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Louisiana’s economic development push is moving at “lightning speed”—but not everyone is celebrating, Louisiana Illuminator writes.
At a rarely attended state agency rules hearing this week, residents and community advocates from across the state accused Louisiana Economic Development of pursuing major industrial projects behind closed doors, locking communities out of decisions that reshape their neighborhoods. They say secretive nondisclosure agreements have kept the public in the dark on deals tied to megaprojects from Meta, Hyundai and CF Industries—even as affected residents report polluted water, power disruptions and worsening health risks in areas long burdened by industrial growth.
State leaders defend the approach as necessary to land high-wage jobs and stop outmigration. But critics counter that the promised economic gains rarely reach the people living closest to these facilities who are bearing the brunt of disruption.
