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What do you see as Baton Rouge’s greatest assets – biggest differentiators – in attracting investment and talent?
“The petrochemical industry is a cornerstone of our state, and one of the Capital Region’s extraordinary assets. We are the number one direct manufacturing employer in Louisiana, with 35,000 or more employees and tens of thousands of contractors, plus an untold number of indirect jobs related to the industry. Much of that is thanks to our location along the Mississippi River and our abundant supply of natural resources, unparalleled by any other state in the nation. Our decades of industrial expertise and skilled workforce have enabled our state to establish a viable and prosperous industry founded on good chemistry. We have become a national leader in energy production. supporting high-paying jobs, strengthening local economies, and creating investments that benefit our communities.”
Are there assets the Capital Region needs to leverage more effectively?
“Of Louisiana’s many assets, the one piece we’re failing to leverage is our young people. We’ve got LSU, Southern and BRCC, and we’ve got some of the best engineering schools, law schools, and medical resources in the state. We want to set our kids up for success, and with the wave of new projects coming to Louisiana, we have the means to do so. Meta, Hyundai Steel, CF Industries, Venture Global, just to name a few—these are high-impact jobs coming over the next few years. Kids who are in middle school and high school now are going to be working those jobs. We need to start preparing them, especially for jobs in the trades. If we don’t, we’re failing. If Louisiana has to bring workers in from Texas or Mississippi to fill these positions, we’re missing a major opportunity for our own kids.”
What challenges must the Capital Region overcome to meet the workforce needs of the future economy?
“Every company I’ve visited across the state has raised workforce as a top challenge—not just for future expansion, but for current day-to-day operations. There are many good efforts underway, but the issue is coordination. We’re going to need tens of thousands of construction workers to build the projects coming to Louisiana. If we pull that workforce from other states, that’s a missed opportunity for our communities. We also need to move past the stigma that success only comes from a four-year degree. Trade careers offer excellent pay, benefits, and long-term stability. Coordinating these efforts now will pay dividends for decades.”
Baton Rouge residents are notoriously self-critical about their own city. Why is that, and how do we fix it?
“In the mid-1980s, the term ‘Cancer Alley’ emerged through a national special-interest PR campaign. It was debunked in the early 1990s by health experts, but the label persists today, despite data that shows cancer incidence rates are actually 5.5% lower and life expectancy a full year higher in the industrial corridor than in parishes outside the corridor. Many factors contribute to health outcomes in Louisiana, including lifestyle and socioeconomic factors. Good jobs and educational opportunities reduce financial barriers to healthcare and other vital resources. Sustaining these opportunities must remain a priority in our region and our state. That is what makes the continued use of this insidious term so harmful. It influences how Louisiana is perceived nationally, and how we perceive ourselves. It undermines confidence and civic pride, and stifles growth and investment. It drives talented people from our state and sends business to our neighbors. We must change this perception, and we all have a role to play.”
Get out your crystal balls. What is your five-year outlook for your organization and the Capital Region?
“With all the investment that’s been announced, we have every reason to be optimistic. Louisiana needs to get out of its own way and embrace new technology, embrace change. We have the opportunity to lead in innovative approaches to oil and gas and chemical manufacturing through carbon capture, blue hydrogen, nuclear and other emerging technologies. Everything is lined up for us to be a national leader. We just have to be prepared to take the ball and run.”
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