Milestone reflects decade of successful
collaboration with the University of Louisiana
at Lafayette, Louisiana Economic Development, Lafayette
Economic Development Authority and other community
organizations
LAFAYETTE, La., Nov. 4, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- CGI (NYSE: GIB) (TSX: GIB.A), one of the
largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in
the world, marks a decade of job growth and community impact at its
U.S. Onshore Delivery Centers in Lafayette, Louisiana. The establishment of the
Centers was initially announced in April
2014 with a plan for 400 jobs, driving an estimated economic
impact of US$90 million a year from a
CGI payroll of US$32 million
annually. Today, CGI employs more than 750 people in the Acadiana
region, with a year-to-date payroll of more than US$60 million, and more than 900 people across
the state. CGI plans to hire at least 60 more positions in Acadiana
on projects that serve major government and commercial clients,
with continued growth anticipated ahead.
CGI's success in South
Louisiana has been anchored by the depth of talent in the
region, as well as the committed and trusted partnerships built
with local organizations and institutions, including the
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
(UL Lafayette), Louisiana Economic Development (LED) and
Lafayette Economic Development Authority (LEDA). Approximately 35
percent of CGI's Lafayette
employees are hired through the company's college recruiting
program, drawing candidates from UL Lafayette and other state
institutions. In addition, more than 20 percent of CGI's local
workforce has relocated to Louisiana from outside the state.
"Our community is very fortunate to have CGI creating
high-impact, high-wage jobs and opportunity for Louisianans," said
State Rep. Julie Emerson
(R-Carencro). "CGI's growth in
Acadiana is just one part of this story. Their focus on building a
talent pipeline through supporting local schools and mentoring
students at UL Lafayette is a force multiplier for our state."
"CGI's decade-long presence in Lafayette has been a catalyst for economic
diversification and growth. By successfully building a strong
partnership with UL Lafayette and leveraging Louisiana's Digital Interactive Media and
Software Development Program, CGI has thrived and created
high-quality jobs that invigorated our local economy," said
Mandi D. Mitchell, LEDA President
and CEO. "These are a magnet for both homegrown talent and skilled
professionals from across the globe, enriching our community's
cultural and intellectual landscape. CGI has also poured in
countless volunteer hours, helping to build strong digital literacy
and interest in STEM among our youth. As CGI continues to invest
and expand in Lafayette and
Acadiana, we anticipate their positive impact will only amplify,
further cementing our region's position as a growing tech hub."
"On the occasion of CGI's 10th anniversary in
Acadiana, we celebrate not just a decade of innovation, but also
the strong public-private partnership between CGI and the
University," said Dr. Joseph Savoie,
UL Lafayette President. "Together, we have built a model of success
that shows how collaboration can drive research and practical
solutions, benefiting our community and empowering our students.
This partnership highlights a shared commitment to advancing
technology and workforce development, and I look forward to the
many achievements we will create together in the years ahead."
In partnership with UL Lafayette, CGI has mentored 60
students each year in a first-of-its-kind program that merges
Informatics and Computer Science majors to engage in real-world
experiential learning using cloud technologies, data and artificial
intelligence. CGI has also launched Louisiana's first software developer
apprenticeship program, helping individuals who do not have a
computer science background transition into technology fields.
"On behalf of Louisiana Economic Development, congratulations to
the CGI team on a remarkable 10 years in Lafayette," said Susan
B. Bourgeois, LED Secretary. "Over the past decade, CGI has
had a demonstrable impact on the state's economy by creating
hundreds of high-paying jobs, supporting our nationally recognized
tech talent pipeline through higher-ed partnership and propelling
the growth of the state's technology sector. We look forward to
many more decades of success and partnership."
CGI professionals maintain a high level of community engagement
in the region. Through the STEM@CGI program, CGI partners
with the Lafayette Parish School System and local non-profits, to
support students and teachers district-wide and help create a
long-term pipeline for CGI and other tech companies in the state.
This and other community initiatives have supported over 70
non-profits in the state, including Love Our Schools, Parish Proud,
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana, A New Vision Leadership
Foundation of Acadiana, United Way of Acadiana, One Acadiana and
Downtown Lafayette Unlimited.
"With strong academic partners, leaders committed to economic
growth and a highly skilled workforce, Lafayette has proven to be a strong partner in
support of our clients' IT-driven missions," said William LaBar, CGI Vice-President, Consulting
Services. "We look forward to more decades to come for
collaboration in Acadiana to create a workforce that pushes the
boundaries of what technology can do for our clients and the
community."
About CGI
Founded in 1976, CGI is among the largest independent IT and
business consulting services firms in the world.
With 90,000 consultants and professionals across the
globe, CGI delivers an end-to-end portfolio of capabilities, from
strategic IT and business consulting to systems integration,
managed IT and business process services and intellectual property
solutions. CGI works with clients through a local relationship
model complemented by a global delivery network that helps clients
digitally transform their organizations and accelerate results. CGI
Fiscal 2023 reported revenue is CA$14.30 billion and CGI
shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB). Learn more
at cgi.com.
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SOURCE CGI Federal, Inc.