# Hour 2: National site selectors say Louisiana's run of megaprojects is changing how corporate scouts view the state

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/newell-normand-2482167/hour-2-national-site-selectors-say-louisiana-s-run-of-megaprojects-is-changing-how-corporate-scouts-view-the-state
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/newell-normand-2482167/hour-2-national-site-selectors-say-louisiana-s-run-of-megaprojects-is-changing-how-corporate-scouts-view-the-state.md
Podcast: [Newell Normand](https://stenobird.com/podcast/newell-normand-2482167)
Published: 2026-09-16T17:00:14+00:00
Episode link: https://player.amperwavepodcasting.com?feed-link=https%3A%2F%2Frss.amperwave.net%2Fv2%2Fepisode%2F8663217_2026-09-16-171617
Audio file: https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8663217/8663217_2026-09-16-171617.128.mp3?rssID=3856
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/newell-normand-2482167/episodes/hour-2-national-site-selectors-say-louisiana-s-run-of-megaprojects-is-changing-how-corporate-scouts-view-the-state
Duration seconds: 2278

## Resource

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.

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## Transcript

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