  Booming Downriver.

  Opportunity awaits in Metro New Orleans.

St. Bernard Parish is at a tipping point.

As one of the fastest-growing parishes in Louisiana for close to a decade, the time is ripe to capitalize on the incredible resources found in Orleans Parish’s closest neighbor. Our proximity to downtown, premier logistical infrastructure, top-ranked school system, lowest crime rate in the metropolitan area, and unparalleled lifestyle positions the parish for an exceptional future.

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22% Increase
in Commercial Permits
SBPG (2016 vs. 2017)

77% Increase
in Residential Permits
SBPG (2019 vs. 2020)

Fastest Growing
Parish in Louisiana
U.S. Census 2020

6th Fastest Growing
Suburb in the US
Realtor.com

8th Fastest Growing
Small County in the US
U.S. Census 2010-2017 (pop. <50,000)

2nd Highest Growth
of Louisiana Parish GDPs
USDOC BEA (2016 vs. 2019)

About St. Bernard Parish

St. Bernard Parish is located on the east bank of the Mississippi River, under four miles downriver from New Orleans’ French Quarter and even closer to popular Bywater and Marigny neighborhoods. The parish population is over 48,000 with a median household income of $44,700.

St. Bernard Parish is home to established energy, logistics, maritime, and commercial seafood industries. Emerging sectors and trends include film, digital media, advanced manufacturing, and coastal restoration.

St. Bernard Parish offers affordable homeownership opportunities in popular neighborhoods for young families including Arabi, Chalmette, and Meraux. St. Bernard Parish is the 8th fastest growing small county/parish in America. Arabi, a town in the Parish, ranks as the 6th fastest growing suburb in the United States.

St. Bernard Parish proactively addresses water management boasting state-of-the-art water and sewage facilities. The parish has a robust Coastal Restoration Department and over 23 miles of floodwall infrastructure.

Demographics and Notable Statistics

    
    St. Bernard Parish
    Metro New Orleans
    Southeast Region
  


    Population
    48,172
    1,441,382
    2,556,901
  

    Median Income
    $44,700
    $48,055
    -
  

    Workforce
    19,745
    583,716
    1,125,626
  

    Associates &/or Bachelor's Degree
    16.5%
    13.4%
    -
  

St. Bernard Parish was named the Fastest-Growing Parish in LA
St. Bernard Parish has the second-highest GDP out of any parish in Louisiana
Greater New Orleans was named #2 Most Cost-Friendly Mid-Sized Market in the USA (KPMG)
Greater New Orleans is #1 for the Decade of Economic Development Wins in the South (SB&D)
Greater New Orleans was the #1 Most Improved Metro in the USA (Wall Street Journal)
Louisiana was Ranked #5 Best Business Conditions in the USA (Site Selection)

Travel Time

(in minutes)

    
    Ara.
    Cha.
    Mer.
    F.Q.
    B./M.
    CBD
    Upt.
    Sli.
    Met.
    Ken.
  


    Arabi
    -
    4
    12
    11
    7
    15
    20
    33
    20
    25
  

    Chalmette
    4
    -
    5
    14
    8
    16
    23
    29
    22
    28
  

    Meraux
    12
    5
    -
    28
    20
    26
    32
    36
    31
    37
  

    French Quarter
    11
    14
    28
    -
    7
    8
    16
    38
    17
    22
  

    Bywater/Marigny
    7
    8
    20
    7
    -
    12
    15
    45
    19
    25
  

    CBD
    15
    16
    26
    8
    12
    -
    11
    37
    17
    22
  

    Uptown
    20
    23
    32
    16
    15
    11
    -
    39
    15
    22
  

    Slidell
    33
    29
    36
    38
    45
    37
    39
    -
    38
    44
  

    Metairie
    20
    22
    31
    17
    19
    17
    15
    38
    -
    12
  

    Kenner
    25
    28
    37
    22
    25
    22
    22
    44
    12
    -
  


  

The Front Retail Center (Arabi, LA)

Includes grocery store and pharmacy.

St. Bernard Parish Hospital (Chalmette, LA)

Managed by Ochsner Health System

El Paso Mexican Grill (Chalmette, LA)

Located on the Judge Perez Corridor.

The Ranch Film Studio (Chalmette, LA)

Located in the heart of the Central Business District.

Meraux Retail Center (Meraux, LA)

Includes neighborhood Walmart, Tractor Supply Co. and Taco Bell.

Why do business in St. Bernard Parish?

Competitive Incentives

In St. Bernard Parish, you will find an economic development organization and parish government eager and willing to work with developers and business owners on incentive packages. The Parish has industry-specific incentives, as well as the ability to create discretionary incentives for impactful projects. In addition, St. Bernard features three federal Opportunity Zones and a full suite of incentives packages from Louisiana Economic Development, widely considered the most aggressive in America.

Ease of Doing Business

St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation (SBEDF) is proud to offer “business concierge services” for new and expanding businesses in the Parish. SBEDF will work hand-in-hand with developers and business owners to expedite the permitting process, coordinate public relations, and handle any other issues that may arise as you expand in St. Bernard Parish.

Business-Friendly Environment

St. Bernard Parish possesses a growing business community and healthy entrepreneurial ecosystem. SBEDF works closely with local organizations, private industry, and educational institutions to ensure the needs of businesses and their employees are met. Through innovative and highly functioning collaborations, St. Bernard Parish has made strides in growing key industry sectors.

Attractive Amenities

St. Bernard Parish is home to a top-ranked public school system, low crime, parks and trails, a thriving arts and entertainment district, and world-class fishing. Just minutes from downtown New Orleans, residents and visitors enjoy an extensive calendar of events and festivals throughout the year.

How can we help?

contact@sbedf.org(504) 277-4009 — contact@sbedf.org
(504) 277-4009

St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation (SBEDF) facilitates economic growth aimed at strengthening core industries, growing new sectors and entrepreneurship, and developing future business leaders. SBEDF offers business concierge services to companies in various phases of development. Additionally, we offer business owners and investors expertise on local, state, and federal tax incentives and financing options.

Visit our website.

Schedule a consultation.

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Industry & New Retail Development

St. Bernard Parish has historically hosted a diverse and strong business base. As a logistical hub in Greater New Orleans, St. Bernard Parish has access to robust air, water, rail, and interstate travel. This strategic location has attracted and retained large-scale employers and international companies in a variety of sectors. year.

Energy

Oil and Gas continues to thrive for over a century. These companies collectively employ thousands and result in millions of tax dollars to St. Bernard Parish. Additionally, Louisiana is ideal for solar and other alternative, renewable energy sources.

Digital Media

New Orleans is often referred to as “Hollywood South.” St. Bernard Parish is home to a world-class film studio & the most lucrative local tax incentive in the state, drawing multi-million dollar productions. The diversity of landscape, tax-friendly environment, skilled local workforce, and proximity to the French Quarter continues to drive filmmakers to choose St. Bernard.

Coastal & Environmental

Louisiana is the primary domestic source of the nation’s seafood. Not only does St. Bernard Parish have one of the most robust commercial seafood industries but, over 5 billion dollars is being invested to restore and protect the marshes and wetlands surrounding New Orleans and other coastal cities.

Arts & Culture

Arabi has established itself as an emerging hot spot for the arts in New Orleans. Old Arabi continues to garner interest from budding artists, retailers, restaurants, entrepreneurs, and investors as an historic neighborhood and Louisiana certified arts district.

Maritime

St. Bernard Parish developed along the Mississippi River. Its location just south of the Port of New Orleans, the fourth-largest port in the United States, creates a demand for support services, and develops a highly skilled workforce. The St. Bernard Port also handles 9.5 million tons of cargo and employs approximately 900 people.

Recent Retail Development

Top Corporate Employers

Ones to Watch: Key Drivers & Trends

St. Bernard Parish and Greater New Orleans is slated for major projects that continue to make the region more attractive for residents, developers, and business owners. Highlighted below are several opportunities that not only illustrate a diversity in growth, but indicate the upward progression of the parish.

Business Development

$1.5 billion expansion of Port of New Orleans in St. Bernard Parish. A container and distribution campus is being considered for a 1000+ acre property in Violet, Louisiana that is estimated to create several thousands direct and indirect jobs.

Ochsner Health Systems expands into St. Bernard Parish. Ochsner entered into a long-term agreement to manage St. Bernard Parish Hospital in 2018 and quickly expanded services with long-term growth planned for the future.

DXC Technology creates over 2,000 direct jobs in metro New Orleans. DXC, a Fortune 500 company, has opened its latest Digital Transformation Center in New Orleans. The project was named the #2 economic development project in the country in 2017 behind the Apple-FoxConn expansion.

Education & Workforce Development

Nunez Community College opens Aerospace Manufacturing Center of Excellence in St. Bernard Parish. The new aerospace manufacturing center will develop workforce for Boeing’s 600 jobs at New Orleans’ Michoud Assembly Facility working on NASA’s Space Launch System, the mega-rocket designed to transport astronauts into deep space by 2025 and Mars not long after.

Chalmette High School receives A rating with focus on career preparedness. St. Bernard Public School System is considered one of the best in the State for academic rigor and career/technical pathways, and is often cited by incoming residents as a major factor in their decision to relocate to St. Bernard Parish.

Residential Growth

Thanks to an innovative new program by St. Bernard Parish Government, new, high-end homes are sprouting up at a rapid pace. All new homes, through the Sold on St. Bernard program, must be built on lots with 75-100 feet frontages with 10 foot ceilings, solid wood floors, extensive landscaping, shade trees, and high end fixtures and finishing. The result has been an influx of new, young families with high spending power.