Sunflower Announces New Grocery Store in Louisiana

Sunflower is excited to announce plans to construct a Rouses grocery store on an undeveloped plot in Jefferson Parish, LA.

This location is in the middle of a federally designated “food desert.” Food deserts are defined by the USDA as urban areas lacking nearby access to fresh, healthy food. For that reason, we knew a grocery store had great potential to generate revenue and address an ongoing need in this rural Louisiana community. 

Our development plans include a 43,230-square-foot grocery store at Lapalco and Ames Boulevard. The site will also include 222 parking spaces. We estimate this project will generate between 100 and 140 full-time and part-time jobs, sparking new economic development in the surrounding area. 

Tax credits will be key to our funding strategy for this development. Given the location’s status as a food desert, we plan to apply for an allocation of New Market Tax Credits. Grocery projects in food deserts are highly desirable, and we believe the tax credit will increase this project’s feasibility and profitability. 

The store is slated to open in late 2019. We are very excited for this opportunity to expand our real estate development services into Louisiana and solve a longstanding need for the Jefferson Parish community. 

Read the full story at The Times-Picayune.