th Floor
Lake Charles, LA 70602-0900
(337) 491-1429 Phone (337) 491-1437 Fax
Web site: www.cityoflakecharles.com
Email: planning@mail.city-lakecharles.org

DeQuincy Economic Commission
c/o City of DeQuincy
P.O. Box 968
DeQuincy, LA 70633-0968
(337) 786-8241 Phone (337) 786-3076 Fax
Web site: www.cityofdequincy.com
E-mail: dequincycityhall@centurytel.net

DeQuincy Chamber of Commerce
Web site: www.dequincychamber.com

Sulphur Industrial Development Board
City of Sulphur
500 N. Huntington, P.O. Box 1309 (70664)
Sulphur, LA 70663
(337) 527-4500 Phone
Web site: www.sulphur.org


Reliant Energy Entex
Lake Charles District Office
3700 Highway 14
Lake Charles, LA 70607
(337) 477-0070 Phone
Web site: www.reliantenergy.com
Email: info1@reliantenergy.com

Elizabeth Natural Gas Inc.
606 Page Street
DeQuincy, LA 70633
(337) 786-6251 Phone (337) 786-6133 Fax

Beauregard Parish

Beauregard Electric Coop., Inc.
Post Office Drawer 970
DeRidder, LA 70634
(337) 462-8388 Phone (337) 463-2809 Fax
Web site: www.beci.org

Greater Beauregard Chamber of Commerce
111 N. Washington Street, P.O. Box 309
DeRidder LA 70634
(337) 463-5533 Phone (337) 463-2244 Fax
Email: deridder@wnonline.net

Greater DeRidder Chamber of Commerce
111 N. Washington Avenue
DeRidder, LA 70634
(337) 463-5533 Phone (337) 463-2244 Phone

Jeff Davis Parish

Jeff Davis Parish
Office of Economic Development
100 Rue de L' Acadie, P.O. Box 1207
Jennings, LA 70546
(337) 821-5534 Phone (337) 821-5536 Fax
Web site: www.jeffdavis.org/econdev.htm
Email: jeffdavis@centurytel.net

Greater Jennings Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 1209, 414 North Cary Avenue
Jennings, LA 70546
(227) 824-0933 Phone (337) 824-0934 Fax
Web site: www.jenningschamber.com
Email: director@jenningschamber.com

Jennings Main Street
P.O. Box 1249
Jennings LA 70546-1249
(337) 821-5500 Phone (337) 821-5527 Fax
Web site: www.cityofjennings.com
E-mail: cityofjennings@cfweb.net

Jeff Davis Electric Cooperative
P.O. Drawer 1229
Jennings, LA 70546
(337) 824-4330 Phone (337) 824-8936 Fax
Web site: www.jdec.org

Cameron Parish

Cameron Parish Police Jury
P. O. Box 366
Cameron, LA 70631
(337) 775-5718 Phone (337) 775-5567 Fax
Web site: www.cameronparish.net
Email: cppjury@camtel.net

Allen Parish Kinder Chamber of Commerce
414 N. 9th Street, P.O. Box 853
Kinder, LA 70648
(337) 738-5945 Phone/Fax
Web site: www.kinderla.com
Email: kcc@kinderla.com

Oakdale Area Chamber of Commerce
205 S. Tenth Street
Oakdale, LA 71463
(318) 335-1729 Phone

Burlington Northern and Santa Fe
Economic Development
P.O. Box 961051
2650 Lou Menk Drive, 2nd Floor, Marketing Bldg.
Fort Worth, TX 76131-2830
(817) 867-6826 Phone (817) 352-7533 Fax
Web site: www.bnsf.com

Kansas City Southern Railroad
Industrial Development & Real Estate
427 West 12th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105
(816) 983-1224 Phone or (816) 983-1303 (General)
Web site: www.kcsi.com

Union Pacific Railroad
Industrial Development
24125 Aldine Westfield Road
Spring, TX 77373
(281) 350-7496 or (800) 346-1973 (#1) Phone
(281) 350-7151 Fax
Web site: www.uprr.com

Local Government Offices

This section includes the parish property tax and sales/use tax departments, as well as a main office in the parish seat that can be contacted for planning, zoning, licensing & permitting. There are also some local government-related associations listed that can provide resources and links to municipal governments, which may have similar requirements as the parish authority.

Louisiana Tax Assessors' Association
3060 Valley Creek Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70898
(800) 925-4446 Phone (225) 928-4677 Fax
Web site. www.laassessors.com
Email: information@laassessors.com
  • Provides a list of all property tax assessor offices in each of the 64 parishes.

    Louisiana Association of Tax Administrators
    Web site: www.laota.com

    Louisiana Municipal Association
    P. O. Box 4327
    Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821
    (225) 344-5001 Phone of (800) 234-8274
    (225) 344-3057 (Fax)
    Web site: www.lamunis.org

    Police Jury Association of Louisiana
    707 North Seventh Street
    Baton Rouge, LA 70802-5327
    Phone (225) 343-2835
    2nd Floor Fax (225) 336-1344
    3rd Floor Fax (225) 343-0050
    Web site: www.lpgov.org
  • In many of the rural parishes without incorporated areas, the police jury oversees planning, zoning, permitting, and licensing.

    Louisiana Sheriff's Association
    1175 Nicholson Drive
    Baton Rouge, LA 70802
    (225) 343-8402 Phone (225) 336-0343 Fax
    Web site: www.lsa.org
  • Sometimes the sheriff's office oversees building permitting and occupational licensing for the parish.


    Calcasieu Parish Calcasieu Parish Property Tax Assessors Office
    1011 Lakeshore Drive, P.O. Box 1346 (70602)
    Lake Charles, LA 70601
    (337) 437-3461 Phone (337) 437-4125 Fax
    Calcasieu Parish School Board
    Sales & Use Tax Department
    P. O. Drawer 2050, 626 Kirkman Street
    Lake Charles, LA 70602-2050
    (337) 437-1280 Phone (337) 437-1277 Fax
    Calcasieu Parish Planning & Development
    1011 Lakeshore Drive, 7th Floor
    P.O. Drawer 3287 (70602)
    Lake Charles, LA 70601
    (337) 437-3600 Phone (337) 437-4100 Fax
    Web site: www.cppj.net
    Email: planning@cppj.net

    City of Lake Charles
    326 Pujo Street, P.O. Box 900 (70602)
    Lake Charles, La 70601
    (337) 491-1294 (Permit Center)
    (337) 491-1440 (Dept. of Planning and Economic Development)
    (337) 491-1442 (Occupational License & Sales Tax)
    (337) 491-1542 (Zoning and Land Use)

    City of Sulphur
    500 N. Huntington
    Sulphur, LA 70663
    (337) 527-4500 Phone
    Web site: www.sulphur.org

    Beauregard Parish

    Beauregard Parish Property Tax Assessor's Office
    P. O. Box 477
    DeRidder, LA 70634
    (337) 463-8945 Phone (337) 463-8980 Fax


    Cameron Parish Cameron Parish Property Tax Assessor's Office
    P. O. Box 1100
    Cameron, LA 70631-1100
    (337) 775-5416 Phone (337) 775-7898 Fax

    Cameron Parish Police Jury
    P. O. Box 366
    Cameron, LA 70631
    (337) 775-5718 Phone (337) 775-5567 Fax
    Web site: www.cameronparish.net
    Email: cppjury@camtel.net
  • Planning, zoning, permitting, sales tax and licensing for the parish.

    Cameron Parish Tax Collector
    P.O. Box 1250
    Cameron, LA 70631
    (337) 775-5826 Phone
  • Occupational licenses and parish sales tax.
    Jeff Davis Parish
    Jeff Davis Property Tax Assessor's Office
    300 N. State Street, Room 103
    Jennings, LA 70546
    (337) 824-3451 Phone (337) 824-7681 Fax

    Jefferson Davis Parish School Board
    Sales and Use Tax Department
    P. O. Box 1161
    Jennings, LA 70546-1161
    (337) 824-2744 Phone (337) 824-9737 Fax

    Beauregard Parish Sheriff's Department
    Sales/Use Tax and Occupational License Division
    P. O. Box 639
    DeRidder, LA 70634-0639
    (337) 462-3451 Phone (337) 463-9952 Fax

    City of DeRidder
    City Hall, 200 S. Jefferson
    DeRidder, LA 70634
    (337) 462-8900 Phone
  • Occupational licenses and zoning.


    City of Jennings
    Finance Dept./City Clerk's Office
    P.O. Box 1249, 324 N. Broadway St.
    Jennings, LA 70546
    (337) 821-5500 Phone (337) 821-5527 Fax
    Web site: www.cityofjennings.com
  • Planning, zoning, permitting, and licensing for the parish.

    Department of Public Works, Division of Permitting
    100 Rue de L' Acadie, P.O. Box 1207
    Jennings, LA 70546
    (337) 821-5534 Phone (337) 821-5536 Fax
    Web site: www.jeffdavis.org
    Email: jeffdavis@centurytel.net

    Allen Parish

    Allen Parish Property Tax Assessor's Office
    P. O. Box 218
    Oberlin, LA 70655
    (337) 639-4391 Phone (337) 639-4196 Fax

    Allen Parish School Board
    Sales and Use Tax Department
    P. O. Drawer C
    Oberlin, LA 70655
    (337) 639-2145 Phone (337) 639-2346 Fax

    Allen Parish Police Jury
    P.O. Drawer G
    Oberlin, LA 70655
    (337) 639-4328 Phone (337) 639-4326 Fax
    E-mail: appj@centuryinter.net

    City of Oakdale
    City Hall, P.O. Box 728
    Oakdale, LA 71463
    (337) 335-3629 Phone
  • Occupational licenses and zoning for the parish.

    Town of Oberlin
    City Hall, P.O. Box 370
    Oberlin, LA 70655
    (337) 639-4333 Phone (337) 639-2205 Fax
    Web site: www.oberlinla.com
    Email: cityhall@centuryinter.net

Regional Government Offices

Louisiana Economic Development
Southwest Region
James R. Ducote
975 West Main Street
Hackberry, LA 70645
Office: (337) 762-3301 Home: (337) 762-3869
Cell: (337) 540-6297
Email: james@ducote.com

Louisiana Department of Revenue
Lake Charles Regional Office
P.O. Box 3702 (70602-3702)
1 Lakeshore Drive, Suite 1550
Lake Charles, LA 70629
(337) 491-2504 Phone (337) 491-2715 Fax
Web site: www.rev.state.la.us

Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development, District 07 HQ
P.O. Box 1430, 5827 Hwy. 90 E (70615-4052))
Lake Charles, LA 70602-1430
(337) 437-9100 Phone

Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality
3519 Patrick Street, Suite 265
Lake Charles, LA 70605
(337) 475-8644 Phone (337) 475-8643 Fax

Louisiana Department of Labor
Web site www.laworks.net
Web site: www.laworkforce.net
  • Job information service: information on jobs available in area, listed by employers; can be used by anyone.

    Calcasieu Parish Consortium (LWIA #51)
    Calcasieu Workforce Center
    P.O. Box 1299
    Lake Charles, LA 70602-1299
    (337) 437-3475 Phone/Fax
    Web site: www.laworkforce.net
  • Job information service: information on jobs available in area, listed by employers; can be used by anyone.

Business and Technical Assistance

McNeese State University Small Business Development Center
Burton Business Center, Room 423, P.O. Box 90508
Lake Charles, LA 70609-0508
(337) 475-5529 Phone (337) 475-5528 Fax
Web site: www.mcneese.edu
E-mail: msusbdc@mail.mcneese.edu

Imperial Calcasieu Regional Planning & Development Council
P.O. Box 3164
Lake Charles, LA 70602-3164
(337) 433-1771 Phone (337) 433-6077 Fax
Web site: www.imcal.org
  • Conducts planning and economic development programs for the 5-parish region.

    Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)
    Lake Charles Chapter
    P.O. Box 5396
    Lake Charles, LA 70605
    (337) 480-1199 Phone (337) 477-1617 Fax
  • Provides counseling for people interested in going into business and for those in business experiencing problems. SCORE offers this service cost-free for small businesses. Conducts seminars and workshops on pre-business topics.

    Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality
    Small Business Assistance Program
    Southwest Region
    3519 Patrick Street
    Lake Charles, LA 70605
    (337) 475-8644 Phone (337) 475-8643 Fax
    Web site: www.ldeq.state.la.us/assistance/sbap

    Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service
    LSU Agriculture Center, Knapp Hall
    P.O. Box 25100
    Baton Rouge, LA 70894-5100
    (225) 388-4141 Phone (225) 388-2467 Fax
    Web site: www.agctr.lsu.edu
  • As part of the LSU Agricultural Center, the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service provides educational programs designed and implemented to take useful and practical information to those who need it most.


    Calcasieu Parish Cooperative Extension
    7101 Gulf Highway
    Lake Charles , LA 70607
    (337)475-8812 Phone (337)475-8815 Fax

    Beauregard Parish Cooperative Extension
    Courthouse Building, 205 West First Street
    DeRidder , LA 70634
    (337)463-7006 Phone (337)463-7007 Fax

    Cameron Parish Cooperative Extension
    180 Henry Street
    Cameron, LA 70631
    (337)775-5516 Phone (337)775-8177 Fax

    Jeff Davis Parish Cooperative Extension
    1006 Lake Arthur Avenue
    Jennings, LA 70546-1407
    (337)824-1773 Phone (337)824-0748 Fax

    Allen Parish Cooperative Extension
    104 South Fourth Street
    Oberlin, LA 70655
    (337)639-4376 Phone (337)639-2985 Fax

    Cooperative Extension Service
    Rice Research Station
    1373 Caffey Road Rayne
    Rayne, LA 70659
    (337)788-7531 Phone (337)788-7553 Fax
  • Biotechnology and genetic engineering of selected plant species, rice foundation seed facility.


Education

McNeese State University
4205 Ryan Street
Lake Charles, LA 70609
(337) 475-5000 or (800) 622-3352 (General)
Web site: www.mcneese.edu
E-mail: info@mail.mcneese.edu

Louisiana Community and Technical College System
822 Neosho Avenue
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
(225) 219-8700 Phone (LCTCS) 8770 (LTC)
(225) 219-8710 Fax (LCTCS) 8779 (LTC)
Web site: www.lctcs.state.la.us
Email: lctcs@lctcs.state.la.us

Louisiana Technical College
Sowela Campus
3820 Senator J. Bennett Johnston Avenue
Lake Charles, LA 70615
(337) 491-2698 or (800) 256-0483 Phone
(337) 491-2135 Fax
Web site: www.sowela.tec.la.us

Louisiana Technical College
Morgan Smith Campus
P.O. Box 1327, 1230 North Main Street
Jennings, LA 70546-1327
(337) 824-4811 Phone (337) 824-5653 Fax

Louisiana Technical College
Oakdale Campus
P.O. Drawer EM, 607 Highway 1152
Oakdale, LA 71463
(318) 335-3944 Phone (318) 335-3347 Fax

Industrial Parks

Calcasieu Parish

Chennault International Airport Authority
3650 Sen. J. B. Johnston Ave.
Lake Charles, LA 70615
(337) 491-9961 Phone (337) 491-9972 Fax
Web site: www.chennault.org
Email: ciaa@chennault.org
  • Numerous sites are available for lease and tenants can benefit from the airpark's infrastructure and transportation access.

    DeQuincy Industrial Park
    Size - 300 acres

    Lake Charles Regional Airport
    P.O. Drawer 5820, 500 Airport Blvd. (70605)
    Lake Charles, LA 70606-5820
    (337) 477-6051 Phone (337) 478-6826 Phone
    Web site: www.flylakecharles.com
    Email: info@flylakecharles.com
  • A 360-acre industrial park located in an Enterprise Zone and Foreign Trade Zone.

    Sulphur Industrial Park
    c/o Sulphur Industrial Development Board
    City of Sulphur
    500 N. Huntington, P.O. Box 1309 (70664)
    Sulphur, LA 70663
    (337) 527-4500 Phone
    Web site: www.sulphur.org
  • A 30-acre industrial park located on US Hwy. 90, just two miles from Interstate-10.

    Allen Parish

    City of Oakdale
    City Hall, P.O. Box 728
    Oakdale, LA 71463
    (318) 335-1111 Phone (318) 335-3638 Fax
    E-mail: oakdalela2@aol.com


    Beauregard Parish

    City of DeRidder
    City Hall, 200 S. Jefferson
    DeRidder, LA 70634
    (337) 462-8900 Phone
  • 52 acres out of 60 are available on Hwy. 171 in DeRidder.