Economic Development Department Is Important for Louisiana’s Future
For some strange reason, a handful of Louisiana Republicans cannot understand that when you’re trying to attract a German steel company or a Japanese car company to Louisiana, you typically have to fly to Japan and Germany, meet with the individuals behind those companies, and attempt to put together a deal. Secretary Michael Olivier has traveled across the world in an attempt to bring commerce and industry to Louisiana. He and his department have a consistent track record of placing Louisiana in the short list for a string of mega-billion dollar projects, many of whom were hampered by the hurricanes and intransigence of a group of anti-Blanco Republicans (individuals who excused their votes against positive progress as a mere representation of their “lack of faith” in Blanco’s leadership). That said, despite the inherent difficulties of attracting large industries to a State plagued by the devastation of two catastrophic hurricanes and despite the sudden politicization of statewide economic development, Olivier and his department have continued to work for the entire State. And their efforts have led to tangible results:
