Vision: Louisiana consistently outperforms the South and the U.S. in creating jobs and economic opportunities for its citizens.
Mission: Cultivate jobs and economic opportunity for the people of Louisiana through nine integrated economic development strategies:
- Cultivate small business, innovation and entrepreneurship
- Strategically improve state economic competitiveness
- Engage with local partners to enhance community competitiveness
- Forge partnerships to enhance regional economic development assets
- Expand and retain in-state businesses
- Execute a strong business recruitment program
- Enhance workforce development solutions
- Promote Louisiana’s robust business advantages
- Attract foreign direct investments and grow international trade
With dedicated and knowledgeable professionals committed to Louisiana’s economic future, LED strives to help businesses find the resources they need to make relocation and expansion a successful, profitable endeavor.

In 2019 LED’s Small Business Services team was honored with the Gold Award for Excellence in Economic Development from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). The IEDC Gold Award recognized Louisiana for delivering the world’s best economic development programs in entrepreneurship within IEDC’s largest population category (greater than 500,000). LED has a particular focus on second-stage companies and offers a suite of business resources and growth opportunities, including but not limited to strategic research, peer-to-peer learning, leadership retreats, recognition events, networking opportunities, incentives, and additional technical assistance, through the LED Growth Network.
Launched in 2017, the LED Growth Network provides a suite of services in order to accelerate the growth of Louisiana’s second-stage companies. The suite is designed to provide timely resources second-stagers need such as strategic research, peer-to-peer learning, leadership development, and mentorship, among others. Read more at Louisiana’s Entrepreneurial Engine (2022)
Louisiana Economic Development
Companies served by LED have realized impressive growth and economic impact.*
357 companies
3,083 new FTE jobs
$671 million increase in gross annual revenue
LED Growth Network*
LED Strategic Research programming**
LED CEO Roundtables***
Data updated in April 2022
* Statistics represent activities conducted between 2017 and 2021, unless otherwise noted.
** Companies are surveyed for three years following the close of their engagement. Read more at LED’s System for Integrated Growth.
***Participants are surveyed one year after graduating from their respective roundtable. Read more at LED’s CEO Roundtables