Louisiana's Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret joined "Mornings With Ken and Bernie" to talk about some of this year's new economic development projects across our state, new edition from 2011, and the state of our overall economy.

Moret says that for the most part, even though there are exceptions, Louisiana's overall economic health is good.  He sites many new additions of projects just in this month alone:

·    01/18/2012 - Methanex Selects Louisiana For Potential Methanol Production Facility
Methanex Corp. selected Ascension Parish as a site for a potential methanol production facility in Louisiana. The project would entail relocating one of the company's idle methanol plants from Chile to Louisiana and would create significant job opportunities at a 200-acre site secured by the company in Geismar. Methanex expects to make a final investment decision in the third quarter this year, and the plant could begin operating in the second half of 2014

·    01/13/2012 - JELD-WEN to Restart Construction of $120 Million Manufacturing Facility in Winn Parish
JELD-WEN Inc., one of the world's leading manufacturers of windows and doors, announced it will open a $120 million production facility in Winn Parish. The plant is set to open by the end of 2012. The company plans to create a minimum of 75 new direct jobs, with an annual payroll exceeding $2.5 million, and Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in an additional 117 new indirect jobs. JELD-WEN announced plans for the project in 2006, but the work was placed on hiatus in 2007 because the national construction slowdown led to lower demand for interior doors.

·    01/12/2012 - Houston Plating & Coatings Announces $9 Million Investment in Scott
Houston Plating & Coatings announced the company's plans to invest more than $9 million to build an 80,000-square-foot facility on a 7 acre site in Scott. The Lafayette Parish facility will create 120 new direct jobs over the next five years. The plant will provide corrosion protection to oilfield service machinery. One of the plants' significant customers will be Halliburton, currently building a $65 million facility in Lafayette. Louisiana Plating & Coatings, which will operate the plant for HP&C, plans to open the facility in June, with an initial hire of 35 employees. The workforce will increase to 50 employees in the second year. Average annual salary at the plant will be $35,000, plus benefits.

·    01/12/2012 - West Sanitation Services Announces Headquarters and Manufacturing Plant Relocation to Louisiana
West Sanitation Services announced it will move its corporate headquarters from California and its manufacturing operations from Illinois, consolidating them in Baton Rouge. The moves will bring 30 new direct jobs to East Baton Rouge Parish, with average annual pay of more than $38,000, plus benefits. An estimated 14 new indirect jobs will also be created in the parish. The moves and consolidation should be completed by the summer. West Sanitation Services

Here is Moret's interview:

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