Case Study

Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission

Aligning Parish Leadership Around a Five-Year Economic Development Strategy

The Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO) is an independent, yet complementary arm of Jefferson Parish government. JEDCO’s mission is to build a resilient, equitable, diverse and competitive economy by driving the retention and creation of quality jobs, entrepreneurship, innovation, and investment in Jefferson Parish. In 2024, JEDCO engaged Trepwise to facilitate the development of the Jefferson EDGE 2030 plan, Jefferson Parish’s 5-year economic development plan.

Product:

Strategic Planning

Sector:

Public Sector

Solution

Trepwise approached the project with both data-centered and human-centered mindsets, the latter of which introduced a new approach for the client. The work included an in-depth discovery process, tracking progress against the previous plan and engaging a diversity of stakeholders in interviews and focus groups, including staff, Board members, EDGE investors, industry representatives, and public officials across the region. To support the analysis of economic data and national trends, Trepwise engaged Fourth Economy, an economic development strategy firm, to benchmark Jefferson Parish’s performance over time. Through a series of working sessions with stakeholders, Trepwise rallied parish leaders around the strategic vision as a nationally-recognized destination for business success and quality of life.

Results

JEDCO launched its 5-year plan with widespread stakeholder buy-in and excitement. In addition to the plan, Trepwise developed an outcomes measurement framework and implementation guide, as well as trained JEDCO staff in how to implement the plan. Upon plan delivery, the Jefferson Parish Council voted to adopt EDGE 2030 as the official economic development instrument of the Parish, setting the stage for the plan’s strategies and partnerships to come to life.

“The Trepwise team was professional, knowledgeable, and engaging which made it easy to mobilize stakeholders throughout the process. The entire process was well-managed and that is reflected in the product that they delivered – a comprehensive plan that is executable and measurable.”
-Lacey Bordelon, Vice President & COO