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The following press release was issued by the �޻���ֱ�� Gov. Bobby Jindal’s office.

Today, Governor Bobby Jindal and Enquero Inc. executive Hemant Asher announced the company’s selection of Lafayette for its first Agile Delivery Center, a high-performance technology center providing enterprise software products and services to commercial clients.

The company will create 350 new direct jobs with an average salary of $64,300 per year, plus benefits. In addition, �޻���ֱ�� Economic Development estimates the project will result in 354 new indirect jobs, for a total of more than 700 new jobs in the Acadiana Region and surrounding area.

Governor Jindal said, “Enquero is the latest in a long string of IT and software companies that we’ve welcomed to �޻���ֱ��, including CGI, CSC, Electronic Arts, Gameloft, GE Capital and IBM. Since we took office in 2008, �޻���ֱ��’s technology sector has experienced absolute growth of 25 percent, making it the fastest-growing industry in our state and a great source of diversity, vibrancy and innovation for our economy. �޻���ֱ�� now has more people working than ever before and this project provides further validation of our work to create a new �޻���ֱ��. With �޻���ֱ��’s outstanding business climate, strong technology infrastructure and talented workforce, we are encouraging more companies like Enquero to invest in our state and create great jobs for �޻���ֱ��’s families.”

Headquartered in Silicon Valley in Milpitas, California, Enquero is the brainchild of three leaders in the global consulting and systems integration industry. Under the leadership of Hemant Asher, Kabir Singh and Arvinder Pal Singh – who possess decades of combined experience in the sector with global companies, such as Infosys, Aricent Technologies, Tata Consultancy Services and Microsoft – the Enquero Agile Delivery Center in Lafayette will be the company’s first bricks-and-mortar domestic outsourcing site beyond Silicon Valley.

Enquero relies on rapid methodologies to deliver new enterprise capabilities through software-driven solutions to clients across a wide range of industries. Historically, such software development occurred on or around the client’s site. Enquero’s Lafayette center will improve upon that model by providing a dedicated onshore site developing software solutions for clients in a similar time zone and at a pace that matches client needs for innovation.

“In evaluating various locations as potential homes to incubate Enquero’s first Agile Delivery Center, we defined cultural fit, availability of relevant talent and infrastructure readiness as our major criteria,” Asher said. “Lafayette and the State of �޻���ֱ�� far exceeded our expectations from all dimensions. We found Lafayette to be an extremely entrepreneurial community with strong alignment between its community stakeholders, such as the University of �޻���ֱ�� at Lafayette, South �޻���ֱ�� Community College, Lafayette Economic Development Authority and others. The community leaders clearly understood Enquero’s vision and its needs as a growth company. We are extremely honored to be joining this community, and we look forward to playing a role in its future growth.”

Proximity to UL Lafayette will benefit collaboration between Enquero and the university. Identified by the National Science Foundation as an NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center, UL Lafayette’s Center for Visual and Decision Informatics is training students in the same cutting-edge computation methodologies that Enquero will offer its clients. Enquero will collaborate with the university to review curricula and determine areas for growth or enhancement of current programs. Enquero will offer student internships and apprenticeships focused on the agile software development model.

“We are proud to welcome Enquero, a company from Silicon Valley, to the Silicon Bayou,” UL Lafayette President Joseph Savoie said. “An entrepreneurial community like Lafayette, home to an established research university, is ideal for such an enterprising company to grow. Enquero will receive support from UL Lafayette's reputable computer science program and, in turn, the university and region will benefit from its presence through job creation and economic growth.”

To secure the project, LED offered the company a customized incentive package. Enquero will receive the services of LED FastStart® – the nation’s No. 1 state workforce development program – and will be eligible for �޻���ֱ��’s Digital Interactive Media and Software Development Incentive. Enquero also is expected to utilize the state’s Quality Jobs program.

Initially, Enquero will sublease approximately 2,200 square feet of office space from the Lafayette Economic Development Authority through the Opportunity Machine, Lafayette's business accelerator and incubator. LEDA will sublease that space to Enquero for a year, with options for three consecutive one-year renewals. As the company accelerates hiring, LEDA will work with Enquero to secure additional space. Enquero will launch operations in August and begin hiring soon after. The company expects to fill all 350 jobs by the end of 2017.

“These are exactly the kinds of jobs we had in mind when we launched Lafayette's fiber-optic initiative in 2004, so I am thrilled to see that companies are starting to recognize what Lafayette has to offer with its affordable, gigabit speeds,” said Lafayette City-Parish President Joey Durel. “I thank the state for making Lafayette's technology an important piece of its economic development strategy. I know Enquero will not regret their decision to locate in Lafayette. This community’s investment in itself is paying off.”

“As the technology sector continues to grow in the region, today’s announcement by Enquero further solidifies Lafayette’s position as a premier technology hub in the U.S.,” said LEDA President and CEO Gregg Gothreaux. “Enquero’s decision to locate 350 jobs in Lafayette is another step in keeping our highly trained graduates in the area and in attracting those who want to make their home in Acadiana. At LEDA, we look forward to continuing our work with Enquero as they become an integral part of our community.”

Enquero is an enterprise solutions company delivering business capability as a service to the enterprise segment. Agility is the foundational element of Enquero’s promise to the marketplace. The company delivers on its promise through a suite of products and services that are created by its unique model of AgilityStudios™ and Agile Delivery Centers™. For more information, visit .

Photo info: Governor Bobby Jindal, UL Lafayette President Dr. Joseph Savoie, and Enquero executive Hemant Asher.