Autos and aerospace among newest targets for LED

Louisiana stands to benefit in “a major way” from an anticipated trend of so-called re-shoring of manufacturing from China, LED Secretary Stephen Moret says. While Louisiana has long been a center for petrochemical plants and oil refineries, the state has lagged in durable goods manufacturing. But as costs in China rise and some multinational companies start to look at the United States again, Louisiana is well-positioned to land some of those projects, Moret says. Automotive and aircraft manufacturing, and suppliers to those industries, are among the leading target sectors. “Any [durable goods] company that we attract and help ramp up helps make us more attractive to other companies, whether or not they’re in the same industry space,” Moret says. LED’s FastStart worker training program, which helps attract and develop workers for new projects, is working with the Louisiana Community and Technical College System to launch C4M, or “Certified for Manufacturing.” Officials hope C4M will create “a pipeline of manufacturing-ready workers,” Moret says. —David Jacobs