Earlier this summer, Amedisys confirmed it will open a “satellite office” in either Nashville or New Orleans that will house the majority of the home health care company’s executive team, including CEO Paul Kusserow.
“The company was quick to point out the move is not a relocation of the corporate headquarters—even though it looks suspiciously like one—but is merely an alternate location at which the corporate brain trust will be based,” writes Business Report Editor Stephanie Riegel in her latest column.
Meanwhile, Albemarle also is giving Baton Rouge a hard look, says Riegel.
“Word on the street is that the chemical company’s corporate offices may also soon be leaving,” she writes. “Though a company spokeswoman denies a move is in the offing, she confirms an evaluation process is underway and has been since Albemarle acquired New Jersey-based Rockwood Holdings earlier this year for $6.2 billion.”
Economic development officials would rather we not talk about this, says Riegel.
“It’s much more fun to revel in the chirpy press releases that are issued when a company announces it is investing or expanding here. They are only too eager to crow when companies are coming,” she writes. “They’re far more circumspect when those companies are downsizing or packing up altogether.”
Louisiana Economic Development, which spends our tax dollars by the tens of millions on corporate incentives and marketing firms that attempt to promote the state to a national audience, refuses to discuss either the Albemarle or Amedisys situation with Riegel. The Baton Rouge Area Chamber also declines to talk to her about it.
“But it’s time we talk about this, because for all the many positive economic development stories going on in the area—and there are many—it’s foolhardy to pretend that these big companies aren’t pulling their top brass out of the local market when that is exactly what they’re doing,” Riegel writes. “It’s also important to talk about why.”
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