Louisiana in the News

Forbes describes Louisiana as “America’s new frontier for business opportunity” in a commentary about the state’s economic development efforts. With a dramatic economic transformation since 2008, Louisiana is attracting major business investment in both traditional and emerging industries, “…luring in dozens of economic development projects that are creating more than 63,000 jobs and over $28 billion in new capital investment.”

We continue to be impressed with the diversity and coordination of economic development efforts across the state of Louisiana. The Bayou State’s success is reflected in its stellar results in our 2011 State Rankings. For the second year in a row, Louisiana has topped the chart in our Workforce Training Leaders category on the strength of its widely praised FastStart program.

Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and South Carolina have quietly positioned themselves as leaders in the job-training effort. Each state's program is unique, but they share some commonalities.

New Orleans is one of the most diverse and eccentric cities in the country. It Is known for the French Quarter, live music, bachelor parties, levies, Hurricane Katrina, Bourbon Street, delicious (yet, heartburn inducing) food, nearby swamps, nearby swamp people, Hollywood South, above ground cemeteries, voodoo, oak trees, football champions, and football bounty hunters.

NEW ORLEANS—Barrett Conrad had plenty of chances to leave this city after earning a degree in computer science from Tulane University in 2002. Instead, the creator of a smartphone app for trivia buffs now urges computer programmers from across the country to move here.

Electronic Arts (EA) is expanding at its site on Louisiana State University’s (LSU) campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The digital arts and video game maker will create approximately 200 jobs, bringing total employment to more than 600 workers. The company will relocate to a larger facility on campus to accommodate the expansion. Total investment is $28.2 million.

When everyone on the team is focused like a laser on the only possible outcome, the team will deliver. Gov. Bobby Jindal made economic development his top campaign issue when running for Louisiana's chief executive officer position a few years ago, and that focus is paying off.

Louisiana's rich culture in creativity, film, music and television has been a natural fit for the development of an emerging digital media and technology industry. The state first began cultivating video game development in 2005 when it passed the digital media tax credit program, attracting major game developer EA Games to the state.

Louisiana has reason to celebrate but no time to bask. With more people flocking to the Bayou, officials must keep pace for the never-ending jobs race.

EARLY next month Barack Obama plans to speak about jobs. There are not enough of them, and frustration on that subject got a boost this month when Rick Perry, the governor of Texas, entered the Republican presidential race. Mr Perry's best selling point is that, since June 2009, Texas has created 40% of America's net new jobs.