AngelouEconomics was retained by the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO) to help draft a plan for the city that would promote sustainable growth, attract high-wage industries, encourage technology development, and offer a superior quality of life. The community-based planning process known as The Jefferson Edge was completed in March 2000.
The Jefferson EDGE began with a community assessment and cluster analysis. This assessment ranged from a demographic profile to economic and educational data. Its purpose was to provide an up-to-date and accurate view of the parish – a view that would be shared and would inform the members of a committee of citizens who would participate in the planning process. The cluster analysis reviewed the concentration of various industries by employment and compared them to state and national averages. These results were then used to identify target industries around which the economic development strategy was focused.
