Certified Sites in Louisiana Save Time and Money

Site certification is part of the economic development portfolio in almost every state. But no state can boast a stronger commitment to shovel-ready business investment — or a more rigorous prequalification process — than Louisiana.

LED Certified Sites have passed an intensive inspection and review that can take six months or longer to complete.

Here’s how it works. A property owner, municipality or parish, local or regional economic development organization, utility, port or other stakeholders approaches LED to recommend a site for certification. After an initial staff review of a site’s readiness for development, LED’s third-party engineering partners conduct a formal preliminary assessment known as an Initial Site Evaluation (ISE).

Upon completion of the ISE, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is entered by all parties and Request for Proposals (RFPs) go out for qualified engineering companies to competitively bid on the required due diligence. Engineering firms inspect the site for compliance and authenticity across a broad spectrum of potential concerns, ranging from evidence of clear title to environmental assessments and geotechnical studies. After all tests and inspections are complete and LED staff ensures that all program criteria are met, official Louisiana Certified Site status is granted.

While other states may favor a more streamlined process, Louisiana’s high bar for certification is an advantage for potential investors. To explore Louisiana's certified sites in detail, drill down on our interactive map.

‍

‍