Louisiana Celebrates Economic Development Week 2025, Highlighting Major Wins and Accelerating Momentum Driven by New Strategic Plan

BATON ROUGE, La. – Gov. Jeff Landry has declared May 12-16 Economic Development Week in Louisiana to honor the unprecedented momentum happening in every corner of the state amid what Reuters is calling “a revival” of Louisiana’s economic fortunes.

As part of that celebration, Louisiana Economic Development is spotlighting the agency’s recently adopted Comprehensive Statewide Strategic Plan. The plan, combined with the transformational project announcements that together top $61 billion in investments since January 2024, makes Economic Development Week the ideal time to recognize Louisiana’s remarkable progress.

“I am recognizing the incredible work of LED, our regional economic development organizations and the countless stakeholders and promoters of Louisiana who have helped lead Louisiana’s economic comeback,” Governor Jeff Landry said. “We are in the midst of a turnaround the likes of which we have not seen in decades, and as we all work toward even more ambitious wins, this Economic Development Week is a time to celebrate the impressive milestones we’ve already reached.”

Guided by the new strategic plan, LED aims to build the most robust, innovative and dynamic economy in the Southeast United States. The signs that Louisiana is headed in the right direction are unmistakable. Meta is building a $10 billion AI data center in Richland Parish; Hyundai Steel Company is building a $5.8 billion steel mill in Ascension Parish; and Louisiana is poised to lead the world in liquid natural gas (LNG) production, with Woodside Energy’s $17.5 billion LNG investment in Calcasieu Parish and Venture Global’s $18 billion LNG expansion in Plaquemines Parish.

“We have had an incredible 16 months since Governor Landry took office, not only with announcing historic projects, but also with legislative wins like the 2024 tax reforms that are polishing Louisiana’s credentials as a competitive, vibrant state for growth,” LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois said. “But I am even more excited about the future. The strategic plan puts us on a trajectory that is giving us global stature. From energy to innovation to manufacturing, we are moving Louisiana forward. And that is something our partners, our stakeholders and all Louisiana residents can celebrate this Economic Development Week.”

LED began 2024 with Act 590, or the Positioning Louisiana to Win bill, which set the agency up for responsiveness, flexibility and collaboration, including the creation of a private-sector led advisory board, Louisiana Economic Development Partnership (LEDP), tasked with developing the agency’s first strategic plan in more than 16 years. In March, the LEDP approved the 2025 Comprehensive Statewide Strategic Plan, which established five pillars of prosperity:

• Ease of doing business: Position Louisiana to compete and win by making it the easiest and best place to do business.
• High-wage employment: Ensure every Louisianan has the opportunity for proud and ever-growing wages.
• Thriving regions: Create thriving regions that are continually capitalizing on opportunities.
• Growth and innovation: Optimize Louisiana’s asset industries for growth and innovation to lead in the future, as they have in the past.
• Global impact: Drive Louisiana’s business ecosystem towards global impact.

The plan also established seven priority sectors, identifying industries with unique strengths or those that serve or complement existing industries.

• Energy and Process Industries
• Logistics
• Aerospace & Defense
• Agribusiness
• Professional, Technical and Scientific Services
• Life Sciences
• Technology

The success over the past 16 months and this roadmap for the future makes clear that Louisiana has built a stronger foundation than ever. The state is poised to become more competitive, more innovative and more comprehensive in our policymaking – moves that will undoubtedly set a new standard for economic development across the country.

LED, working together with local and regional economic development organizations, stakeholders and partners, have much to celebrate this Economic Development Week. But it will be the residents of Louisiana that will reap the real rewards, through higher wages, new opportunities and a better Louisiana for all Louisianans.