| Baton Rouge, La. (July 3, 2019) – Today, Southern Business & Development magazine ranked Baton Rouge No. 3 for best economic development performance among major southern markets in 2018.
Baton Rouge placed just behind New Orleans and Nashville, which tied for No. 1, and ahead of Austin and Louisville in markets of 750,000 – 2.5 million people.
“The Capital Region’s strong performance in the last calendar year is evidence of a pick up in our market, and points to new economic growth,” said Adam Knapp, president and CEO of BRAC. “Baton Rouge continues to be an economic engine in the state, driven by manufacturing and supported by a dynamic culture and qualified talent pool.”
The ranking measures the number and size of industrial investments in a region. Major announcements from Shintech, which announced $1.49 billion in its chlor-alkali and vinyl chloride monomer facility in Iberville Parish, and ExxonMobil’s investments in East Baton Rouge Parish, helped secure Baton Rouge’s favorable ranking.
In addition to Baton Rouge’s ranking, the state ranked No. 2 in the south for economic development results.
“The Southern Business & Development rankings confirm our success in creating great economic opportunity for the people of Louisiana,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said. “By forming strategic public-private partnerships, by harnessing the capacity of our higher education systems, and by expanding training opportunities throughout our state, Louisiana is a trailblazer in the South for innovation and economic growth. I’m proud that we continue to attract leading employers, and I’m truly excited about the new career options and quality of life that we’re delivering in Louisiana today.”
About the Baton Rouge Area Chamber
The Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) leads economic development in the nine-parish Baton Rouge Area, working to grow jobs and wealth and to improve the business climate and competitiveness in the region. Today, BRAC investors include more than 1,500 small businesses, mid-sized firms, large industry and entrepreneurial startups, as well as individuals and organizations that support business and economic development. In this capacity, BRAC serves as the voice of the business community, providing knowledge, access, services and advocacy. More information is available at brac.org.
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