Blueflite expands operations into Lafayette, Louisiana
The expansion will see the drone company open a new office in the city, as well as support the development of a new medical delivery network
Drone medical logistics firm blueflite has announced that it will expand its presence into the city of Lafayette, in the US state of Louisiana.
To support the expansion of its operations, the company will open a new office at the Opportunity Machine, a business incubator in downtown Lafayette.
The move is being funded through a strategic US$250,000 investment from the Ochsner Louisiana Innovation Fund (OLIF). The fund was established by healthcare provider Ochsner Health, in partnership with Louisiana Economic Development.
The expansion into Lafayette is part of a plan by blueflite to take advantage of the city’s industry strengths in the fields of healthcare, aerospace, and technology.
A new medical logistics network
In exchange for the funding, blueflite will assist Ochsner Health in implementing a drone network centered on the Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center’s Level II Trauma Center, connecting it to a network of nearby rural hospitals.
“Ensuring rapid access to critical medical supplies is vital for our trauma center and rural hospitals throughout our region,” said Patrick Gandy, CEO of Ochsner Lafayette General. “This investment in drone technology strengthens our ability to deliver lifesaving care when and where it’s needed most – whether it’s blood products for emergency surgery, medications for rural communities, expediting lab samples or essential supplies in disaster response situations. We are excited to see this technology take shape in Lafayette.”
Mandi Mitchell, President and CEO of the Lafayette Economic Development Authority (LEDA), added: “We fully embrace pioneering technology companies in Lafayette, and we’re especially excited about blueflite as their business model crosses multiple of our target industry sectors – logistics, aviation and aerospace, technology, and healthcare.”
Police in Aspen, Colorado, recently announced the launch of their new drone program.