AGP Executive Report

AI Data Centers & Jobs: Meta is pushing ahead with its AI infrastructure build-out in Louisiana, including a $115M “America’s Workforce Academy” offering free skilled-trades training and job offers tied to data center construction, with Baton Rouge named as a pilot location. Local Impact & Politics: In Richland Parish, Meta’s $27B data center is driving major “13th check” sales-tax bonuses for teachers, but a separate investigation raises ethics questions about a state senator who helped advance the project while selling land nearby. Energy Infrastructure: Sempra Infrastructure has activated the 72-mile Port Arthur Pipeline Louisiana Connector ahead of schedule to feed the Port Arthur LNG Phase 1 project, boosting Gulf Coast gas delivery capacity. Healthcare Costs: The Trump administration warned hospitals nationwide—including two CSRA facilities—to post pricing or face penalties up to $2M annually, adding pressure on Louisiana providers to comply. Agriculture & Biosecurity: Louisiana is tightening livestock movement rules after New World screwworm cases were confirmed in Texas and New Mexico, with expanded sterile fly releases aimed at stopping spread. Environment & Industry: Hyundai-POSCO Louisiana Steel is revising its Ascension Parish air permit after environmental groups raised concerns, including switching some heaters from gas to electric to cut emissions. Education & Budgets: St. Landry Parish schools are weighing closures and cuts amid an $18M shortfall after ESSER funding ended.

Energy & LNG: Shell hit a major offshore milestone, saying its Mars platform has produced 1 billion barrels since first oil in 1996, tying the deepwater asset to Louisiana-linked Gulf infrastructure. Natural Gas Infrastructure: Sempra Infrastructure began operating the Port Arthur Louisiana Connector pipeline, adding a 2 Bcf/d corridor from the Gillis Hub near Sulphur to the Port Arthur export terminal under construction in Texas. AI & Data Centers (Louisiana): Meta launched its America’s Workforce Academy with a $115M first-year push, including a Baton Rouge pilot to train skilled trades for AI data center construction. Skilled Trades Jobs: The academy promises cost-free training and job guarantees for graduates, aiming to feed the labor needs behind the AI buildout. Aviation & Jobs (Acadiana): One Acadiana announced a $74M hangar expansion at Acadiana Regional Airport, targeting 845 new jobs and supported by LDEQ’s Fast Sites. Healthcare Costs: The Trump administration warned more than 500 hospitals nationwide—including letters tied to price transparency—with penalties up to $2M annually for noncompliance. Agriculture Biosecurity: Louisiana reiterated screwworm precautions as sterile-fly production ramps up after detections in Texas, with tighter livestock movement rules across state lines. Local Business & Growth: Baton Rouge Community College hired Jonathan Parker as head baseball coach, highlighting continued investment in student-athlete development. Construction/Logistics Tech: A new river freight forecasting dataset aims to help Mississippi River operators plan ahead by tracking barge movement patterns.

AI Infrastructure Workforce: Meta and Associated Builders and Contractors launched America’s Workforce Academy, a $115M, free, job-guarantee training push for data center construction trades, with pilot cohorts starting in Louisiana (first), plus Indiana, Ohio and Texas—covering tuition, travel and housing while building skills for electrical, mechanical, plumbing, welding and fiber work. Local Business & Construction Costs: Visit Baton Rouge delayed its downtown office relocation after bids for the 232 Lafayette St. renovation came in far above the $5M estimate, pushing the timeline and forcing scope changes. Public Health & Consumer Safety: Target recalled two Up & Up baby wipe varieties sold in Louisiana after FDA testing found harmful bacteria in packages. Energy & Inflation Pressure: Gas prices stayed volatile, with Louisiana reporting some of the lowest weekly regular and diesel figures in select parishes, while national drivers still feel the Iran-and-shipping-linked oil market squeeze. Water Infrastructure Policy: New Orleans lead-pipe replacement hinges on a statewide constitutional amendment that would let federal funds flow to privately owned service lines. Food Safety Oversight: Louisiana health inspections flagged multiple Shreveport and Bossier City restaurants with repeated critical violations.

AI Workforce Push in Louisiana: Meta is rolling out its $115M America’s Workforce Academy with free, five-week skilled-trades training and a job guarantee for graduates, with Louisiana named as a pilot location (including a Baton Rouge site) aimed at staffing AI data center construction and operations. Mega Private Credit for AI Chips: Apollo and Blackstone finalized a $35B private credit package to help Anthropic expand AI infrastructure, including financing for Google-developed chips—another sign of how fast Louisiana’s data-center buildout demand is being funded nationwide. Energy & Offshore Work: SLB OneSubsea won a subsea boosting contract for BP’s Thunder Horse project in the Gulf of Mexico, supporting continued production from one of the region’s biggest deepwater assets. Hydrogen Manufacturing: NovaSpark plans to expand hydrogen generator production in Louisiana with new plants in Ouachita and Terrebonne Parishes, targeting hundreds of jobs and broader manufacturing growth. Agriculture Biosecurity: Louisiana tightened animal import rules after New World screwworm was confirmed in Texas, raising stakes for cattle movements and farm economics. Local Business/Tech Marketing: 1 Percent Lists is giving franchisees 90 days of free “Agentic Tools for Real Estate” from One Click SEO to boost AI-driven local search visibility. Higher Ed Compliance: Louisiana colleges moved to post Ten Commandments in classrooms under state law, following orders from Republican lawmakers. Road Rage Watch: A new report says Louisiana ranks third nationally for road rage and aggressive driving tied to fatal crashes.

Private Trucking: The National Private Truck Council says private fleets are in a “historically strong position,” helped by service and safety focus, even as the for-hire market keeps shrinking after major carrier exits. Energy & Fuel Costs: GasBuddy reports show Union Parish premium gas hitting $4.39 (week ending May 30) and similar localized lows across parishes, while analysts point to Middle East tensions and refinery outages keeping prices volatile in 2026. Power Infrastructure: SWEPCO is advancing the Hallsville site with major turbine foundation work, a step toward a new 450-megawatt natural gas plant expected to start commercial operations in December 2027. Manufacturing & Defense Supply Chain: HII partner Bayou Metals launched a dedicated manufacturing line in Slidell to speed ROMULUS unmanned surface vessel production. Transportation Projects: DOTD announced road closures tied to railroad repairs in Shreveport and pipe-rack relocation work for Phillips 66 near Westlake, plus ongoing drainage work in Marksville. Legal/Industry Risk: A federal appeals court upheld dismissal of Louisiana oystermen’s Bonnet Carre Spillway lawsuit, limiting claims tied to 2019 oyster losses. Grid & Water Pressure: A new analysis warns many U.S. data centers are being planned in drought-hit areas, with on-site power generation likely pushing up energy costs.

LNG & Construction: Cheniere Energy Partners hired Bechtel to engineer, procure and build the first phase of its Sabine Pass LNG expansion, adding 6 million mtpa under a $4.69 billion contract, with a first-phase final investment decision targeted for early 2027. Roads & Logistics: Louisiana DOTD says intermittent lane closures are coming to LA 3036 (N. Common) in Shreveport for about two weeks starting June 11 as concrete pavement repairs begin, with the broader $1.6 million project aiming to finish in fall 2026. Healthcare & Workforce: CMS data show Heritage Manor South in Shreveport maintained a four-star overall rating in Q1 2026, with no fines or penalties, as Louisiana’s older population continues to grow. Coastal & Industry Policy: A letter argues that any potential space-industry interest in Vermilion Parish should also address long-standing coastal mismanagement by restoring tidal exchange and fixing hydrology. Local Business: French Quarter fine-dining staple Café Sbisa will close permanently after months of lost foot traffic tied to Decatur Street construction. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reports show Louisiana regular gas averaging $3.90 for the week ending May 30, with multiple parish-level lows including $3.83 in Winn Parish and $3.85 in Richland Parish. Oyster Industry: Louisiana Sea Grant, LSU AgCenter and the Louisiana Oyster Taskforce will host a free commercial oyster workshop June 17 in Jeanerette covering coastal habitats, workforce, and market needs.

Data Centers & Power Strain: A new report says data-center criticism is rising as AI-driven demand pushes power needs higher, with gas generation increasingly used to meet it—raising emissions concerns even as companies market “green” plans. Louisiana Tech Expansion: Meta is moving ahead with its Hyperion data-center campus in Richland Parish, promising major jobs and local contracts while residents debate water use and tax breaks. Energy & Fuel Prices: GasBuddy spotlights lower prices across Louisiana, including premium at $4.89 in St. Mary Parish and diesel at $4.86 in Beauregard Parish for the week ending May 30, alongside broader volatility tied to global oil and shipping risks. Obesity Drug Pipeline (ADA 2026): Boehringer Ingelheim’s survodutide Phase III results show targeted visceral and liver-fat reductions, while Antag Therapeutics shared early AT7687 Phase 1 data in New Orleans. Workforce & Growth in Acadiana: Carencro’s rapid growth continues to pull investment, highlighted by Walk-On’s planned opening on I-49 that will hire about 100. Public Safety: A Prairieville daycare operator was arrested after a 3-year-old drowned in a backyard pool while left unsupervised for about 20 minutes. Critical Minerals: The U.S. DOE awarded $134 million for rare earth projects, including a demonstration facility near Gramercy in St. John the Baptist Parish.

Diabetes Tech in the Spotlight (ADA 2026): New Orleans hosted major diabetes updates, including the ADA’s Innovation Challenge winners—Adaptyx Biosciences, Nymble Health, and Silverstream Medical—plus new trial and real-world data pushing continuous glucose monitoring further into non-insulin type 2 care. New Evidence on CGM Use: The CONNECT randomized trial reported clinically meaningful A1C reductions for adults with type 2 diabetes not using insulin, while additional real-world results highlighted sustained performance for implantable Eversense 365 in both open- and closed-loop systems. Obesity Drug Momentum (ADA 2026): Phase 3 retatrutide results were presented for both type 2 diabetes and obesity/overweight, with researchers pointing to weight loss and improvements tied to conditions like obstructive sleep apnea and knee osteoarthritis. Louisiana Politics (U.S. Senate): In Southwest Louisiana, candidates Julia Letlow and John Fleming made their cases ahead of the June 27 runoff, including sharp differences on carbon capture. Energy & Costs (Gas Prices): GasBuddy reported some of the week’s lowest local regular and premium prices across multiple parishes, while broader coverage tied volatility to global oil and refinery conditions. Local Business & Jobs: St. Landry Parish economic development lost longtime director Bill Rodier, a key figure in growth along the I-49 corridor.

Saints Personnel Watch: ESPN’s Dan Graziano flags Alvin Kamara as a potential trade candidate, pointing to his 2025 production dip and a crowded New Orleans backfield after the team’s recent additions. Local Energy & Fuel Costs: GasBuddy reports show Louisiana’s week ending May 30 with pockets of cheaper prices, including $3.63 regular in St. Mary Parish, $3.79 regular in Franklin Parish, and $2.99 E85 in Calcasieu—while diesel remains higher across many parishes. Obesity Drug Pipeline (ADA 2026, New Orleans): Novo Nordisk and other companies are pushing new GLP-1 and amylin-based results, including Novo’s zenagamtide weight-loss data and additional semaglutide analyses tied to renal and inflammation markers. Coastal & Conservation: Tulane research says mangrove forests are rebounding globally after decades of loss, a potential win for coastal protection and climate resilience in Louisiana’s ecosystem context. Public Health & Research Climate: Diabetes researchers were escorted out of an ADA conference in New Orleans after distributing an editorial criticizing federal research cuts. Hurricane Readiness: Dan Gill urges Louisiana homeowners to inspect and prune trees now to reduce storm damage risk as the 2026 season approaches.

AI Infrastructure Finance: Apollo and Blackstone finalized a $35B private-credit package for Anthropic to expand AI infrastructure, including financing for custom chips—another sign Louisiana’s energy-and-tech supply chain will keep feeling AI-driven demand. Local Energy Costs & Reliability: A map using EIA data shows electricity prices rising fastest in some regions, with Louisiana up about 8.4% year over year—while Berner A/C & Heat urges preventive HVAC maintenance to avoid summer breakdowns in South Louisiana. Public Works: New Orleans won a FEMA funding extension to finish major roadwork through June 2028, keeping the city from having to pause or self-fund remaining street repairs. Water & Construction Impacts: Lake Arthur scheduled a townwide water outage Monday (9 a.m.-2 p.m.) for new line connections, with a boil advisory during the work. Coastal Resilience Research: Tulane reports mangrove forests are rebounding globally, shifting from long-term decline toward net growth—good news for Louisiana-style coastal protection planning. Industry & Land Use: Jeff Davis Parish residents packed a meeting to oppose carbon capture projects over fears for the Chicot Aquifer. Agriculture & Biosecurity: Louisiana’s state veterinarian issued new New World screwworm movement requirements after the pest was confirmed in Texas.

Real Estate: Southern Homes Team (Baton Rouge) earned RealTrends Verified’s No. 5 spot in Louisiana for 2025 sales, with founder Tracy Mathis also landing statewide Top Agent honors. Marine & Logistics: Eckstein Trade & Transport took delivery of a new truckable tugboat, while C&C Marine & Repair delivered the Cabby H. Boone pushboat to Canal Barge Co.—both signals of continued inland waterway investment. Energy & Fuel Prices: GasBuddy reports show diesel and gas price dips in multiple parishes heading into the week ending May 30, with Louisiana averages easing slightly. Policy & Business Climate: Sen. Joni Ernst is urging the SBA to scrutinize lenders recently barred by USDA, raising the stakes for federally guaranteed loan programs. Health & Regulation: The FDA has opened a new safety review of mifepristone, focusing on telehealth and mail-order access changes. Local Community: Thibodaux’s 7th Annual Mud Bug Boil-Off returns June 13 with music, auctions, and a People’s Choice vote. Tech & Infrastructure: Plug Power’s St. Gabriel hydrogen facility gets a $44M federal ITC transfer, and Louisiana’s rare earth push continues with major DOE funding. Food & Hospitality: Coquette in New Orleans will close after nearly 18 years, with a farewell event set for June 27.

Industrial Transparency Fight: Ascension Parish is facing an ongoing records lawsuit tied to the planned RiverPlex Mega Park industrial area near Donaldsonville, after a judge ordered document release pending appeal. Workforce & Training: River Parishes Community College will add evening process technology classes at Donaldsonville High School starting fall 2026, aiming to feed petrochemical, refining and manufacturing jobs. Local Sports Infrastructure: Orleans Parish School Board approved licensing for the Raising Cane’s 9th Ward Stadium at LCMC Health Field, with construction slated to begin this summer and opening targeted for summer 2027. Manufacturing & Emissions: Hyundai Steel updated its air permit plans for its proposed Louisiana plant, switching nine gas-fired heaters to electric and adding pollution controls after community and environmental pressure. Healthcare Oversight: Webster Parish Police Jury asked the state health department to review Minden Medical Center operations amid concerns about staffing, equipment, and financial stability. AI & Cost Control: Finout launched Finout Agents to automate cloud cost detection and remediation for enterprise FinOps teams. Energy Prices Watch: GasBuddy reported the lowest regular gas in Jefferson Parish at $3.49 for the week ending May 30, with countywide averages also easing. Tourism Dollars: Shreveport-Bossier’s Destination 318 selected six local businesses to split $100,000 to expand regional tourism offerings.

Port Expansion: West Calcasieu Port in Sulphur bought 172 more acres along the GIWW, funded by a $750,000 state grant plus reserves, to boost barge-fleeting space and expand dredge-spoils reception as Southwest Louisiana’s petrochemical and LNG projects keep rolling. Advanced Energy Manufacturing: NovaSpark Energy announced a $30M Louisiana push—an atmospheric hydrogen generator manufacturing facility in Houma plus West Monroe expansion—aimed at defense and critical-infrastructure markets, with 300 direct and 318 indirect jobs projected. Broadband & Policy Capacity: A new push to keep state broadband offices fully empowered under BEAD highlights the need for sustained authority and staffing as federal deadlines approach. Workplace Safety Law: Louisiana’s “Behind the Counter” workplace violence prevention requirements take effect Aug. 1, adding safety plans, training, incident documentation, and resources for customer-facing employers. Consumer & Legal Watch: L’Oréal’s CeraVe faces multiple U.S. benzene-related lawsuits tied to benzoyl peroxide claims. Local Business Growth: Baton Rouge wealth firm Highland Wealth added five advisers and plans to expand its office footprint later this year. Transportation Enforcement: Trucking oversight is getting tougher as roadside cameras and license-plate readers are used to spot mismatched paper logs. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reports Louisiana fuel prices easing overall, with notable parish-by-parish lows for regular and diesel.

LNG Buildout in the Gulf: Delfin Midstream has reached a final investment decision for Delfin FLNG 1, a $5 billion floating LNG project off Louisiana with 4.4 million tonnes per year of export capacity, backed by Global Infrastructure Partners/BlackRock and others, with permits cleared and construction set to move forward. Shipbuilding Milestone: Samsung Heavy received notice to proceed on the first U.S. FLNG facility for the Delfin project, valued at $2.9 billion, with the design aimed at reducing onshore infrastructure and improving hurricane resilience. Offshore Oil Services: Subsea7 won an EPCI contract tied to Murphy Oil’s String Music development in the U.S. Gulf, covering subsea infrastructure work back to the Delta House system. Port & Tug Growth: Crescent Towing says it will add four more 6,000 hp Z-drive tugboats at Blakely BoatWorks, expanding its New Orleans/Mobile/Savannah fleet through 2029. Energy Costs Pushback: Letters from New Orleans residents call for stronger protections and transparency on utility pricing, arguing rate hikes and grid-expansion costs are landing unfairly on households. Local Development Rules: Lafayette Mayor-President Monique Boulet tabled a Bertrand Drive overlay district after business owners warned strict design standards could hurt renovations and property values. Transportation Update: Louisiana eliminated vehicle inspection stickers, replacing the $10 stickers with $6 QR codes starting Jan. 1, shifting how auto shops handle compliance. Rare Earth Funding: DOE awarded $67 million to ElementUSA and Colorado School of Mines for a rare earth processing demonstration plant in Gramercy using alumina tailings. Workforce & Community: PRAL’s statewide conference “Connecting the Dots” is set for June 10 at LSU Alexandria, spotlighting communications strategy and industry networking.

LNG & coastal impacts: Delfin Midstream took a Final Investment Decision on its first U.S. FLNG vessel, targeting 4.4 million tonnes per year of LNG exports from Louisiana and the Gulf. Rare earth push: ElementUSA and the Colorado School of Mines won a $67 million DOE award to build a rare earth processing plant in St. John the Baptist Parish, aiming to scale recovery from bauxite residue. Local permitting friction: Cameron residents pressed Louisiana regulators over a proposed LNG project’s wastewater discharge plan, complaining they were shut out of meaningful Q&A at the hearing. Data centers meet resistance: A Louisiana parish council approved its first zoning rules for data centers, setting standards on setbacks, landscaping, buffering, screening and noise after a prior moratorium was rejected. Workforce & training: South Louisiana Community College Chancellor Vincent June received a national award for workforce growth impact in Acadiana. Energy affordability pressure: Louisiana shrimpers say diesel costs have surged past $5 a gallon, forcing some to take on extra work as fuel bills erase gains. Defense jobs in Baton Rouge: Integer Technologies plans to expand on LSU’s campus, creating 23 jobs tied to maritime autonomy and decision-making systems. Acadiana business openings: Evolve Coffee + Matcha opened its first Northshore location in Mandeville, with a ribbon-cutting and grand opening planned.

Energy & Industry: DOE picked Louisiana for rare-earth extraction from bauxite waste, backing a Louisiana facility expected to produce 150–1,000 metric tons annually, as part of a broader push to cut reliance on China. Maritime Tech: Fleetzero, Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors, and Glosten announced a collaboration to build autonomous diesel-electric vessels for commercial and defense customers, aiming for long-duration, low-detection operations. LNG & Shipbuilding: Samsung Heavy won a $2.7B FLNG order for a North American client tied to a Louisiana offshore project, with delivery targeted for 2030. Port & Logistics Innovation: Port NOLA and NOPB adopted AI cargo technology to improve rail clearance. Local Infrastructure & Safety: BREC opened the Freedom Heritage Trail in East Baton Rouge, linking Scotlandville, Southern University, and the Boomtown area with pedestrian/bike upgrades. Workforce & Education: Louisiana’s “reading recession” focus is driving renewed “science of reading” efforts, including phonics-based approaches in West Baton Rouge schools. Food & Compliance: New shrimp genetic testing found continued misrepresentation of imported shrimp in Baton Rouge restaurants, even where disclosure signage exists. Public Policy: Louisiana lawmakers adjourned the 2026 regular session, while debates continue on school closures like Comeaux High. Sports & Community: LHSAA moved state wrestling to New Orleans and basketball to Lafayette’s Cajundome.