SUMMARY BACKGROUND

SUMMARY BACKGROUND

Where We Stand: Defining the Capital Region

The Capital Region Planning Commission (CRPC), headquartered in Baton Rouge, serves as the designated Economic Development District (EDD) by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) for an 11-parish region in southeastern Louisiana. This expansive region includes Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, Washington, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana Parishes. CRPC also functions as the region’s Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), responsible for transportation planning in urbanized portions of five of these parishes.

Geographically positioned along both sides of the Mississippi River, the Capital Region is strategically situated as a vital economic and transportation hub in the state. The region forms one-half of Louisiana’s “Super Region,” which includes the Baton Rouge and New Orleans Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). Nine of CRPC’s parishes are within the Baton Rouge MSA, while Tangipahoa Parish constitutes its own MSA and Washington Parish is designated as a rural, non-MSA area.

POPULATION GROWTH

The Capital Region exhibits diverse demographic and economic trends across its 11 parishes. Since the 2020 Census, Livingston and Ascension Parishes have led in population growth, increasing by 7.5% and 5.6%, respectively. In contrast, seven of the 11 parishes-including Iberville, West Feliciana, and East Baton Rouge-have experienced population declines.

JOB GROWTH

The Region demonstrates a strong industrial base, with multiple sectors showing Location Quotients (LQs) above the national average. Goods-producing industries are especially concentrated in Iberville, West Baton Rouge, and Ascension, driven by manufacturing and construction. Construction shows high specialization across both urban and rural areas, while natural resources and mining are prominent in Pointe Coupee and St. Helena. Trade, transportation, and utilities also exceed national benchmarks in several parishes. These patterns reflect the region’s economic diversity and continued investment in infrastructure and advanced industries, supporting long-term growth and resilience.

INDUSTRY CLUSTERS

CRPC plays a vital coordinating role in regional planning and economic development efforts, providing technical assistance, data analysis, and strategic guidance to its member governments. As part of its responsibilities, CRPC updates the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) every five years to reflect the region’s evolving conditions, goals, and opportunities. This plan not only guides EDA grant eligibility but also shapes broader initiatives in workforce development, entrepreneurship, transportation, land use, and environmental resilience.

With strong connections to statewide and federal agencies, CRPC leverages regional strengths to foster inclusive, sustainable growth. The Commission’s commitment to collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and equitable development continues to position the Capital Region as a competitive and resilient leader in the southeastern United States.

CRPC COMPETITIVE POSITION

A YOUNG GENERATION

  • CRPC has the highest share of young adults (ages 25–44) among peer regions – 27.1% of its population falls within this working-age group, compared to 26.7% in the Acadian Planning Commission, 25.6% in the South Central Planning Commission, and 26.8% in the U.S. overall
  • This strong concentration of young adults positions CRPC ahead of its regional peers and the state average (26.7%) in terms of workforce potential and future economic productivity
  • The region’s demographic advantage offers a strategic opportunity to invest in talent retention, workforce development, and innovation-led economic growth

    STRONG INNOVATIVE INTELLIGENCE INDEX

    This index combines the resources available for innovation (like research, education, and infrastructure) and the results produced (such as new technologies, businesses, or patents). It measures a region’s capacity to innovate and its success in doing so.

    • CRPC leads all peer regions in both education attainment (index score of 103.2) and STEM education and occupations (score of 153.6), significantly outperforming the Acadian (education: 68.3; STEM: 83.2) and South Central (education: 63.2; STEM: 80.9) Planning Commissions
    • CRPC also exceeds the state average (education: 67.4; STEM: 81.9), highlighting its strong foundation for a knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy
    • This advantage in educational outcomes and STEM capacity presents a key opportunity to attract high-skill industries, foster research, and support long-term regional competitiveness

    ESTABLISHMENT DYNAMICS

    This index measures how frequently businesses are opening, expanding, or closing in a region. A higher score suggests a healthy and competitive economy where new ideas take root, old practices are replaced, and innovation drives change.

    • CRPC leads all peer regions with the highest establishment dynamics score (117.9), indicating strong business activity and churn compared to the Acadian Planning Commission (100.2), South Central Planning Commission (76.4), and the state average (75.4)
    • This high score reflects a dynamic business environment, with more frequent business formation, expansion, and turnover – key indicators of economic vitality and entrepreneurial momentum
    • CRPC’s advantage in establishment dynamics offers a strategic opportunity to foster startup ecosystems, attract new enterprises, and support scalable business growth across the region

    EMPLOYMENT & PRODUCTIVITY

    • CRPC demonstrates strong performance in patents (score: 154.0) and the job growth to population growth ratio (91.7), positioning it ahead of the Acadian and South Central Planning Commissions in innovation-driven output
    • It also ranks competitively in industry cluster performance (134.5) and industrial performance (135.1), reflecting a diversified and productive regional economy
    • Despite slightly trailing in GDP (124.5), CRPC’s strengths in innovation, industry clusters, and employment dynamics provide a solid foundation for continued economic growth and workforce alignment

    FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT ATTRACTIVENESS

    This index shows how appealing a region is to outside investors, including foreign and domestic companies, compared to the national average. A higher score means businesses are more likely to invest in the area.

    • CRPC leads peer regions with the highest FDI attractiveness index score (138.7), outperforming the Acadian Planning Commission (116.5), South Central Planning Commission (111.0), and the Louisiana state average (100.9)
    • This strong position indicates CRPC’s competitive edge in drawing international business investment, likely due to its infrastructure, workforce, and industry mix
    • The region’s FDI advantage presents a strategic opportunity to expand global partnerships, strengthen export-oriented industries, and diversify the regional economy

    COMPENSATION

    • CRPC leads all peer regions with the highest compensation index score (118.9), outperforming the Acadian Planning Commission (92.0), South Central Planning Commission (74.8), and the Louisiana state average (107.5)
    • This strong compensation level signals a competitive labor market and the region’s ability to attract and retain high-skill talent
    • CRPC’s advantage in worker earnings presents a strategic opportunity to support talent retention, boost consumer spending, and enhance overall regional economic prosperity