Award-Winning Economic Development

Louisiana economic development efforts receive national and regional recognition

Once again in 2022, Louisiana was recognized for superior economic development projects as it was honored for job creation, total investments, new construction, industry sector diversity, workforce development excellence and programming for entrepreneurs. The successes are a testament to the state’s workforce strength, business climate, infrastructure and logistics superiority, commitment to energy transition investment, and its powerful collaboration with regional and local economic development partners.

The International Economic Development Council named The Water Campus its top economic development project in the nation in 2022. Opened in 2015, it serves as a hub for public, private, non-profit and academic sectors to collaborate and develop innovative solutions for challenges affecting coastal communities and wetlands. (Credit: The Water Institute of the Gulf)

2022 LED Awards and Honors

• Best Workforce Development and Talent Attraction Program in the U.S.: LED FastStart (13th consecutive year)

• Edward Lowe Foundation Founders Award for the Nation's Best Entrepreneurship Programs

• Silver Shovel Award for Project Performance (11th time in 13 years)

• IEDC Best in Show & Gold Award for Resiliency, Recovery & Mitigation: The Water Campus

• IEDC Gold Award for Special Purpose Website (LED Annual Report)

• IEDC Silver Award for Economic Equity & Inclusion (Rural Revitalization)

• SEDC Communications Awards Best in Class and Special Judges Award for Innovation

• CiCi Award for Community Impact (SafeSource Direct and Louisiana Green Fuels)

• Only state Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO) in U.S.

• LED Secretary Don. Pierson appointed to U.S. Department of Commerce's Investment Advisory Council and named America's Competitiveness Exchange (ACE) Ambassador