Louisiana's economic development engine, which has landed some high-profile industrial and tech business in the past year from companies like IBM and Lockheed Martin by wielding tax breaks, has launched an agency search to handle strategic marketing and communications to pitch the Pelican State for domestic and international businesses.
Baton Rouge-based Louisiana Economic Development, which also administers tax breaks and has wooed recent business like Bell Helicopter's Lafayette factory and an IBM tech center in the capital, released an RFP on April 13 that said it will consider pitches from individual agencies or groups of firms for the four elements of the account: strategic development/brand identity; website and digital communications; external communications, and media buying.
A one-year contract with two option years is planned.
Despite some high profile industrial wins, some state lawmakers expressed skepticism about LED's upbeat reports on job growth in Louisiana last month. "The job that I have in balancing the budget has yet to reflect all those jobs [coming to the state]," State Rep. Jim Fannin told LED chief Stephen Moret in a legislative hearing, according to the Times-Picayune, which noted corporate tax collection is forecast to fall 17%. The New Orleans paper said the state's government under Gov. Bobby Jindal, a presidential hopeful, has not been able to dig out of a financial hole, despite a growing economy. Moret countered that the dwindling of Hurricane Katrina aide and a sluggish overall U.S. economy are hampering the state's growth.
Lori Melancon, senior director of marketing and communications, is handling the RFP process.
Proposals are due May 15. View the RFP.
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