By Melissa Campbell
Founder, The Louisiana Launch Alliance
Just a few days ago, I sat in a room in Lafayette and listened to one of the leaders I respect most talk about the place we both call home.
Senator John Kennedy came to Acadiana to talk about the historic investments and new jobs headed our way. Afterward, he shared a short note about the visit. It ended with four words I can't stop thinking about: "Never bet against Louisiana."
I couldn't agree more, Sir.
Whatever your politics, that line is hard to argue with. He was talking about the people, the work ethic, and the common sense that Louisiana has always had. That's exactly what I see every day.
WHY I'M ALL IN
Louisiana is looking at more than $250 billion in industrial investment. Meta. Amazon. SpaceX. Hut 8. Applied Digital. Projects that will be remembered for decades.
But here's what keeps me up at night. Most local businesses never hear about a project until the bid is already locked up. The skill is here. The capacity is here. The people are here. What's been missing is access.
That's why I started the Louisiana Launch Alliance. We're a network of trusted Louisiana businesses, one seat per trade, built to connect the contractors, suppliers, and service companies who will actually build these projects to the teams driving them. When a general contractor asks, "Who do I call?", we want the answer to be a Louisiana business.
It isn't complicated. It’s pretty simple, in fact. When Louisiana companies win Louisiana work, the money stays here. It pays Louisiana workers. It supports Louisiana families. It builds Louisiana communities. Then it goes back into the next business, the next hire, the next project.
PEOPLE ARE THE POINT, Y'ALL
I'm passionate about this because I know the people behind these businesses. The erosion control company that was on the site first. The logistics team that moves what the project needs. The owners who make payroll, train young workers, and show up when it's hard. These are not names on a list. They're neighbors.
And yes, we have to get the workforce right. These projects will need hundreds of thousands of skilled people, and we want Louisans to get those jobs first. That's why we built Mobilize by Peak: to help our companies find and keep the talent they need.
JUST THE BEGINNING
Every week, more members take their seat. We're getting ready to film our first launch with our founding members, and we'll share more soon.
If you own a Louisiana business and want a seat at the table, I'd love to talk. If you're a GC or a company building here, I'd love to introduce you to the people who can help…our people.
Louisiana has the people. Louisiana has the businesses. Louisiana has the drive. Thank you, Senator Kennedy, for the reminder; I couldn't agree more.
If I were a betting woman, I’d bet on Louisiana and Louisiana businesses every time. I hope you do too.
Melissa Campbell
Founder, Louisiana Launch Alliance
louisianalaunchalliance.com | (225) 205-3587