CONNIE FABRE
President and CEO, Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance
“A big recent win that we’ve been collaborating with LA Works on is to improve access to training and employment. The move toward a more coordinated, one-stop approach is making it easier for people to connect to opportunities. There’s also been a lot of progress in aligning education with industry needs. Work on industry-based credentials and engagement with high schools is helping ensure that what students are learning actually feeds into available jobs. From a policy standpoint, tools like the industrial property tax exemption remain critical for attracting investment. And just as important as any specific policy is stability—companies need to understand the rules of the game and trust that they’re not going to change unpredictably. Carbon sequestration is another area with significant potential economic impact, though it comes with public perception challenges. A big part of the work right now is helping educate communities and navigate that conversation. At the end of the day, consistency, coordination and clarity in policy are what will sustain momentum and continue attracting industry to Louisiana.”
KATHY TRAHAN
President and CEO, Alliance Safety Council
“If we align targeted incentives for these high-demand jobs—such as tax credits—it could help keep our talent in Louisiana while encouraging people to prepare for those roles. When high-demand careers are clearly identified and tied to earning potential, it creates a pathway that supports workforce development and keeps dollars circulating in our state. Another factor to consider is how our policies compare to those in other states. Take homestead protection, for example. In Louisiana, only $35,000 of your home’s equity is protected against creditors. In states like Texas or Florida, 100% of your home’s equity is protected. These policy differences have real consequences; they directly impact decisions about where people choose to build their lives and careers. So, when we talk about workforce and economic development, it’s not just about creating jobs. It’s about creating an environment where people feel financially secure enough to stay, invest, and build their futures here.”
MELODY LOCKWOOD
President and CEO, Livingston Economic Development Council
MELODY LOCKWOOD“The business rankings do matter, whether you put much stock in them or not. Louisiana is moving up, and I think a lot of that is based on policy changes. Companies are looking for predictability and continuity, and that’s something we are finally moving toward as a state. But we still have a long way to go—especially on insurance. We’ve got companies leasing warehouses in other states because they can’t get insurance on vehicles operating here. In some cases, if trucks cross into Louisiana, they’re no longer insured. That’s a huge hindrance to business on all levels. Insurance is also a major factor in workforce retention. People can go elsewhere and pay half or less for insurance, and they’re willing to pay more in property taxes to avoid that burden. For Livingston Parish, eliminating the inventory tax would be a big benefit. We’re not as reliant on it, and we see that as a way to support companies and attract more investment. Right now, we’re seeing organic growth from existing companies, but I’d like to see more new investment coming in, and some of these policy issues are still barriers.”
DAVID CRESSON
President and CEO, Louisiana Chemistry Association and Louisiana Chemistry Industrial Alliance
“A few years ago, Louisiana became one of the first states in the nation to get primacy on Class IV injection wells, then took legislative action to create a framework around permitting and managing those projects. This helped usher in a tremendous amount of investment, which is obviously great for our state, local companies and our communities. But companies need certainty, and misguided attempts to derail recent momentum by moving the regulatory goalposts have given potential investors a reason to pause. While some of these attempts may be derived from genuine concern, it is worth noting that they are completely consistent with the anti-industry NGO agenda. They are also just the tip of the iceberg. If we allow these attempts to succeed, we will set the table for the next obstruction campaign on the next great industrial opportunity for our state. It’s already happening, and industry must pull together to ensure that these anti-industry, anti-Louisiana tactics fail. As for other legislative priorities, workforce development is at the top of the list. As projects are announced in our state, whether they are new projects or expansions to existing operations, we must fill the jobs created by those projects with as many Louisianans and locals as possible. As a state, we must provide a pathway to high-quality, affordable training to anyone who would like it, and provide ways for them to overcome barriers to that training, whatever those may be.”
