Utility service company to bring headquarters, 141 jobs to New Orleans

(lailluminator.com) — A company that provides services to utility companies will open an office in New Orleans that will serve as its new headquarters. United Utility Services is expected to create 141 jobs over the next five years, the economic development organization Greater New Orleans Inc. announced last week.

“As our company expands, the need arose to establish our headquarters in a location that is easily accessible from existing regional offices and is in close proximity to complementary services and partners,” United Utility CEO Ali Azad said in a statement. “New Orleans is an ideal location for our company to build a prominent presence within a regional economy that leads innovation in the utility and energy sector, and within an area that is already home to key partners, such as Entergy.”

To place the company’s headquarters in New Orleans, the state has offered an incentive package that includes a $500,000 performance-based grant to reimburse United Utility Services for its relocation expense. The money is contingent upon the company meeting employment and payroll targets.

United Utility Services is also expected to participate in the state’s Quality Jobs program, which provides a partial rebate on payroll taxes, and Louisiana Economic Development’s FastStart job training services.

United Utility Services is under the umbrella of Baton Rouge-based Bernhard Capital Partners, which includes businesses that employ more than 6,000 people in Louisiana.

Charlotte, North Carolina, previously served as United Utility’s headquarters, and the company is expected to retain its presence there, according to GNO Inc. It’s not clear yet whether any employees will transfer to New Orleans from the Charlotte office or one in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

This article originally published in the April 10, 2023 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.