L
ouisiana Economic Development has announced over 40 projects across the state since January, totaling more than $60 million in capital expenditures and nearly 5,000 new jobs. Keynote speakers Paige Carter and Ileana Ledet of LED shared this information at Thursday's Trends seminar sponsored by the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors.

    The state ranks No. 10 nationally in projects per capita, with New Orleans (No. 2) and Baton Rouge (No. 7) placing in the Top 10 among metro areas with populations between 200,000 and 1 million. Notable projects include Meta's $10 billion AI data center and Hyundai Steel's $5.8 billion plant in Ascension Parish.

    This week, Australia-based Woodside Energy Group made a $17.5 billion final investment decision on a liquefied natural gas production facility in Lake Charles. Meta's facility will create over 500 direct jobs with salaries exceeding the parish average by 150%. Carter attributes Louisiana's win to mitigating costs, time, and risk.

    Hyundai's first North American steel facility is expected to create over 1,300 direct jobs with an average annual salary of $95,000. As of Thursday, there are 118 certified shovel-ready sites totaling roughly 25,000 acres, but not all are development ready. LED advocates for a new Site Investment and Infrastructure Fund during the current legislative session.

    The proposed fund would be established through House Bill 433, authored by Rep. Daryl Deshotel, with an initial investment of $150 million and up to $50 million in recurring annual funding. Louisiana currently invests $8 million annually in site development, compared to Mississippi's $46 million and Alabama's $53 million.