Strategically located at the confluence of the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana has become a US leader in foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction and a key destination for British companies in the energy, manufacturing and logistics industries.  Business-friendly policies, an abundance of talent, unique culture, and unrivalled physical assets also make Louisiana an ideal environment for knowledge-intensive industries like advanced manufacturing, alternative energy, software development, digital media, the arts and other creative industries.

Since January 2008, Louisiana Economic Development (LED) has secured major economic development wins that have resulted in 91,000 new jobs and more than $62 billion in new capital investment in Louisiana. In addition to huge planned investments by Sasol and Formosa – some of the largest Foreign Direct Investment projects in US history – Louisiana has also attracted major investments from IBM, Benteler Steel/Tube, Bell Helicopter, BASF and GE Capital.

Companies based in the United Kingdom – including Hunting Energy, Drax Biomass and BP Biofuels – have announced hundreds of millions of dollars in investments in Louisiana since 2008. Over that period, Louisiana has attracted FDI projects totalling more than $30 billion in new investment, ranking Louisiana No.1 in the US on a per capita basis, and No.2 overall.

NO.1 FOR BUSINESS CLIMATE

In fi ve national business climate rankings – Area Development, Business Facilities, Chief Executive, DCI and Site Selection – Louisiana now ranks among the top 10 states in the US. According to a landmark national study published by the Tax Foundation and KPMG, Louisiana offers the lowest state/local tax burden in the US for a new manufacturing operation, and the state boasts some of the lowest natural gas and electricity costs in the nation.

THE NATION’S NO.1 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

Touted by The Economist as “the most notable statewide workforce-development initiative” and ranked No.1 in the US by Business Facilities magazine six years in a row, LED FastStart® provides customised workforce recruitment, screening, and training for eligible new or expanding companies at no cost. FastStart partners with a company’s subject matter experts to analyse and study their processes, then employs innovative methods to recruit talent that meets the company’s specific requirements. FastStart has delivered customised workforce solutions for a number of Fortune 500 companies across multiple industry sectors.

UNRIVALED LOGISTICS ADVANTAGES

Via the Mississippi River, Louisiana provides a gateway to 38 interior states and grants manufacturers easy access to worldwide markets through the Gulf of Mexico. The Louisiana port system is among the largest in the world, with 27 deepwater and shallow-draft ports. The Port of South Louisiana is the largest single port in the Western Hemisphere by tonnage, and the ports of New Orleans, Lake Charles, Greater Baton Rouge and Plaquemines all rank in the top 15. Louisiana is one of only two sites in the US where all six North American Class I railroads converge, providing great capacity and choice. As a result, Louisiana was ranked as the No.1 exporting state in the country, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Enterprising States report.

SITE SELECTION MADE EASY

Louisiana offers hundreds of available sites, mega-sites and buildings, and a site selection database that includes GIS-based geographic suitability analyses, demographic and business data, community profiles and more: www.opportunitylouisiana.com/page/led-certified-sites

More and more businesses are choosing Louisiana. To learn more about Louisiana’s custom-fit solutions for your company, contact our representatives below or visit opportunitylouisiana.com