Empowering Louisiana's Economic Developers

Welcome to LEADing Louisiana,

the quarterly newsletter of the Louisiana Economic Alliance for Development,

where insight drives action, impact fuels progress, and innovation shapes the future of economic development in Louisiana.

What's Included in this Edition:

From the Helm: Messages from LEAD's leadership

Connect & Collaborate: Where Louisiana's economic leaders come together

Power Up: Opportunities to learn, grow, and lead

LEADing Policy & Advocacy: Insight on policies that are shaping Louisiana's future

Inside LED: Strategy, Innovation, & Impact: A look at what LED is focused on

LEADers Making an Impact: Recognizing the professionals & projects shaping the future

Maximizing Your Membership: Get the most out of your LEAD membership.

From the Helm

Messages from LEAD's Leadership

A Message from Stacy Romero,

Executive Director

As we move into the second quarter of 2026, I want to take a moment to reflect on the strong start LEAD has had this year and thank each of you for your continued support and engagement.

During the first quarter, our focus was on strengthening the foundation for the year ahead. Members across Louisiana renewed their LEAD memberships, several new members joined our network, and we welcomed new partners through the LEADer’s Circle and event-specific sponsorships. In February,

we also successfully hosted the Basic Economic Development Course in New Orleans, bringing together practitioners from Louisiana and other states for several days of intensive professional development. At the same time, we began planning a full calendar of programs that will take place across nearly every region of the state, creating new opportunities for economic development professionals to connect and collaborate.

We closed the quarter in Baton Rouge with our annual LEAD Day at the Capitol, where nearly 100 economic development professionals representing every corner of the state came together to engage directly with legislators and state leaders. Participants had the opportunity to hear firsthand about policy priorities, observe the legislative process in action, and strengthen the relationships that support Louisiana’s economic growth.

It has been a strong start to the year, and there is much more ahead!

As we move through the remainder of 2026, members can expect continued opportunities to connect, learn, and collaborate through regional events, professional development programming, and statewide convenings designed to strengthen Louisiana’s economic development network.

Thank you for being part of LEAD’s continued momentum and mission. I look forward to seeing many of you in the months ahead as we continue working together to support economic growth and opportunity across Louisiana.

With gratitude,

Stacy Romero

Executive Director, LEAD

stacyr@louisianalead.org | (337) 962-7991

A Message from Mandi Mitchell,

Board President

As we move further into 2026, I’m encouraged by the growing alignment across Louisiana’s economic development community around a shared goal: strengthening our state’s competitiveness through collaboration, networking and sharing best practices.

This legislative session presents an important opportunity to advance policies that support site readiness, infrastructure development, and growth in key sectors such as energy, logistics, advanced manufacturing, technology, and aerospace.

These efforts reflect a broader recognition that economic development today requires both long-term vision and coordinated action across local, regional, and state partners.

LEAD continues to play an essential role in that work by elevating the voice of practitioners, supporting professional development, and strengthening connections among those working every day to create opportunity in their communities. Our recent Day at the Legislature was a strong example of what’s possible when economic developers from across Louisiana come together with a unified message about the importance of competitiveness and job creation.

Please stay tuned for our next professional development offerings and our Annual Summit!

Thank you for the work you do across the state. I look forward to continuing our progress together!

Mandi D. Mitchell

2026 LEAD Board President

President & CEO – Lafayette Economic Development Authority

mandi@lafayette.org

Meet the Team Behind the Mission

We're grateful to the dedicated economic development professionals who are committed to guiding LEAD forward into the future. Click here to get to know our board members and learn about the experience they bring to the organization.

Connect & Collaborate

Where Louisiana's economic leaders come together

2026 LEAD Day at the Capitol

On March 31, nearly 100 economic development professionals, partners, and policymakers came together in Baton Rouge for LEAD’s annual Day at the Capitol, a day centered on engagement, learning, and advocacy, and a strong reflection of what a unified voice can accomplish for our industry.

Attendees heard from Senator Mizell, Representative Bourriaque, Chief of Staff Julie Emerson, Secretary Schowen, Deputy Secretary Padilla, and Anne Villa and Paige Carter of LED, observed committee meetings, and connected with peers and policymakers to discuss issues shaping Louisiana’s economic future.

Events like Day at the Capitol reflect LEAD’s role as a statewide convener for economic development professionals, providing opportunities to stay informed, strengthen relationships, and elevate the voice of practitioners during the legislative session.

We thank everyone who attended and extend special appreciation to our sponsors, including our LEADer’s Circle Sponsors, as well as our Day at the Capitol sponsors Build Baton Rouge, COLAB, and DEMCO, whose support made this event possible.

Power Up

Professional development opportunities to learn, grow, and lead

LEAD is proud to have hosted another successful IEDC-Accredited Basic Economic Development Course, held in February 2026 in New Orleans!

Over four days, 32 attendees representing 18 organizations came together to strengthen their knowledge, share perspectives, and build meaningful connections. With guidance from 13 expert speakers, participants engaged in in-depth discussions on the core principles and evolving practices shaping economic development today.

What made this course especially impactful was the collaboration across experience levels, organizations, and communities creating an environment where ideas were challenged, refined, and elevated.

A sincere thank you to our professional development sponsor, Louisiana Economic Development, for their continued support in helping us invest in the growth of economic development professionals across the state.

UP NEXT:

Ready to take your strategic planning to the next level?

Join us for a dynamic 1 1/2-day course designed specifically for economic developers who want to move from ideas to action. You’ll gain practical tools, fresh insights, and a clear framework to build or refine a strategy that drives real results in your community.

Whether you're updating an existing plan or starting from scratch, this workshop will help you think strategically, prioritize effectively, and lead with confidence.

Click here for course details and registration information.

LEADing Policy & Advocacy

Insight on policies that are shaping Louisiana's future

LEAD has released its 2026 State Legislative Policy Priorities. On behalf of its membership, LEAD is actively tracking and monitoring legislation across key focus areas that align with and support LED's broader priorities, including workforce development, economic competitiveness, and statewide economic growth. Priority areas of engagement include:

Workforce development and education,
Infrastructure,
Tax competitiveness,
Energy Industry,
Insurance market stabilization,
Coastal issues, and
Local community development/redevelopment.

In addition to these priority areas, LEAD is monitoring a range of other legislation that may impact economic development efforts across Louisiana.

You are encouraged to review LEAD’s 2026 State Legislative Policy Priorities Overview and Bill Tracker by clicking here and engage with us throughout the session as we work together to advance policies that support economic growth across Louisiana.

Contact Mandi Mitchell, LEAD Board President and Policy & Advocacy Committee Chair, by email at mandi@lafayette.org for additional information.

Inside LED

Updates on Strategy, Innovation & Impact

Louisiana Storyteller Initiative

Louisiana’s momentum continues to build across every region, with record investment, job creation and nationally competitive wins shaping the state’s future. As Louisiana continues to deliver results, telling that story clearly and confidently matters.

That’s why Louisiana Economic Development launched the Louisiana Storyteller Initiative, a coordinated effort to share the Louisiana NOW story with clarity, consistency and reach.

This initiative is designed to equip our partners with the information, messaging and resources needed to confidently communicate what is happening across Louisiana’s economy. It brings together the stories, data and examples that demonstrate how growth is taking shape across every region and ensures those stories are being told in a unified way.

By signing up as a Louisiana Storyteller, you join a network of partners who are helping carry this message forward. Storytellers receive curated talking points, timely updates, data and ready-to-use content to support outreach, presentations and social media making it easier to consistently communicate Louisiana’s progress and opportunity.

We invite you to be part of this effort. If there are leaders in your area with stories of growth, expansion or innovation, please share this with them so they can be included and amplified as part of the broader Louisiana NOW narrative.

LED has also introduced a new text-to-tip line, offering a simple and direct way to share ideas, questions and potential opportunities as they arise. To connect, text LEDTIP to 225-230-1818.

Add your voice. Share your perspective. Help tell the story of Louisiana NOW.

Become a Louisiana Storyteller: https://louisiananow.biz/storyteller-sign-up/

LEADers Making an Impact

Recognizing the professionals and projects shaping the future

Across the state, Louisiana continues to build remarkable momentum in economic development, with wins that are reshaping how we compete on a national and global stage. From record-breaking capital investment and job creation to transformative projects in advanced manufacturing, energy innovation, and technology, Louisiana is proving that strategic alignment and strong partnerships deliver results.

In 2025 alone, Louisiana saw more than $61 billion in capital investment and over 9,500 new jobs, marking the strongest year of growth in state history. Even more impressively, the state earned back-to-back national “Deal of the Year” honors, signaling that Louisiana is not just competing but leading when it comes to landing major, high-impact projects.

This momentum continues into 2026, with historic investments in site readiness, a growing pipeline of transformative projects, and a renewed focus on workforce, innovation, and long-term competitiveness. Louisiana Economic Development has now supported dozens of major project wins representing tens of billions in investment and thousands of jobs, reinforcing the state’s position as a destination for business growth.

Click here to explore the full list of project wins and see how Louisiana is building a stronger future.

Maximizing Your Membership

Get the most our of your LEAD membership.

Attention current LEAD members! Take a moment to log in to the LEAD Info Hub to ensure your member profile is up to date. Keeping your contact details and organization information current helps us communicate important updates, share opportunities, and better connect you with fellow members across Louisiana. Click here to log in and reach out to info@louisianalead.org if you need assistance.

Not a LEAD member yet? Now’s the perfect time to join! You’ll get access to professional development, statewide networking, and resources that keep you connected to Louisiana’s economic development community. Click here to join LEAD now.

Partner with LEAD. Elevate Your Organization.

LEAD proudly recognizes our 2026 LEADer’s Circle Sponsors, whose support plays a critical role in advancing the organization’s mission and strengthening economic development across Louisiana. Their investment helps expand LEAD’s reach, support high-quality professional development, and foster meaningful connections among practitioners and partners throughout the state.

As the year continues, LEAD welcomes additional partners who are interested in supporting our work. Sponsorship opportunities are available at multiple levels and help support LEAD’s statewide events, programs, and ongoing initiatives.

To learn more about available opportunities, click here to view the 2026 Sponsorship Menu, or contact Stacy Romero by phone at (337) 962-7991 or email at stacyr@louisianalead.org to discuss how your organization can get involved.

Engage. LEAD. Make an impact.

Was this newsletter forwarded to you?

Connect with our LEADership | Message the Executive Director

Visit LEAD on Facebook and LinkedIn