Bottom Line Up Front: Governor Jeff Landry highlighted confirmed improvements in Louisiana's national rankings at Tuesday's West Baton Rouge Chamber event, including a jump from 31st to 18th in economic outlook and from 49th to 32nd in education, while outlining infrastructure financing strategies to business leaders.

WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH — Governor Jeff Landry presented his administration's 18-month record to energy industry leaders Tuesday night at the West Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce's inaugural Maverick Dinner, citing documented improvements in state rankings and outlining infrastructure negotiation strategies.

The event drew about 50 energy-sector leaders, reflecting West Baton Rouge Parish's role as an industrial hub. The chamber honored Danny Cedotal as the first recipient of its new "Maverick in Business" award, recognizing his community involvement and business leadership. The award name originated during a conversation chamber president Anna Johnson had with friends during a trip to Mexico, replacing the previous "influential man in business" category.

Verified Economic Rankings

Louisiana's ranking in the American Legislative Exchange Council's "Rich States, Poor States" economic outlook report improved from 31st in 2024 to 18th in 2025, representing what the National Federation of Independent Business called "the largest single-year improvement of any state in this year's edition" of the annual competitiveness index.

ALEC is a national conservative policy organization that evaluates states based on 15 policy variables including tax burdens, labor policies, and recently passed legislation. Landry attributed the improvement to tax reforms implemented during his tenure, including elimination of inventory and franchise taxes.

The governor also cited additional ranking improvements, including movement from 29th to 20th in state business startup rankings, though these specific figures were not independently verified during the event.

Education Achievement Confirmed

Louisiana achieved its highest-ever ranking on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), moving to 32nd place overall, up 11 spots from 43rd in 2022. The state was ranked 49th just five years ago.

NAEP is a federally administered test often called "the nation's report card" that measures reading and math proficiency among 4th and 8th graders across all states.

Louisiana's 4th graders made particularly notable progress in reading, jumping from 42nd place in 2022 to 16th place in 2024, while 8th graders climbed 10 spots to 29th place in reading. Louisiana was one of only a few states where students in both grades made gains and one of just two where 4th graders' scores surpassed their pre-pandemic levels in both math and reading.

Infrastructure Negotiation Details

Landry detailed his approach to the Calcasieu River Bridge replacement project, describing negotiations that reduced initial contractor demands from $3 billion. According to the governor, the final agreement includes $90 million in upfront payments to Louisiana and a 15% ownership stake that will generate ongoing revenue for the region after construction debt is repaid.

"That's the model we can use to build that bridge right here," Landry said, referencing West Baton Rouge Parish's ongoing traffic challenges along the LA 1 corridor and suggesting similar public-private partnerships for local infrastructure projects. The parish faces significant congestion issues where Highway 1 intersects with I-10, problems that the long-planned LA-415 connector project aims to address.

Crime and Public Safety Claims

Landry reported a 43% drop in violent crime in New Orleans, though no independent verification was provided during the event, and said the city no longer ranks among the top 10 most dangerous nationally . He announced plans to expand law enforcement strategies to other Louisiana cities, with a Wednesday press conference detailing new arrests and federal partnerships involving the FBI, Baton Rouge Police Department, and state agencies.

Energy Industry Focus

Addressing the industry-heavy audience, Landry emphasized Louisiana's energy production role, stating the state accounts for approximately 15% of national energy output while representing 1.3% of the U.S. population. He defended petroleum production against critics, arguing the industry's economic importance and role in supporting emerging technologies requiring significant power infrastructure.

"No industry in the world has lifted more people out of poverty than oil and gas industries," Landry declared, noting that petroleum products are essential components in 99% of life-saving medications.

Population and Business Environment

Landry reported Louisiana experienced net population growth for the first time in 30 years, with 30,000 people moving to the state compared to previous patterns of 35,000 departing annually, a figure not yet corroborated by federal demographic data. He highlighted additional business environment changes, including tax system modifications and adjustments to liability laws that contributed to improved business climate rankings.

Economic Outlook and Outside Recognition

Landry highlighted external validation of Louisiana's progress, citing an April 28, 2025 Reuters article that stated "the Bayou State is staging a revival that could see it emerge as the more dynamic and influential Gulf Coast [energy] hub over the coming decades."

"This is Reuters. It's not any paper or anyone in Louisiana writing. This is the world writing," Landry told attendees, arguing the Reuters coverage shows international recognition of the state's economic trajectory. The Reuters piece focused on Louisiana's positioning in energy and industrial investment under current federal policies.

Looking Forward

Landry concluded by challenging Louisiana residents to embrace the state's transformation and continue supporting business-friendly policies that have driven recent success. "Whether they write it today or not, today you all are living in a great story that is yet to be told," he said. "But notice, how it ends actually depends on you."

The governor emphasized that Louisiana's progress stems from finding "people who care more about the next generation than the next election"—a philosophy he said guides his administration's approach to long-term infrastructure and economic development.

Attendees at the industry-focused event expressed interest in the ranking improvements while emphasizing that traffic bottlenecks along the LA 1 corridor remain their primary concern for business operations and economic growth in the parish.

Sources: American Legislative Exchange Council "Rich States, Poor States" 2025 edition; National Assessment of Educational Progress 2024 results; Reuters "The crafty US state that's showing how to thrive under Trump," April 28, 2025; West Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce.

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