ABiz -> Business Cover

Investar Coming

Baton Rouge-based Investar Bank is planning three expansions outside the capital city in the coming months, and Lafayette is on its list. An Investar spokeswoman tells ABiz the bank has acquired land on Ambassador Caffery Parkway — the property is adjacent to Courtesy Cadillac — and plans to open a branch in 2013, although she wasn’t sure when next year the new location would open.

Investar is also building branches in Mandeville and Metairie.

Founded in 2006, Investar is a full-service community bank offering a full complement of financial services for individuals, professionals and small business including mortgage and construction loans. The privately held bank currently has six locations in Baton Rouge.

New Orleans CityBusiness reports that Investar had total assets of $305.8 million as of March 31 compared with $202.7 million during the same time in 2011.

ABIZ Stock Watch

o Aggreko GBX1,843.24 ▲55.24 (3.09%)

o IberiaBank Corp 51.38 ▼0.26 (-0.50%)

o LHC Group 21.85 ▼0.13 (-0.59%)

o MidSouth Bancorp 15.38 ▼0.07 (-0.45%)

o PetroQuest Energy 4.95 ▲0.14 (2.91%)

o PHI Inc 33.91 0.00 (0.00%)

o Superior Energy 28.86 0.00 (0.00%)

o Stone Energy 24.04 ▼0.14 (-0.58%)

o Teche Holding Corp 41.21 ▲0.17 (0.41%)

Most Read

David Calhoun, ‘EB’ Brooks join Lafayette Central Park

David Calhoun and Elizabeth “EB” Brooks are the first two employees of Lafayette Central Park Inc., the nonprofit charged with turning Lafayette Consolidated Government’s 100-acre Johnston Street Horse Farm property into a passive public park. Calhoun was named executive director, and Brooks is director of planning and design.
Update: PXP creating 600 jobs averaging 100k

At Thursday's State of the Economy luncheon, LEDA President and CEO Gregg Gothreaux said PXP has already quietly hired 180 people for its Broussard expansion.
Zachary Barker takes helm of the Opportunity Machine

Zachary Barker continues making waves in Lafayette’s business scene, mostly recently being named director of the Opportunity Machine.
Remembering Ricky Rees

The veteran police officer remembered by friends for his large and small acts of kindness will be laid to rest Wednesday.
Shakin' at the Shack

There will soon be a whole lot of shakin’ going on at Benny’s Sportshack Supplement Depot, a new concept by Opelousas native Benny Nele. Located at 2002 Johnston St., the supplement shop, smoothie bar and café, featuring hot off the press paninis and wraps, plans to open in late May.

in case you missed it

COOL TOWN 2013

This year’s Cool Town issue is all about people who are not native to South Louisiana but made a conscious decision to be here, to be among us, to participate in our culture and contribute to it.
A curious compact

A shelved ordinance transferring $200,000 from a northside drainage project to a south Lafayette development may not break any laws, but it stinks to high heaven.
Pooyie 2012

It's good, it's bad and it's just plain crazy.
Saving Saturday Night

An effort to restore a shuttered dancehall and document other vacant or razed honky-tonks could serve as a model for saving an endangered species of entertainment.
Posthaste vs. HART FORTENBERY

Lafayette’s gene pool has been host to a long line of eccentric characters who have blurred the lines between crazy, genius, disturbed and curiously entertaining.