Four new initiatives to support Louisiana businesses, economy

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Four new initiatives announced by Gov. Jeff Landry aim to unlock the next phase of Louisiana’s strategy to grow the economy.

Landry said that as he’s traveled across the state, he has encountered business owners who have asked how to get involved with large projects and investments announced.

“Whether you are a small firm in central Louisiana or a growing company along the Gulf Coast, Source Louisiana is going to help open those doors and more importantly, it’s going to help keep dollars and our jobs right here at home,” he said.

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class="wp-block-heading">Initiatives announced, and what they are

• Source Louisiana: A new directory that lets businesses showcase their services, certifications and capacity. Businesses can register online to verify information.
• Driving Louisiana Opportunity Tour: Personnel from the Louisiana Economic Development (LED) will go on a tour to meet with Louisiana companies.
• Project Lightning Speed: An executive order directing LED to formalize its unified approach to economic development.
• Ensuring Louisiana Participation: LED will review policies to encourage and promote the use of Louisiana businesses in projects that use state incentive programs.

“These initiatives come straight from LED’s statewide strategic plan and our 9×90 workplan — both designed to put Louisiana businesses at the center of our growth strategy,” said LED Secretary Susan Bourgeois. “By working alongside our regional and statewide partners, we are turning those plans into action and making sure Louisiana companies have every opportunity to grow, compete and lead.”

The billions of dollars in investment brought to Louisiana have been touted by Landry as the new “Industrial South.” The new initiatives aim to fuel the state’s economic development by involving Louisiana-based companies and tightening policies.

“We want to reward companies that choose Louisiana, not just a place to operate, but we want them to partner in the prosperity,” Landry said. He said tax reform was based on stopping companies in the state from leaving and selling their businesses.

Some large projects announced:

• $17.5 billion Woodside Energy liquefied natural gas project in Sulphur.
• $10 billion Meta facility in Richland Parish.
• $5.8 billion Hyundai steel mill in Ascension Parish.
• $4 billion CF Industries ammonia production facility in Ascension Parish.
• $400 million Linde investment at RiverPlex MegaPark in Ascension Parish.
• $370 million Radiance Technologies microchip packaging facility in Ruston.

Advocates in Louisiana raised concerns after a recent ICE operation raid at a Georgia Hyundai battery plant led to the detainment of hundreds of South Korean workers.

“Clearly Hyundai isn’t committed to creating great jobs for local Louisiana families. Nearly all of the 400+ individuals swept up in Friday’s raid are from South Korea, and we have no reason to believe things would be different here in Louisiana,” Rural Roots Founder Ashley Gaignard said Sept. 8.

Landry said his administration is making sure that the Louisiana Hyundai steel mill project is staying on track. “I don’t expect anybody illegally to be working on the project,” he said Tuesday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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