Despite positive advancements in economic development metrics, business development in Louisiana continues to be hampered by a variety of factors, including an unfavorable tax environment for business, lack of a sizeable trained work force, and a legacy of political corruption. Past efforts to communicate progress were disjointed, resulting in a fractured, inconsistent image among economic development experts, business leaders and site selectors. Enter Katrina. While the storm did tremendous damage to individual businesses and local infrastructure, she also left behind a business landscape with tremendous opportunity for entrepreneurs. Behind recently enacted business tax reform, progressive education initiatives, a newly engaged populace, and the most aggressive incentive program in U.S. history, Trumpet is connecting businesses to opportunity and creating momentum behind what Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez calls “the best place in the world to invest or start a business.” Trumpet’s “Clean Sheet” campaign for Louisiana Economic Development is changing the historical image of the organization and the state, as evidenced by an increase in business startups and relocations to Louisiana, as well as a marked increase in invitations to participate in new project opportunities. The work positions the state as the frontier where new ideas are put into practice, and LED as the provider of certainty for entrepreneurs and business leaders considering Louisiana.

LED was recently honored at the international economic development council’s excellence in economic development awards’ in phoenix, az. the national campaign, created by trumpet, won out over 80 competing organizations.