RUSTON, La. — Today, Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker and Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson joined other state, regional and local officials in dedicating a 150-acre site at the Ruston Industrial Park as a new LED Certified Site.
 
The dedication means the Ruston site near the juncture of McDonald Avenue and Beacon Light Road is one of 97 LED Certified Sites, a total that ranks Louisiana No. 2 in the U.S. for the most state-sponsored certified sites. The certification process ensures that the LED Certified Site is ready for development within 180 days of an investor choosing to build a new industrial facility at the location.
 
“The City of Ruston deserves a great deal of credit for continuing to prepare this community for industrial growth,” LED Secretary Don Pierson said. “A community with an LED Certified Site stands out as a frontrunner of locations that are most attractive to site selection consultants and to the major manufacturing, distribution and industrial prospects they represent. These consultants and their prospects know the time and value efficiencies that come with fully prepared sites. LED’s program that creates certified sites in partnership with communities builds great potential for these communities. With this milestone, Ruston is better prepared to attract new investment and secure new jobs.”
 
Certification qualifies the 150-acre Ruston Industrial Park location as a prime industrial site, based upon zoning, title work, environmental studies, soil analysis and surveys. The Ruston site features a full slate of utilities, including city electric, water and sewer service; Kansas City Southern Class I rail service; fiber-optic-enabled telecommunications; and ready access to U.S. Highway 80 and the Interstate 20 Cyber Corridor.
 
“Ruston and Lincoln Parish are blessed to have so many assets that help us promote our community,” Mayor Walker said. “This LED Certified Site is just another example of the City Council and Ruston citizens seeing the overall vision and giving our community another way to recruit industry. Through our economic partnership with Louisiana Tech University, we look forward to expanding on the economic growth of our city. This is another example of why in Ruston, ‘Excellence is Made Here.’”
 
LED determined the Ruston site’s suitability for industrial development through a rigorous review process conducted by an independent, third-party engineering firm. For an industrial firm looking to develop a new facility, the process removes questions about environmental, zoning, floodplain and soil suitability, and clears the path to relatively risk-free development.
 
“I would like to thank Louisiana Economic Development for their leadership and vision in implementing the LED Certified Sites program and assisting communities to take advantage of the opportunity,” said Ruston Economic Development Administrator Kristi Lumpkin. “Having a development-ready Certified Site will help Ruston and Lincoln Parish in the marketing and promotion of our industrial site to potential developers. Thank you to Mayor Walker for his continued support throughout this process.”
 
The North Louisiana Economic Partnership, which represents a population of more than 800,000 in 14 parishes, including Lincoln Parish, will assist the City of Ruston in marketing its new LED Certified Site to global economic development prospects.
 
“The North Louisiana Economic Partnership is pleased the Ruston Industrial Park has been designated a certified site by Louisiana Economic Development,” NLEP President Scott Martinez said. “We look forward to working with Mayor Walker, the City of Ruston team and our partners in marketing this certified site.”