Bobby Jindal Corner: More Jobs

Dear Friends –
On Wednesday, we announced that Forum Energy is expected to bring 125 new jobs to Acadiana. As the Associated Press reported, the $19 million capital investment includes "a new 150,000-square-foot facility…to produce onshore and offshore drilling equipment for global customers.". As I told the Daily Iberian, Forum Energy is one of many energy companies investing in Louisiana because of our world-class energy infrastructure, strong business climate and incomparable workforce. Forum Energy's investment will help retain 203 existing jobs, and in addition to 125 new jobs at the facility, this project will result in the creation of 300 indirect jobs in the surrounding community. KADN was right to call this announcement "good news for Acadiana" and it's great news for our state that existing Louisiana businesses are continuing to invest in our state so there are more job opportunities for our people. Forum Energy is just one of a growing number of companies that are investing in Louisiana. In just the past couple of months, we've announced big jobs wins at Camp Minden and in Geismar, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Ruston, and Lafayette – and we are continuing our efforts to ensure that Louisiana is the very best place in the world to start a business, operate a business, and grow a business. Each of these jobs wins, and the ones that follow, will create more and more opportunities for our workers so that they can stay in Louisiana and raise their families here. I continue to hear from business leaders that the steps our state has taken to foster a strong business climate are paying off. We cut taxes for jobs creators, returned more tax dollars to families, overhauled our ethics laws, and aligned our revamped workforce development programs. The bottom line is that business leaders are taking notice, and if they haven't taken notice yet, they are likely to read about Louisiana's progress in the next set of rankings that places us among the top states for doing business. (NS)