Episode
Hour 2: National site selectors say Louisiana's run of megaprojects is changing how corporate scouts view the state
- Podcast
- Newell Normand
- Published
- Sep 16, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2278
- Processing state
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Summary
This hour, Newell has on Michael Hecht of GNO Inc. to discuss Sicona Battery Technologies investing $10.3 million to build its first U.S. facility and headquarters in New Orleans East, national site selectors saying Louisiana's run of megaprojects is changing how corporate scouts view the state, the Downtown Development District starting Canal Street Phase II, and more. Then, Leslie Jacobs, a longtime New Orleans education reformer, joins the show to discuss education data that shows New Orleans public schools have made major gains since 2005: K-8 schools now rank #1 in Louisiana for academic growth, high schools jumped from next-to-last to mid-pack on state tests, and grads earning TOPS scholarships more than doubled.