French Connects Our Past to Tomorrow's Opportunities
The Council for the Development of French in Louisiana (CODOFIL) is the state’s Agency of Francophone Affaires, and we lead a range of initiatives displaying that Louisiana French is not only a deeply rooted heritage language, but also a living connection between our state and an increasingly globalized world. We support Louisiana’s French-speaking community by offering scholarships, leading the growth and maintenance of French immersion education, providing economic development assistance, and organizing community initiatives. By supporting and developing a new generation of French speakers in Louisiana, we’re investing in the future of our state.
In 2025 alone, CODOFIL has developed several initiatives that seek to increase the presence of French in Louisiana, which include educational and economic projects:
- The launch of Exel Louisiane, an economic development program that offers technical assistance and resources for professionals, leaders, and businesses to increase the use of French at work.
- The creation of a new tool for Francophone tourists and locals called Discover French Louisiana, which lists on an interactive map businesses and organizations that offer services in French.
- The development of volume 2 of Gombo de Mots, an educational flashcard series that highlights vocabulary particular to Louisiana.
- A new Job Board to connect Louisiana’s Francophones with employment opportunities that require French-language competencies.
- The expansion of Route Lafayette, a project that brings French into the public sphere by installing bilingual wayfinding signage throughout Lafayette Parish.
- The video series Paroles de la Louisiane and Kouri-Vini 101, which provide information on the uniqueness of Louisiana French and Creole.
A State Agency to Promote French in Louisiana
Established in 1968 through Legislative Act No. 409, CODOFIL was founded to promote, preserve, and develop the use of French across the state. Recognizing the deep historical roots of Louisiana French—spoken continuously in the area since colonial times—the legislature created CODOFIL to ensure the language’s continued role in shaping our state’s identity and future.
Today, CODOFIL is housed within the state’s Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, under the Office of Cultural Development. Louisiana is the only state in the United States with an official government agency that is dedicated to the advancement of French.
CODOFIL has worked for over five decades to support French in education, cultural programming, tourism, international relations and economic development, and has played a key role in the creation and continued impact of several important Louisiana initiatives—such as Festivals Acadiens et Créoles, Festival International de Louisiane, French immersion education in public schools, and Louisiana’s ongoing engagement with the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.