Louisiana Economic Development

Louisiana Economic Development is responsible for strengthening the state’s business environment and creating a more vibrant Louisiana economy. From entrepreneurial startups to small business growth and expansion, Louisiana offers a comprehensive array of educational, managerial, and financial programs that cultivate small business opportunities.

Economic Harmony, Opportunity for All

Louisiana Thrives: Strategies for Prosperity

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

LED’s Small Business Services group and the foundation’s Entrepreneurship Team join forces at BRV

Vision: Louisiana consistently outperforms the South and the U.S. in creating jobs and economic opportunities for its citizens.

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LOUISIANA WINS INTERNATIONAL AWARDS FOR SMALL BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AND TALENT DEVELOPMENT

International Economic Development Council honors LED’s Small Business Services team and LED FastStart

NASHVILLE – Louisiana Economic Development won two awards at the 2021 IEDC Annual Conference in Nashville, with the Small Business Services team earning a Gold Award in Entrepreneurship and LED FastStart earning a Silver Award for Talent Development and Retention. The honors were presented to LED Secretary Don Pierson, Assistant Secretary Mandi Mitchell, Undersecretary Anne Villa and the LED Small Business Services team.

IEDC recognized Louisiana for delivering the world’s best economic development programs in the largest population category (500,000 and above). For the Entrepreneurship category, the council singled out the LED Growth Network, which focuses on growth-oriented support for second-stage small businesses in Louisiana. In the Talent Development and Retention category, LED FastStart was recognized for its best-in-class talent recruitment and workforce training services.

Empowering Entrepreneurs, Elevating Louisiana

A Beacon of Business Growth

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)

Companies served by LED have realized impressive growth and economic impact.*

companies

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new FTE jobs

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increase in gross annual revenue

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LED Growth Network*

companies

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generated annual revenue

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FTE jobs.

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LED Strategic Research programming**

companies served

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increased annual gross revenue

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new FTE jobs

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ROI = $10.23 return for every $1 invested by the state

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LED CEO Roundtables***

graduates

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new FTE employees added

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ROI = $8.36 return for every $1 invested by the State of Louisiana

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Christopher Cassagne

Assistant Director, Small Business Services

M 504.715.6091 | T 225.342.5882 | F 225.342.9390

* 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