Powering Louisiana’s Workforce
Louisiana’s nationally acclaimed workforce training program is crucial to developing skilled talent.
Louisiana’s robust infrastructure and skilled workforce drives innovation.
Higher education partnerships sustain Louisiana’s strong advanced manufacturing talent pipeline.
Aviation and aerospace growth is supported by Louisiana’s strategic advantages.
Advantages include superior infrastructure and logistics networks and development-ready sites.
Louisiana plays a pivotal role in shaping the country’s aviation and aerospace industry.
Our legacy continues at Michoud as Boeing manufactures components for NASA’s Artemis mission.
LOUISIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
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Louisiana’s pro-business environment offers a commitment to success through tailored incentives, cost-saving solutions and economic development strategies at the state, regional and local levels. With its infrastructure, workforce and geographic advantages, Louisiana offers boundless opportunities for new, expanding, relocating and startup companies.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
Aerospace, Defense & Security, Oil · Gas · Energy, Maritime
Products & Services
Louisiana Aerospace Industry
Louisiana Economic Development
Louisiana's established advanced manufacturing sector provides unparalleled advantages for aerospace operations. Nationally recognized for its manufacturing talent, the state is making additional strategic investments in higher education programs to enhance skills and expertise. The state offers unparalleled infrastructure and logistics, an abundance of sites and expedited permitting.
Louisiana Aviation and Aerospace
Louisiana Economic Development
Louisiana offers competitive advantages that help aerospace businesses thrive. With NASA, we are developing a 'Louisiana Space Campus' to support prime R&D and corporate facilities for the aerospace and engineering companies that are building the rockets and crew capsules for the next missions to the moon and Mars.
People
Chelsea Dufrene
Louisiana Economic Development
Executive Director, LED FastStart
Mark Lorando
Louisiana Economic Development
PR & COMMUNICATIONS
Marlene Janetos
Louisiana Economic Development
Director of Engagement
Paige Carter
Louisiana Economic Development
Chief Business Development Officer
Rachel Shields
Louisiana Economic Development
Chief Engagement Officer
Robert Abboud
Louisiana Economic Development
Director of Business Development
Shawn Welcome
Louisiana Economic Development
Director of Business Development
Susan Bourgeois
Louisiana Economic Development
Secretary
Other Info
Louisiana Economic Development Investment Resources
Louisiana Economic Development
Louisiana Economic Development’s FastStart program has been recognized as the America’s top workforce development program for 13 consecutive years.
LED FastStart plays a critical role in supplying in-state talent through the development of customized classes for specialized training, such as Haas 5-Axis CNC machining centers and training curriculum at eleven Louisiana Community and Technical College (LCTC) System campuses. Aviation Maintenance Technology Programs offered at various campuses provide the foundation for a pathway to certification as an airframe, powerplant or airframe and powerplant maintenance technician.
LED FastStart plays a critical role in supplying in-state talent through the development of customized classes for specialized training, such as Haas 5-Axis CNC machining centers and training curriculum at eleven Louisiana Community and Technical College (LCTC) System campuses. Aviation Maintenance Technology Programs offered at various campuses provide the foundation for a pathway to certification as an airframe, powerplant or airframe and powerplant maintenance technician.
Louisiana Offers an Unrivaled Logistics Infrastructure
Louisiana Economic Development
The state's available sites and buildings combine with a superior transportation infrastructure, providing access to nearby major markets while benefiting from Louisiana's strategic advantages such as low business taxes, low cost of living and competitive wages.
Louisiana is well situated for both inbound and outbound logistics. The state is home to: Six interstate highways, Six Class 1 railroads, Six deepwater ports, Seven primary airports plus Louisiana is one of only two states in the country where all six of North America's class one railroads converge.
View how Louisiana’s development-ready certified sites intersect with inbound and outbound logistics, view demographic information and more in the Site Selection Center.
Louisiana is well situated for both inbound and outbound logistics. The state is home to: Six interstate highways, Six Class 1 railroads, Six deepwater ports, Seven primary airports plus Louisiana is one of only two states in the country where all six of North America's class one railroads converge.
View how Louisiana’s development-ready certified sites intersect with inbound and outbound logistics, view demographic information and more in the Site Selection Center.
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About
From the early days of America’s space program to today’s cutting-edge aerospace manufacturing, Louisiana has played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s aviation and aerospace industry. The state’s rich history includes NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, where components for the Saturn V rocket that launched Apollo 11 were built. Today, that legacy continues at Michoud as Boeing manufactures components for NASA’s Artemis mission — the most powerful rocket ever built.
The industry landscape in Louisiana includes globally recognized aerospace companies such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Western Global Airlines, all with significant operations in the state. Louisiana is also home to innovative companies like Arrow Aviation and Metro Aviation, both of which were founded locally and have grown into key industry players.
Aviation and aerospace growth is supported by Louisiana’s strategic advantages, which includes superior infrastructure and logistics networks, abundant development-ready sites, expedited permitting processes and some of the most competitive incentive programs in the nation. These benefits are complemented by the state’s nationally award-winning workforce development program, LED FastStart, and partnerships with higher education institutions that sustain Louisiana’s strong advanced manufacturing talent pipeline.
One example of this commitment is the partnership between Louisiana Economic Development, Nunez Community College and industry leaders like Boeing, to develop an aerospace program that prepares students to become aerospace manufacturing technicians.
With a legacy rooted in space exploration and a future defined by innovation, Louisiana’s aviation and aerospace industry is soaring to new heights — fueling opportunity and shaping the next generation of aerospace workers and technology.
The industry landscape in Louisiana includes globally recognized aerospace companies such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Western Global Airlines, all with significant operations in the state. Louisiana is also home to innovative companies like Arrow Aviation and Metro Aviation, both of which were founded locally and have grown into key industry players.
Aviation and aerospace growth is supported by Louisiana’s strategic advantages, which includes superior infrastructure and logistics networks, abundant development-ready sites, expedited permitting processes and some of the most competitive incentive programs in the nation. These benefits are complemented by the state’s nationally award-winning workforce development program, LED FastStart, and partnerships with higher education institutions that sustain Louisiana’s strong advanced manufacturing talent pipeline.
One example of this commitment is the partnership between Louisiana Economic Development, Nunez Community College and industry leaders like Boeing, to develop an aerospace program that prepares students to become aerospace manufacturing technicians.
With a legacy rooted in space exploration and a future defined by innovation, Louisiana’s aviation and aerospace industry is soaring to new heights — fueling opportunity and shaping the next generation of aerospace workers and technology.
