BRAC Welcomes IBM to the Capital Region
Project will create eight hundred jobs, a stronger economy, and a transformed skyline
Baton Rouge, La. (March 27, 2013) – The Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC), in
conjunction with Governor Bobby Jindal, Louisiana Economic Development (LED), MayorPresident of East Baton Rouge Melvin “Kip” Holden, Louisiana State University, and the Baton
Rouge Area Foundation (BRAF), is pleased to welcome IBM to the Capital Region. The new
IBM Services Center will create eight hundred direct new jobs in Baton Rouge, strengthen and
diversify the economy in the Baton Rouge area, and transform the skyline of downtown Baton
Rouge with a new riverfront mixed-use building.
BRAC Applauds Announcement of CB&I Baton Rouge Expansion
Four hundred jobs to transfer to Baton Rouge location
Baton Rouge, La. (July 8, 2013) – The Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC), in conjunction
with Louisiana Economic Development (LED), is excited to welcome a major expansion by
Chicago Bridge & Iron (CB&I). Approximately four hundred positions in the CB&I government
contract division have been slated to move to the Capital Region over the next two years.
BRAC Congratulates Honeywell on Louisiana Expansion Announcement
Expansion to create 42 new direct jobs in Louisiana
Baton Rouge, La. (July 15, 2013) – The Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC), in conjunction
with Louisiana Economic Development (LED), is excited to welcome a $208 million investment
by Honeywell to expand its four production sites in Louisiana. The projects will create 42 new
direct jobs in Baton Rouge (two sites), Shreveport, and Geismar.
Baton Rouge Area Named “Major Market of the Year” by Southern Business &
Development
Big project wins in 2012 edge the Capital Region over Southern Peers
Baton Rouge, La. (July 25, 2013) – The Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) announced today
that Southern Business & Development (SB&D)has listed the Capital Region as the “Major
Market of the Year” for 2013 in their annual SB&D 100 rankings. These rankings are based on
job counts and capital investment pertaining to new and expansion projects in the area. Louisiana
received State of the Year for the fifth time in seven years, while receiving honorable mentions
were Ascension Parish for Small Markets and New Orleans for Major Markets.
Baton Rouge Named No. 1 for Economic Growth Potential
Capital Region tops Business Facilities’ most coveted list
Baton Rouge, La. (August 2, 2013)– Today, Baton Rouge was ranked number one in Business
Facilities’ list of the Top 10 Metro Areas for Economic Growth Potential. Louisiana's business
climate was also ranked number four in the nation for 2013 – the highest-ever ranking for the
state by Business Facilities. Last year, Louisiana was the top-ranked state in Economic Growth
Potential by Business Facilities.
BRAC Congratulates Dow on Expansion Announcement
Expansion to create 71 new direct jobs
Baton Rouge, La. (August 27, 2013) – The Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC), in
conjunction with Louisiana Economic Development (LED), is excited to welcome a $1.06 billion
investment by Dow Chemical to build two plants to expand its high performance polyethylene
and synthetic rubber production in Louisiana. The project will create 71 new direct jobs in the
Baton Rouge Area with an average salary of more than $49,000 and is expected to spawn an
additional 470 new indirect jobs. One plant will sit in West Baton Rouge Parish and one will sit
in Iberville Parish.
Dialysis company buys land in Howell Place
Baton Rouge, LA. (September 9, 2013) – DaVita, which operates more than 2,000 dialysis care
centers in the U.S., has purchased land in Howell Place for a north Baton Rouge location.
Palestra Properties, a Pennsylvania company that has handled some real estate deals for DaVita,
bought the 1.1-acre tract on Howell Boulevard for $335,286 in a transaction that was filed
Thursday with the East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court’s Office. Richard Preis, the developer
of Howell Place, said the plan is to build a dialysis center between the ExxonMobil YMCA and
the Greater Baton Rouge Surgical Hospital. DaVita, based in Denver, has three dialysis centers
in metro Baton Rouge, including locations on O’Neal Lane and in Gonzales and Donaldsonville.
Berkshire Hathaway, the investment firm owned by billionaire investor Warren Buffett, has
about a 15 percent stake in DaVita. Preis said it took about three or four months to put the deal
together. “This is a good deal for north Baton Rouge,” he said.