Louisiana Economic Development

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This past Monday was a historic day for #Louisiana, my home parish of Ascension, and the city of Donaldsonville! It was an honor to stand alongside Hyundai representative Mr. Seok Ho Lee and our many partners as President Trump announced Hyundai Motor Group’s groundbreaking decision to invest $5.8 billion in a new manufacturing facility in Louisiana. This investment is expected to create more than 1,300 direct new jobs with an average salary of $95,000. This first-of-its-kind site marks Hyundai’s inaugural North American steel facility, establishing a fully integrated, made-in-America supply chain to support its automotive manufacturing operations across the United States. Over the past 15 months, it has been a privilege to work alongside our Louisiana Economic Development team, especially Jacob Ellis, MPA, Chelsea Dufrene, Paige Carter, MBA, and our award-winning LED FastStart team, as we demonstrated to Hyundai that our whole-of-Louisiana approach is a winning strategy. A special thanks to our partners at Ascension Economic Development Corporation, Kate MacArthur, Baton Rouge Area Chamber, Jayson Newell, Entergy, Melanie J., Eduardo "Ed" Jimenez, LCTCS President Dr. Monty Sullivan, Louisiana Department Of Transportation and Development Sec. Joe Donahue, and Louisiana Workforce Commission Sec. Susana Schowen for standing with us every step of the way. None of this would have been possible without the vision and support of Gov. Jeff Landry and Sec. Susan Bonnett Bourgeois, who continue to embrace a fresh, forward-thinking approach to economic development. Many thanks as well to COA Taylor Barras, Deputy COA Patrick Goldsmith CIA, CGAP, MPA, Ascension Parish President Clint Cointment, and our many state and local elected officials—your support is instrumental to the success of economic development in our great state. Great outcomes are possible when we come together! The future flows through Louisiana! #OpportunityLA #LouisianaWins

The first quarter of the year has been packed with major milestones, game-changing investments and bold steps forward for Louisiana’s economy. #ICYMI here’s a glimpse what 2025 looked like for LED so far: 🏆 Deal of the Year: Business Facilities magazine recognized the Meta Data Center project as the 2024 Platinum Deal of the Year, one of the highest honors among site selection publications. 🎭 Washington Mardi Gras: Promoted Louisiana’s vibrant culture and economic opportunities during this annual celebration in the nation’s capital. 🎊 Celebrating One Year of Leadership: Sec. Susan Bonnett Bourgeois marked her first year at LED. 🏈 Super Bowl LIX: We leveraged the biggest stage in sports to showcase Louisiana’s business advantages to CEOs and decision-makers at the Louisiana Now Pavilion. 💡 LA.IO Announcement: Unveiled Louisiana Innovation <LA.IO>, our new initiative highlighting the state’s commitment to cutting-edge technology and research. 📣 John H. Carter Company, Inc. Expansion: Announced a $69 million investment in a new Center for Industrial Excellence, expected to create 476 direct and indirect new jobs, retain 741 existing jobs. 📊 2024 Year in Review: A look back at Louisiana’s economic momentum, with record-breaking investments and growth across the state. ⚡ CERAWeek Louisiana Future Energy House: Demonstrated Louisiana’s “all of the above” energy strategy at this premier global conference. 🔩 Hyundai Steel Announcement: A $5.8 billion investment announced at the White House marks Hyundai’s inaugural North American steel facility and establishes a made-in-America supply chain to support domestic automotive manufacturing operations. 📍ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Expansion: Announced a $100 million expansion project, reinforcing Louisiana’s status as a hub for the energy sector. 📈 Statewide Strategic Plan: The LEDP board approved the agency’s first strategic plan in over 16 years that will serve as a roadmap to drive long-term prosperity across Louisiana. And this is just the beginning. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gw3Nn-cz

Saying it was a big week at LED would be an understatement. Following Monday’s announcement of Hyundai Motor Group’s nearly $6 billion investment in Ascension Parish, on Wednesday the Louisiana Economic Development Partnership Board approved our department's new strategic plan—a pivotal milestone in our journey of #PositioningLouisianatoWin.   This comprehensive plan is designed to support the growth of our legacy sectors through innovation and solidifies the state’s commitment to our whole-of-Louisiana approach. Our team will be sharing more information surrounding the plan in the coming weeks. In the meantime, I invite you to read the full report available on our website. Oh, and on Thursday we announced ExxonMobil’s $100 million investment to upgrade manufacturing capabilities in Baton Rouge. I can’t wait to see what next week brings! #OpportunityLA https://lnkd.in/g8BAa9Pi

Join us in celebrating Paige Carter, MBA, LED’s Chief Business Development Officer, for being named one of Baton Rouge Business Report’s 2025 Influential Women in Business! Paige’s passion for growing Louisiana’s economy, empowering businesses, and building opportunities across the state inspires us every day. We’re proud to have her on the LED team and grateful for her leadership. Read more ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/gnDQPP3f

Another win for innovation and industry growth in Louisiana! ExxonMobil is investing $100M+ to upgrade its Baton Rouge Complex to expand manufacturing capabilities that will support the U.S. supply chain. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gFWRnENK

#Louisiana Businesses: Take your company global! 🌏 Join us for a free export training session designed to help you take your business to the next level. Register at no cost: https://lnkd.in/epiGmRmd 📅 WHEN: Tuesday, April 1  ⏰ TIME: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM CST (in-person) or 9:30 AM CST (virtual)  📍 WHERE: Lafayette Economic Development Authority (with virtual option) AGENDA * Market Selection, Market Entry & Online Marketing Best Practices * Getting Paid, Risk Management & Export #Financing * #Logistics, including: Documentation, #Duties & Taxes, Shipping, #Warehousing & Fulfillment * Lessons Learned, Featuring Louisiana Exporters This valuable training series is brought to you through collaboration between Louisiana Economic Development, Louisiana District Export Council (LDEC), U.S. Commercial Service Louisiana, SBA's State Trade Expansion Program. Many thanks to our event host and economic driver Lafayette Economic Development Authority (LEDA) and event support from the Lafayette International Center! #ExportTraining #GlobalBusiness #LouisianaBusinesses #InternationalTrade

Less than ONE WEEK left to apply! ⏳ Don’t miss your chance to connect with fellow local business leaders, gain valuable insights, and drive growth. The CEO Roundtables program application closes March 31. Apply now: https://ow.ly/Z7Jj50Vop9H #OpportunityLA #CEORoundtables Learn more ⬇️ COLAB https://ow.ly/inhb50Vop9G

#ICYMI One Acadiana and Louisiana Economic Development teamed up to celebrate and empower women entrepreneurs, highlighting key strategies for growth through LED’s Five Pillars of Prosperity. Chief Business Development Officer Paige Carter, MBA, Chief Economic Competitiveness Officer Ileana Ledet and LED FastStart Executive Director Chelsea Dufrene discussed LED's mission to strengthen Louisiana's economy and build long-term success. Read more ➡️ https://ow.ly/BJ7s50VongJ

Big news for the Capital Region! Hyundai Steel is opening its first North American facility right here in Ascension Parish. This $5.8 billion investment is expected to bring more than 1,300 direct jobs and 4,000+ new jobs across the region. It’s the largest economic development project in Louisiana in 20 years, and it's happening right in our region. This is what building a better BTR looks like! 🔗 Read more: https://lnkd.in/ecRthh_R