New figures show that Lafayette is one of the country's "prospects of prosperity," with household income increasing significantly during the economic recession.From 2007 to 2010, Lafayette's household income increased by

12.2 percent, to $47,200, according to a study by Sentier Research, based on an analysis of U.S. Census data. That is the most out of any metro area in the country, according to a USA Today report.

One of the key reasons for Lafayette's prosperity is its position as an energy industry hub, but Bruce Conque, vice-president of the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, said the city's diverse economic profile has also helped it withstand the downturn.

"We are a regional medical center, the major health care provider between New Orleans and Houston," Conque said. "We have a university system that brings in 17,000 to 18,000 students and is one of our biggest employers. And we are truly the Hub City. We are a retail and entertainment center, not only for Lafayette, but for

our neighbors."

When times got tough for oil and gas companies in the wake of the BP oil spill and subsequent Gulf of Mexico drilling moratorium, many of them didn't lay off people to the level they did in the 1980s, Conque added.

"They kept their human capital, so that when things do return to normal, which we think will be quite soon, they are going to be in a position to respond to those needs," he said.

Don Briggs, president of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association, agreed, saying drilling rigs that remained in the Gulf of Mexico were staffed.

"They still had crews on them, so a lot of services stayed intact when they were waiting to go back to work," Briggs said.

Briggs pointed out that local energy service companies serve the Lafayette area, other parts of Louisiana and several other states, including Texas and Pennsylvania.

"Lafayette is so unique in that, when things are going good even in Texas or north Louisiana, then our people and our

services companies do well also," Briggs said. "You can see all the different services companies all up and down Hwy. 90. Those companies aren't just serving the Gulf of Mexico and Louisiana drilling operations. They are doing work in all parts of the country."

That leads to a trickle-down effect that helps other local businesses.

"When those companies do well, people have expense accounts, they spend more money, so it filters down to local grocery stores, clothing stores and all the different businesses that exist in the community, small and large," Briggs said.

Conque said he thinks Lafayette remains in good economic condition and the city's prosperity should continue, barring any major unforeseen problems.

"Will there be hiccups? Yes," Conque said. "You look at Transcom which laid off all of those people recently, and you feel bad for those people. However, I think that was an anomaly. Health care is doing really well, and if you look at sales tax collections, we are doing quite well in Lafayette Parish. I think we are pretty consistently up month to month, and that's a good indicator of how we are doing economically in terms of retail sales."