Fortune USA 201906

(Chris Devlin) #1
Edwards is also pushing for increases in
teacher pay. He believes it can help strength-
en Louisiana’s workforce—and makes good
business sense. “We’re doing everything we
can to equip people with everything neces-
sary to create success,” he says.

Louisiana has a low cost of living, and it offers


a wealth of pleasures to residents and tourists alike,


from the nightlife and restaurants of New Orleans to


the state’s plentiful waterways for boating and fishing,


plantations, wildlife sanctuaries, museums, and casinos.


There are also two professional sports teams—the NFL’s


New Orleans Saints and the NBA’s New Orleans Peli-


cans—but college athletics hardly take a back seat to


the pros in this state.


Louisiana is blessed with all kinds of natural ad-

vantages that help power the economy, as well: fertile
land that produces soybeans, rice, and timber; the
Mississippi River and the state’s proximity to the Gulf of
Mexico that make it an important trade center; and an
abundance of oil and gas that has propelled the state to
national rankings of No. 2 in crude oil production and
refining capacity and No. 4 in natural gas production.
Tying it all together is Louisiana’s infrastructure,
which encompasses six interstate highways, six Class 1
railroads, seven major airports, and 30 seaports—six of
them deepwater—that serve as access points to world
markets for many of the country’s farmers and manufac-
turers.
The Port of South Louisiana is the largest, stretch-
ing 54 miles along the Mississippi River. It’s the largest
tonnage port district in the Western Hemisphere, the
top-ranking grain port in the country, and second in

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“Investing in people through higher education, with perfor-

mance metrics built in and in service of the industry, becomes

a very powerful engine that’s driving success for us here.”

DON PIERSON, SECRETARY, LOUISIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

CITADEL


COMPLE TIONS


Through innovative approaches to design, advanced engineering, and the total transparency
of production – the core mission at Citadel Completions is to be the world’s premier center for
VVIP/VIP aircraft interior completions and MRO services. Louisiana’s business friendly culture
and the incredible infrastructure at Chennault International Airport made Lake Charles the perfect
choice for Citadel to call home. The Citadel team is led by top industry executives who are
committed to growth of the business and support of Louisiana’s strong economy.
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