Dossier
Loren Scott
Coverage of Loren Scott in the Nexus archive.
- Louisiana economy grows as small businesses battle rising costs
Louisiana's economy grew 2.9% in the first quarter of 2026, outpacing the national GDP rate of 2.1%, driven by industrial construction and major projects like Meta’s $27 billion data center and Amazon’s $12 billion data centers. The state gained 17,000 jobs in the past year, but rising costs from tariffs, inflation, and insurance remain challenges for residents and small businesses.