The doors are open for business in Union Parish, the location of numerous corporate, retail and small manufacturing companies. From poultry processing and health care, to a Fortune 500 company’s data processing center, Union Parish has attracted a variety of businesses...and is ready to welcome more.

Key Economic Data

Entergy Louisiana Economic Development has an established full-service research center devoted to providing assistance in the site selection decision-making process. Click here to access in-depth data on Union Parish.

Our Location

Union Parish is located in the north-central portion of Louisiana (latitude 32.77 North, longitude 92.42 West), elevation 98 feet. The total area is 877.7 square miles; population is approximately 22,800. Monroe-West Monroe, a metropolis of 66,350, is 10 miles southeast of Union Parish, and is easily reached via state highways 15, 143, and 2. The Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area, includes the parishes of Ouachita and Union, has an estimated population of 172,275 as of July 1, 2007.

Transportation

• Major highways serving the parish are U.S. Hwy. 167, and state highways 143, 33, 15, and 2. Interstate-20 is located 12 miles south of the parish (20 miles from Farmerville), and can easily be reached via U.S. Hwy. 167 and 33. Click here for map of parish.

• Airports: A small airport with 3000-foot lighted runway is located just east of Farmerville. The Monroe Regional Airport (MLU) is a short drive southeast of Union Parish (38 miles from Farmerville). Currently, there are four airlines (Delta Air Lines, Continental Express, American Airlines, and Northwest Airlink) providing services to Monroe Regional Airport. American Eagle offers 3 flights daily to Dallas/Ft. Worth. Northwest Airlink (Mesaba) offers 3 flights daily to Memphis. Continental Express (Colgan) offers 5 daily flights to Houston. Delta Air Lines has 4 daily non-stop flights to Atlanta. Northwest and Delta offer freight service.

• Rail Service: Ouachita Ralroad operates a 25-mile line from El Dorado, Arkansas, to Lillie, Louisiana. The line once served Wyerhaeuser (Willamette) Particle Board Mill at Lillie.  Since the plant's closure in 2002, Ouachita Railroad has continued to maintain the roadbed, and has actively worked with Louisiana Department of Economic Develoopment to encourage additional industry in the area.  Several unit trains of intermodal container railcars were recently stored along the line for Union Pacific Railroad.  The unit trains have all returned to service.  Contacts:  Michael A. Robbins, general manager.  870-863-7044, 870-310-1281.  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
  

• Trucking: Numerous trucking companies are based in and near Union Parish, and are available to haul liquid, dry bulk, petroleum products, equipment, refrigerated goods, timber, poultry, etc.

Workforce Development

Union Parish business and education leaders are working together to prepare workers for the challenges of a changing workplace.
• Louisiana Technical College-North Central Campus is centrally located in Farmerville, the parish seat. The school offers business, technical and enrichment programs, and offers early courses for those seeking a four-year university degree.

Our Economic Climate

• Our city and parish leaders advocate economic development and growth, and are implementing programs to attract new business and industry, while offering continued support to companies already in Union Parish. Farmerville, the parish seat, has implemented a Tax Increment Financing District, designed to use sales tax monies to fund infrastructure projects. For details, contact Mayor Stein Baughman Jr. at 318-368-9242.

• The majority of Union Parish (including Farmerville and Bernice) lies within the Louisiana Northern Rural Renewal Community (click for details). This is an outstanding opportunity for those bringing a new business to the area or revitalizing an existing business. Economic incentives include wage credits, accelerated depreciation, and 0% capital gain taxes. Click here to see map of the parish with the Renewal Community area in gold. For more information, contact Northeast Louisiana Alliance, (318) 757-3033. Michelle Boothe: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tana Trichel: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Click here for website: www.nelea.us.

• The State of Louisiana actively works to attract new businesses and to grow existing businesses through the Louisiana Economic Development offices. For complete information on that department and its services to prospective businesses, please click here. LED offers incentive programs for businesses; click here for information. LED’s Northeast Regional Director is Miriam Wyatt Russell. To reach her directly: (318) 348-1986, (318) 874-9311, E-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

• High-speed Internet access: DSL is available in all six incorporated communities and approximately 3-mile radius around each. DSL (through CenturyLink ) is available throughout the eastern 1/3 of Union Parish. To consult a local CenturyLink representative, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 318-548-7100. T-1 lines can be installed anywhere in Union Parish.

• Extensive warehouse facilities are available in Bernice, near U.S. Hwy. 167. In the Bernice Industrial Complex, 70 private buildings are available for lease or sale , ranging from 5,000 to 40,000 square feet per building.  For information, contact www.bigfacility.com at 800-549-0799, or the Bernice Industrial Development Corporation, 318-285-9071.

• Union Parish has been designated a Louisiana Certified Retirement Community. We are actively promoting the parish as a desirable destination to the “Baby Boomer” generation, with the aim of increasing our population of more affluent individuals age 50+. See our website at www.retireunionparish.org.

• The Union Parish Chamber of Commerce partners with other economic development entities to nurture the development of commercial, retail and residential sectors. It strives to ensure an enhanced, healthy economic base to benefit the entire community.

Largest Businesses

Foster Farms poultry processing plant

CenturyLink data processing center (corporate headquarters is located in adjoining parish)
Union General Hospital
Tri-Ward General Hospital, 318-285-9066
Healthsouth Specialty Hospital
Claiborne Electric Co-Op
Entergy Corporation
Atmos Energy
Hill Oil Company
Don Barron Construction
Marion State Bank
First National Bank
Community Trust Bank
Wal-Mart Super Center

Commercial & Residential Real Estate

Our Business Mix

Higher Education

Three major universities -- the University of Louisiana at Monroe, Louisiana Tech University, and Grambling University -- are located within a 30-mile radius of Union Parish. Together the schools offer an array of programs in such diverse fields as pharmacy, engineering, nanotechnology, architecture, nursing, meteorology, aviation, and many nationally accredited undergraduate, graduate and Doctoral programs. Students desiring to begin a four-year degree program close to home can do so at the Louisiana Technical College North Central Campus in Farmerville.

Water Availability

Water table – Union Parish water table levels range from approximately 166 to 275 feet below land surface. Source of underground water is the Sparta aquifer. For detailed up-to-date information on Union Parish ground-water levels, click here for the USGS website.
Water utility companies – There are 22 community water suppliers in Union Parish. For information on individual utility companies, contact Kami Turner, Union Parish Health Unit sanitarian, at 318-368-3156.

Additional Contacts

Union Parish Police Jury (governing body of the parish), Dan Morgan, sec.-treas.---318-368-3296
Union Parish Assessor’s office---318-368-3232
D’Arbonne Lake Watershed Commission, Steve Cagle, Chairman---318-372-5500 or 318-368-3296
Sparta Groundwater Conservation District Commission, Gene Coleman, Chairman---318-927-2525

North Louisiana Economic Partnership -- 14-parish consortium -- www.nlep.org -- 318-387-0787

Louisiana Economic Development -- state agency for providing development leadership, incentives, & training -- www.LouisianaEconomicDevelopment.com