Southwest Louisiana: A Region of Opportunity + Resilience by Baton Rouge Business Report

SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA

A REGION OF OPPORTUNITY + RESILIENCE “The people of SWLA, driven by resilience and determination, are creating opportunities for future growth.”

“Facilities can blow away, pandemics can force us to adapt in major ways, but the spirit of community doesn’t waiver.” —SOWELA Chancellor Neil Aspinwall

—George Swift, Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance

“The Port of Lake Charles continues to fuel, feed and build the world as we drive the Southwest Louisiana economy.” —Port of Lake Charles Director Richart Self

“We are excited to return to operations in Lake Charles in fall 2022 with an all-new resort experience, introducing our iconic Horseshoe brand.” —Caesars Entertainment CEO Tom Reeg

“Our community is a place where business needs and goals can be met. It is a place where you can grow and prosper.” —DeRidder Mayor Misty Clanton

Industries and shippers worldwide rely on the Port of Lake Charles. When shippers around the globe move specialty cargoes that require precise, large-scale handling, they rely on the Port of Lake Charles and the Calcasieu Ship Channel, recognized as “America’s Energy Corridor.” Our capacity and efficiency have long made the Port of Lake Charles the choice for cargoes of all weights, dimensions and handling requirements. Make us your choice, too. Put our 21st-century capabilities to work for you. Tell us your needs and we’ll show you how.

R T OF

E C ARL H

PORTOF LAKE CHARLES LAKE CHARLES HARBOR & TERMINAL DISTRICT

Learn more: marketing@portlc.com or 337-493-3567

portlc.com

NUMBERS TELL THE SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA STORY. With a thriving manufacturing and export industry, a growing population, plentiful career opportunities and a favorable cost of living, this region attracts billions of dollars in economic investment.

$44 billion

Value of completed economic development projects over the last decade

$75 billion+ Economic development projects announced or under construction

11%

▸

Lake Charles MSA population growth over the past 10 years

40%+

Amount of real gross domestic product over the past 10 years, making it the fastest-growing market in Louisiana

28%

Percent growth in taxable sales collections in the most recent fiscal year

Lake Charles has the highest share of output from manufacturing compared to any other area in the state, at almost

50%

More than half of U.S. LNG exports come from this region.

RAPID RECOVERY This region is making a remarkable comeback from the pandemic and a series of storms, including two hurricanes.

Number of operational entities at the 2,000-acre Lake Charles Regional Airport facility

Job openings in the region are up more than 60% since the pandemic. Employment has recovered above pre-Laura levels. Taxable sales of building materials are up 66%.

The Lake Charles MSA has the lowest cost of living in the state. It’s more than

$80,000+ The Lake Charles MSA per capita output—the highest in Louisiana

65+ The number of air operations Chennault International Airport handles each day

12 Number of certified sites in Southwest Louisiana, with another three sites still pending certification. The number of certified sites in the region nearly doubled from 2017 to 2020. Two of the pending sites will add more than 1,000 acres of “development ready” property.

5 million Cargo tonnage loaded and unloaded at the Port of Lake Charles each year

14% below the national average.

No. 11 Where the Lake Charles Port, Harbor, and Terminal District ranks nationwide among busiest districts, based on tonnage

$5.7 billion What the Calcasieu River Ship Channel generates in GDP, in addition to $118.8 million in local sales and property taxes

The unemployment rate— the highest in the state after Hurricane Laura at 12.6%—has fallen more than 6 percentage points. Gaming revenues are 8% higher than pre-pandemic levels, despite closure of one establishment. Exports are up more than 50% above pre-pandemic levels.

$732 million

Amount of money the Lake Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau added to the economy of Calcasieu Parish through travel expenditures

SOURCES: Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance, Lake Charles Convention & Visitors Bureau, Port of Lake Charles, Louisiana Workforce Commission, Calcasieu Parish School Board, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, C2ER, Energy Information Administration, U.S Census, U.S. Decennial Census, Louisiana Gaming Control Board

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48,000 SF One-Stop-Shop Training Multiplex

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT STARTS HERE DESPITE MASSIVE CHALLENGES this area has endured in

facility is designed to institute state-of-the-art technology within

2020 and 2021, our region is on the rebound and our residents

its learning centers. Partnerships with higher learning are being

are ready to get back to work. Much of those remaining require

forged now as part of planning for future needs.

workforce skills training to qualify for readily available high

ment, maximizing efficiencies around workforce readiness pro-

paying jobs.

SARITA SCHEUFENS Chief Executive Officer

“We are in the business of putting people to work and call on other organizations to partner with us in making that happen.”

The multiplex design focuses on building workforce develop-

To achieve long-term economic success, we must create,

grams and initiatives that lower the cost of onboarding employ-

attract, and retain an educated and skilled workforce. From es-

ees while expediting the process. Implementing technology that

sential onboarding requirements, background checks, workforce

focuses on adult learning is also part of the Safety Councils core

readiness training and customized badge security systems, the

operations. The Safety Council invests between 10-20% of its

Safety Council of Southwest Louisiana (Safety Council) is com-

gross revenue into upgrading technology as workforce training

mitted to meeting the safety and training needs of our members

evolves. Another aspect of the facility is that it is designed to

and the community we serve. The Safety Council is the catalyst

withstand category 4 weather conditions, acting as a safe haven

for workers connecting with employers needs, and its mission is

for emergency operations during and after storms.

to support, develop, and enrich all forms of workforce readiness

The Safety Councils core values present a major opportunity

as a way of making the workplace a more secure environment.

that will eliminate barriers currently hindering the Southwest

The Safety Council is expanding operations to meet employ-

Louisiana Community, while improving the safety and surety

ers’ needs for a more skilled and adaptable workforce, combined

of our citizens. The CEO of the Safety Council, Sarita Scheufens

with workers desire for economic and career advancement. This

tells us, “Successful business development initiatives are based

new facility is a 48,500 square foot one-stop-shop multiplex to

on being able to adapt to circumstances and the Safety Council

be located on the corner of Cities Service Highway and Highway

specializes in bridging problems with solutions. We are in the

90 in Sulphur. The site is in the heart of Southwest Louisiana’s

business of putting people to work and call on other organiza-

Industrial Base with 19 of 25 Na-

tions to partner with us in making that happen.”

tional and International Industrial

The Safety Council of Southwest Louisiana is a non-profit

Facilities within a 5-mile radius - a

501(c) 3 organization dedicated to cost-effective services for our

landmark for Southwest Louisiana

local community, industrial and business sectors. We have served

employment, development, and

the Southwest Louisiana area since 1955. The Safety Council has

employee onboarding.

expanded over the years to become a comprehensive education-

This project will provide new

al and training resource for our community. This region’s culture

and enhanced resources for work-

of economic growth will continue as we promote Southwest

force development through shared

Louisiana as a place to live and work.

ideas with Industry and Contractors. The core of the multiplex

1201 RYAN STREET | LAKE CHARLES, LA | 337.436.3354 | SAFETYSWLA.ORG

RECOV ER Y

A RESILIENT COMMUNITY

In the span of one year, Southwest Louisiana experienced five declared disasters. The collaborative response: strength and recovery.

outhwest Louisiana experienced two hurricanes in 2020. Hurricane Laura struck on August 27, 2021 followed by Delta on October 9, 2021. Laura—which made landfall in Cameron Parish as a Category 4 storm—caused $19 billion in damages. According to the National Weather service, Laura was the strongest hurricane to strike Southwest Louisiana since records began in 1851. Delta made landfall in Cameron Parish as a Category 2 storm 12 miles east of where Laura entered the state. When it blew itself out, $2.9 billion in damages were recorded. Since that time, residents and businesses in Southwest Louisiana (which consists of Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jeff Davis) have lived every day with one thought in mind. Southwest Louisiana Strong! This statement symbolizes the spirit of the people who descend from European and American settlers who started businesses in a section of Louisiana’s No-Man’s Land in the 1800s, and then developed into one of the nation’s leaders in petrochemical, liquefied natural gas, hospitality, agriculture and aviation in the 1900s. Today, even with the impacts of COVID-19, and a freeze and historic

flooding in 2021, Southwest Louisiana is recovering. Growth is observed in increased sales taxes and fees for construction projects in both the residential and commercial real estate sectors. Master-planned living areas like MorganField in Lake Charles are experiencing new homes being built, which are near a new City of Lake Charles Golf Course. Other indicators of progress in the region are major industrial projects. For instance, in DeQuincy Interfor Corporation announced plans to invest $8 million to revive an idled saw mill. This project will create 170 direct new jobs with average salaries of $62,000. Canfor, a Canadian-based

producer of lumber, pulp and paper, publicized plans for a $160 million lumber mill in the DeRidder area that will create 130 direct jobs at an annual salary of $59,921. Another important industrial project announced following the storms occurred compliments of KIK Consumer Products at its BioLab facility in Westlake. The company is going to build a new $170 million chlorine manufacturing plant to replace the one damaged by Laura. When completed, 82 direct jobs with annual salaries at $76,000 will be created. The region’s airports are back online after temporary stoppage due to hurricane damage. A new clubhouse rises at the National Golf Course in Westlake.

Lake Charles Regional Airport carriers American and United Airlines are providing services to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Houston Intercontinental Airport. Airport officials recently obtained $2.25 million from the Federal Aviation Administration for rehabilitation work on the runway. Chennault International Airport tenants are open for business, including Northrop Grumman, Citadel Completions, Million Air, Landlocked Aviation Services and Louisiana Millwork.

HIGHER EDUCATION: ‘FLEXIBLE + PASSIONATE’

Southwest Louisian’s higher education institution McNeese State University and SOWELA Technical Community College are open and building stronger facilities while expanding. Over the past year, our region’s educational systems have shown that they are flexible, passionate, and quick to process and address the needs of their students. The hospitality industry is expanding with the complete overhaul of the former Isle of Capri Riverboat Casino in Westlake which is now owned by Eldorado Resorts. Company officials plan to invest $113 million for a landbased casino. Retail in Southwest Louisiana is getting stronger with Buffalo Wild Wings building a new stand-alone restaurant; construction of a new Arby’s, Hobby Lobby, along with new locally owned retail establishments. Times are difficult, but the people of Southwest Louisian are showing they cannot be held back because they are proud and strong! 7

Committed to

SWLA

“Sasol is proud to be a partner in Port Wonder STEM children’s museum public-private collaboration – one that will be an exciting addition to Southwest Louisiana – a place our employees call home, a place Sasol calls home and hopes to do so for a long time.” Brad Griffith, Executive Vice President of Sasol’s global chemicals business

GROW T H & OP P OR T UNI T Y

AN ENERGY AND MANUFACTURING HUB Business growth and innovation are thriving in Southwest Louisiana.

ith two operational LNG export facilities, Cheniere Energy and Cameron LNG, the third under construction, Venture Global Calcasieu Pass LNG, and seven more in various planning and permitting stages, Southwest Louisiana is the largest hub of LNG exports for the western hemisphere. LNG cargoes leave Southwest Louisiana daily for ports around the globe. The global demand for LNG is projected to outpace the supply by 2023, which enhances the likelihood of more of the planned LNG export facilities making final investment decisions and going into construction. LNG exports account for more than 800 current permanent direct jobs, and potentially could add another 1,200 permanent direct jobs. Southwest Louisiana offers an abundant supply of affordable natural gas spawning new advanced manufacturing facilities for a variety

of ethane-based products. Recent investments include the $12.6 billion Sasol/LyondellBassell joint venture project of an ethane cracker and seven derivative plants, the $3.1 billion Lotte Chemical Complex producing ethylene and methyl ethyl glycol (MEG), and the refurbishment

Readying the workforce The Safety Council is a comprehensive educational and training resource for business and industry in Southwest Louisiana. Founded in 1955, the nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization is dedicated to providing cost-effective services for our local community, industrial and business sectors. To achieve long-term economic success, Southwest Louisiana must create, attract, and retain an educated and skilled workforce. From essential onboarding requirements, background checks, workforce readiness training and customized badge security systems, the Safety Council of Southwest Louisiana is committed to meeting the safety and training needs of members and the community it serves. The Safety Council is the catalyst for workers connecting with employers’ needs, and its mission is to support, develop, and enrich all forms of workforce readiness as a way of making the workplace a more secure environment.

of a mothballed ethane cracker by Indorama Ventures have created more than 1,300 advanced manufacturing jobs in the petrochemical sector of the regional economy. Northrop Grumman, located at Chennault International Airport, specializes in maintenance and repair

of military aircraft. Using computer numeric mills and lathes, combined with the versatility of three-dimensional printing, Northrop Grumman produces and installs thousands of custom manufactured parts that restore the reliability and longevity of the military’s aging aircraft fleet. These military contracts employ over 500 high skilled manufacturing technicians. The 200-year-old forestry industry of Southwest Louisiana is seeing new investments. Canfor announced the construction of a new “state of the art” dimensional lumber sawmill in DeRidder. This mill will provide 160 quality jobs when fully operational in 2023. Interfor has purchased the former Georgia Pacific Sawmill in DeQuincy. The company is currently renovating the shuttered mill and plans to start production of dimensional lumber in early 2022. This will bring 170 quality jobs back to the community.

SAFETY COUNCIL SUCCESSES

3 locations 15,000+

courses provided through partnerships

1,120

courses developed

400+

active contractors on a centralized database for industry owners

employees

629

average people per day trained

$25,878,720

saved annually by petrochemical industry

GROW T H & OP P OR T UNI T Y

SASOL:

One of the largest foreign direct investments in U.S. history

n 2014, Sasol began construction of a new, seven-facility ethane cracker and derivatives complex adjacent to its existing facility near Westlake. Commissioning was completed in late 2020, and the $12.9 billion investment remains one of the largest foreign direct investments in U.S. history. The Lake Charles Chemical

Complex manufactures products used in cleaning and personal care markets to manufacture ingredients for soaps, detergents, shampoos and cosmetics. Sasol’s specialty chemicals are also used in mild abrasives, thickeners and pharmaceuticals, as well as in the enhanced oil recovery markets. Globally, Sasol employs more than 30,000 people in more than 30 countries. In North America, Sasol

has operations in Arizona, Louisiana, Texas and Pennsylvania. The Lake Charles Chemical Complex, which includes Sasol’s joint venture with LyondellBasell, supports more than 2,000 employees and contractors annually—the majority of whom live in Calcasieu Parish. Sasol recognizes the importance of a sustainable, thriving community. Through established partnerships

with community leaders and local officials, Sasol incorporated local input into the development of its corporate social investment programs. Over the last several years, Sasol has contributed more than $7 million to meaningful community projects focused on local STEM education and small business development. These programs have impacted more than 1,000 local residents.

A new home base for Acadian Ambulance In 2021, Acadian Ambulance invested $1.9 million in a new Southwest Louisiana Operations Center in Lake Charles. The 18,000-square-foot facility will serve as the administrative and fleet center for Acadian’s Southwest Louisiana operations. It also includes an ambulance crew station, offices for Acadian Total Security and classrooms for the Lake Charles campus

of Acadian’s National EMS Academy. Acadian’s Southwest Louisiana footprint, which serves Calcasieu, Jeff Davis, Acadia, Beauregard and Allen Parishes, includes 246 employee-owners with an annual payroll of approximately $12.2 million. Says Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter: “Acadian’s facility will serve as a catalyst for further development and investment along this corridor.”

Opportunities land at Chennault. There’s always work in progress inside the big hangars at Chennault International Airport in Lake Charles. The industry-leading companies that do business at Chennault—Northrop Grumman, Citadel Completions, Landlocked Aviation Services and Louisiana Millwork—keep the airport buzzing with aerospace services and manufacturing activity. Current construction includes a 10,000-square-foot warehouse to introduce air cargo operations. Chennault offers miles of runway and acres of opportunities for businesses planning for growth and success in Louisiana. Could your company land at Chennault?

For information, contact Chennault Executive Director Kevin Melton directly at 337-491-9961 or ciaa@chennault.org

Chennault’s 2-mile-long runway can handle any aircraft in the world.

www.chennault.org

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A S SE T S + INFR A S T RUC T URE

THE BIG FIVE

From an international airport to a deep-draft ship channel, Southwest Louisiana has much to offer. Here’s a look at five of its most critical assets.

12 CERTIFIED SITES

Southwest Louisiana is now home to a dozen certified sites of varying sizes―the most recent addition being at the West Calcasieu Port in Sulphur. The 32-acre shovel-ready location is along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway just west of the Ellender Bridge. With a variety of potential uses―laydown yard for intermodal transportation, fabrication―it’s estimated that single site could draw as many as 300 to 400 jobs. LED Certified Sites program qualifies industrial sites based on zoning restrictions, title work, environmental studies, soil analysis and surveys. These sites are 180day development ready and have substantial due diligence studies performed to receive certification.

CHENNAULT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Chennault International Airport in Lake Charles is an emerging national hub for aerospace and other business such as manufacturing. Its two-milelong runway and sizeable aircraft parking and operations are among the largest in the state, capable of handling every aircraft flying in the world today.

Chennault is a complex for aircraft maintenance, renovation, and overhaul. The work is done on military, corporate and private aircraft. Onsite tenant partners such as Northrop Grumman, Citadel Completions, Landlocked Aviation, Million Air and Louisiana Millwork employ some 1,500 people, with annual payroll of an estimated $80 million and $300 million in annual economic impact. At the same time, Chennault is a working airport. The dimensions make it a favorite for charter flights, private aviation of all kinds, military practice and even Air Force One. Chennault sees more than 3,000 operations each month, including takeoffs, landings and “touchand-go” operations. Chennault contributes $300 million to the Southwest Louisiana economy each year. It boasts more than three decades of service to military, aircraft and non-aviation customers alike. Chennault Executive Director Col. W. Kevin Melton (Ret.) and Board President Denise Rau broke ground this summer on a $4 million facility to build a 10,000-squarefoot air cargo warehouse — the first step in entering the air cargo sector. Also in the works is a Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries complex that is expected to open next summer. Additionally, the Louisiana National Guard is finalizing its design of the $24 million readiness center; groundbreaking should take place by year’s end.

THE PORT OF LAKE CHARLES

The Port of Lake Charles is a global connection for industrial, energy and agricultural products as well as breakbulk and specialty cargoes of all shapes and sizes. It’s the 11th-busiest port district in the nation, according to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers tonnage statistics.

The Port of Lake Charles is accessible 30 miles inland via the Calcasieu Ship Channel. It anchors “America’s Energy Corridor,” serving the petrochemical, LNG and wind-power industries. The Port’s cargo facilities are the centerpiece of a 5,400-acre site. The property is largely anchored on and around the Calcasieu Ship Channel, which is regularly dredged to handle the most demanding shipping requirements. The port’s on-site rail service and near-immediate interstate highway access also keep cargo coming and going smoothly.

CALCASIEU SHIP CHANNEL

The Calcasieu Ship Channel has become an important economic driver in Lake Charles and in the Southwest Louisiana region. The channel is a 68-mile long, deep-draft commercial waterway that extends from Lake Charles into the Gulf of Mexico. Deep-draft ship traffic is forecasted to more than double by 2025, growing from 1,098 to over 2,342 vessels. The 15-year horizon of a recent study projects 2,607 deep-draft vessels annually in 2033. The Calcasieu Ship Channel handles 56 tons of cargo annually and carries 7.5% of the nation’s daily oil consumption. It is home to the nation’s sixth-largest refinery and two of its largest liquefied natural gas facilities. It also holds a complex of energy pipelines and the Henry Hub, a major natural gas hub for the U.S.

EDUCATION + WORKFORCE TRAINING

Cargo is the Port of Lake Charles’ core business. Breakbulk and project cargoes are handled with skill, safety, and efficiency. One example is the huge, precision-crafted blades used for wind turbines. The Port has handled more than 1,500 such blades, illustrating the trust placed in the port by the world’s shippers. It also handles the tower segments that hold the blades aloft. Other cargoes include specialty goods of all weights and dimensions — ranging from lumber, to transformers, to barite. The port also leases property to two casinos and numerous industrial concerns. Executive Director Richert L. Self, appointed in 2020, leads a new-look leadership team whose initiatives include shore power, modernized warehousing and increased exports of rough and milled rice to foreign markets.

When it comes to workforce training, Southwest Louisiana ranks No. 1. For the third year in a row, WalletHub in 2021 named SOWELA Technical Community College the best community college in Louisiana and No. 27 among nearly 700 community colleges throughout the nation. The college offers more than 30 technical and academic programs, including Aviation Maintenance Technology, Industrial Electrical Technology, Welding, Vehicle Maintenance Technology, Forest Technology, Sterile Processing and Practical Nursing. This year, the campus is seeing triple-digit increases in some program enrollments, including machine tool technology and digital arts and communications. McNeese State University is a 1,560-acre campus that U.S. News & World Report has named one of the best regional universities in the South, and its online bachelor’s and master’s degrees are among the Top 50 nationally that combine quality and affordability. 13

CAJUNS, COWBOYS

and a LIFE SURROUNDED by FAMILY and FRIENDS Southwest Louisiana is a culture like no other.

outhwest Louisiana is the regional designation for Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jeff Davis parishes. It is home to Cajuns, cowboys, backyard crawfish boils, carport band sessions, wild and winding waterways, and a life lived surrounded by friends and family. It is blue-collar, bucolic, boisterous, and bountiful. The workers in Southwest Louisiana keep one boot in the past—buoyed by vibrant traditions— and one boot stepping toward the future, utilizing ever expanding new technologies at work and at play.

CASINOS, THE ARTS + THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Southwest Louisiana is regaining

its voice, its rhythm and its lively step, but as with all things, it takes time, passion, and perseverance. The region offers a jackpot of entertainment at a variety of casinos that offer everything from golf greens and spas to horseracing and island time getaways. Find luxurious accommodations, a myriad of dining selections, topname entertainment, and incredible gaming experiences at Delta Downs Racetrack Casino Hotel, Golden Nugget Lake Charles, Coushatta Casino Resort or L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles. In normal times, the region is known for hosting over 75 annual festivals. Arts and culture are alive as well, with galleries, symphony and theater

offerings, as well as multiple museums. Outdoor activities abound, with the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road, a beach, state parks and plenty of hunting and fishing. The signs of new cultural development are many, including the beautiful new club house at the

PORT WONDER Enjoy stunning views of the Lake Charles waterfront and an interactive family experience. Along the I-10 Corridor and the edge of Lake Charles’ namesake, the City of Lake Charles is developing a family destination that will entertain and educate. The complex—called Port Wonder—will house the new Children’s Museum of Lake Charles and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ Science Center and Educational Complex along with stunning views of the waterfront. Port Wonder’s undulating wave of a roofline mimics the waterways that define Southwest Louisiana. The two curved “crests” house the children’s museum and science center, respectively, and meet at the shared lobby courtyard. 14

The new facility creates a STEM-based, hands-on interactive center coupled with an immersive, live-animal, Louisiana coast experience for all visitors. The Children’s Museum exhibits and galleries will focus on technology, health, and nature. The Science Center will feature marsh and barrier island fish tanks, a touch tank, and several Gulf-specific exhibits. The site will feature outdoor play areas, a covered fishing pier and walking trails that connect to the existing alligator habitat. One of the goals of this facility is to draw visitors from the bustling I-10 into the region and spur further development along the Lake Charles waterfront.

National Golf Course in Westlake. Caesars Entertainment Inc. is also building an all new Horseshoe Casino resort in Westlake, with more than 60,000 square feet of casino space, a live poker room with 10 tables, a completely redesigned hotel tower and more.

DRIFT away

Afternoons where time is lost. Places where meaning is found.

VisitLakeCharles.org

Local Industries Make a Significant Impact on Southwest Louisiana

right us

we’re you

where need

The growth of West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital reflects the dynamic growth of our region. Celebrating 68 years of caring for our community, WCCH continues our commitment of providing exceptional care every moment, every day.

701 Cypress Street, Sulphur wcch.com

Breast Health Cancer Care Cardiology Community Health Center Ear, Nose & Throat Care Endocrinology Emergency Care Family Medicine Home Health Care Laboratory Nutrition & Wellness Obstetrics & Gynecology Orthopaedics Pediatric Care Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Pulmonary & Respiratory Care Radiology & Diagnostic Imaging Rural Health Centers Sleep Medicine Surgical Services Wound Care

By providing residents of Southwest Louisiana with consistent employment through a pandemic and multiple natural disasters, local industry continues to be an economic driver for our region. The almost 10,000 good-paying jobs with benefits for direct employees and contractors and another 17,000 associated jobs in the region that exist due to industries result in over $2 billion in annual earnings. Local industries provide generous donations to education and nonprofit organizations, and they are 17 of the top 20 property tax payers in Calcasieu Parish. Lake Area Industry Alliance is the umbrella organization between its 22 industrial members and our local community, government officials, educators, business leaders and non-profit organizations. With such a significant impact in our community, the work of LAIA is as important as ever. LAIA will continue to be a conduit of communication to enhance industrial advancements along with partnerships within the community.

laia.com | (337) 436-6800

AT INTERFOR, WE INVEST...

...IN OUR MILLS Investment in modern and efficient technology continues to be the foundation of our business. We embrace the highest standard of innovation with our mills. We have invested over $300 million in capital projects while we continue to strive to be the most profitable, valuable, and respected forest products company in the world.

...IN OUR PEOPLE At Interfor, we invest in our people because we know our best talent is homegrown. We provide meaningful programs for our employees to grow their skills and knowledge resulting in more than 70% of positions filled through internal promotions. We also make it our mission to provide a safe and comfortable work environment for every employee.

We operate 21 mills and 3 woodlands in communities throughout North America to the highest standards of safety and environmental protection. We build value in these communities by providing opportunities for our employees to grow and prosper, and by contributing to a healthy economy and environment.

We are excited to bring this level of community commitment to Dequincy, LA Contact us at: info@interfor.com www.interfor.com 604-422-3400

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Passengers and Businesses Land Here. The Lake Charles Regional Airport (LCH) connects Southwest Louisiana to the world and is home to over 30 businesses that operate within its nearly 2000 acres.

Looking for a place to land your business? Check out our 150-acre Louisiana Economic Development Certified Site. flylakecharles.us