Lori Melancon, President and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, discusses the promising future of the Capital Region in 2025. She highlights a strong pipeline of business development projects and significant investment opportunities due to the region’s robust infrastructure. Melancon is optimistic about the energy transition and the potential for technological advancements to enhance existing infrastructure, such as bridges, pumps, and industrial facilities.
Baton Rouge excels in ingenuity and problem-solving, with a community ethos of connectedness and collaboration. Melancon emphasizes the region’s ability to come together to address challenges and seize opportunities. She believes that leveraging the region’s legacy strengths, such as construction management and industrial contracting, will be crucial for future innovation, particularly in areas like AI and IoT.
Education and workforce development are key focuses for the Chamber. Melancon is excited about initiatives to integrate work-based learning in high schools, providing students with paid internships and practical experience. She highlights successful models like Walker High School, where students run businesses, and sees potential for expanding such programs regionally and statewide.
Melancon stresses the importance of regional collaboration, noting that economic development efforts must transcend parish lines. She has prioritized strengthening relationships with regional partners and believes that working together will make the region stronger. The Chamber is committed to addressing region-wide issues such as transportation, site development, and workforce development.
Finally, Melancon expresses enthusiasm about working with Louisiana Economic Development (LED) under new leadership. She is optimistic about the statewide strategic plan being developed and its implications for regional and state economic development. Overall, Melancon is bullish on the future of the Capital Region and its potential for growth and innovation.