THE EDENBORNE STORY
On more than 400 acres near the southwest corner of Interstate 10 and La. 44 in Gonzales, a traditional neighborhood development is beginning to take shape. Named for William Edenborn, a builder of railways, it is being developed with public and private spaces, featuring a main boulevard, a town square and retail and office areas. A residential component features more than 400 single-family homes and multifamily units. The new campus of River Parishes Community College opened last fall; Fortune 500 firm Emerson Process Management is about to open its regional headquarters, manufacturing and workforce training center across the street. The Alliance Safety Council’s new training center has been open there for nearly a year now.
GET TO KNOW
JANET BRITTON
General counsel, EATEL
In her professional role, Janet Britton guides EATEL—one of Gonzales’ largest employers—through myriad legal and regulatory issues. Janet has been in the telecommunications sector for more than two decades and with EATEL for 16 years. But in the community, she also serves on the marketing team for the city of Gonzales to encourage business recruitment and expansion. Britton is involved in the Ascension Chamber of Commerce, the City of Gonzales Industrial Development Board and the East Ascension East Iberville School Partnership.
MIKE EADES
President & CEO, Ascension Economic Development
Though he has only been in Ascension Parish since 2009, Mike Eades is the go-to guy for development in Gonzales and the rest of the parish. The Virginia native with a geology/geography degree is a certified economic developer who has helped recruit and usher billions of dollars of capital investment in the city and its surrounding areas.
GLENN SHAHEEN
President, GSA Consulting Engineers
Glenn Shaheen and his wife, Glenda Shaheen, the company’s business manager, not only do plenty of business with the city of Gonzales, but they are busy corporate citizens as well. Their company has been in business for the better part of two decades, servicing a 10-parish area. Notable projects include the award-winning Jambalaya Park, a new $15.2 million three-phase sewer improvement program and the Gonzales water tower.
MEET UP
PHOTO: Jeremy Langlois.jpg
Café Burnside
40136 La. 942, Darrow
Houmas House isn’t inside Gonzales proper, but many of its professionals head to the historic plantation home to dine on Chef Jeremy Langlois’ fare at Cafe Burnside. Choose from healthy salads to the Pork Chop Preston with a side of Voodoo Greens.
ISTOCK: 45755952
Sno’s Seafood & Steak
13131 Airline Highway
The lunch entrees at Sno’s are designed mostly for serious diners only: Seafood Au Gratin, hamburger steak and Chicken Marsala. But there’s lighter fare, too: oyster po-boys, seafood salad and cups of gumbo.
ISTOCK: 15314738
Mike Anderson’s
1500 La. 30
This south Louisiana favorite serves up the daily specials like fried catfish and hot and spicy primavera, as well as weekly ones like Italian stuffed shrimp on Mondays and Catfish Lefete on Fridays.
QUICK STATS
2013 ESTIMATED POPULATION
10,301
% CHANGE SINCE 2010
+5.3%
BACHELOR’S DEGREE OR HIGHER
18.2%
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME
$48,729
PERSONS BELOW POVERTY LEVEL
24.6%
MEDIAN AGE
35.2
MOST COMMON INDUSTRY: MANUFACTURING
19%
HOME OWNERSHIP RATE
69.0%
SOURCE: U.S. Census
