Louisiana is at the bottom of another list, but one local business leader advises not to take these rankings seriously – American Press

U.S. News & World Report announced its “Best States” rankings earlier this month. Louisiana has been at the bottom of the list for the past five reporting years. (States are not ranked in 2020.)

of American Press He shot off an email to US News and World Report. one more time? U.S. News & World Report public relations manager Jeanette Perez Colby responded, “The method has evolved between releases, so we don’t encourage historical comparisons.” A low ranking does not necessarily mean that a region is falling, but that other regions are doing better.”

Louisiana was “more” than all 49 states, coming in last In “Crime and Corrections” and “Economy”. Here’s how the state fared in other categories: natural environment, 49; infrastructure, 49; opportunity, 48; education, 46; health care, 45; Fiscal stability, 38.

First, the good news. While the grade point average is influenced by a few factors, the state’s K-12 education scores rose by five this year.

“This is great news for Louisiana,” said Dr. Shannon LaFargue, state superintendent of the Calcasieu Parish School Board. “A large percentage of our students in Louisiana have been disproportionately impacted by Covid and the storm. It’s an indication that our state’s focus on literacy is working to make progress, and that our school districts are showing resilience despite the negative effects of those major events.

Among the most troubling crime statistics for the state is the violent crime rate of 639 per 100,000 people. The national average is 399 violent crimes per 100,000 people. Violent crimes include rape, robbery, aggravated assault and murder.

Economy, opportunity and infrastructure

The ranking of an “economy” is based on business environment, employment and venture capital, gross domestic product, job growth and net migration. The level of “opportunity” was based on affordability, economic opportunity and equality. The “infrastructure” rating looked at the use of renewable energy, average commuting time and roads.

Louisiana’s cost of living is 8.3 percent lower than the national average, and that’s a good thing. The median household income in Louisiana is $52,087, less than the national average of $69,717.

The percentage of households living in poverty in Louisiana is 19.6 percent. The country’s poverty rate is 12.8 percent.

To give the reader an idea of ​​what is called poverty, that income is $14,580 for a family. Family size is up to eight. A family of eight can earn up to $50,560 and meet the US federal poverty guidelines used to determine financial eligibility for some programs. Mississippi is a very poor state. Louisiana is the second poorest. New Mexico is the third poorest.

Louisiana is closest to the national average commute time at 25.5 minutes. On average, 19 percent of the country’s roads are in good condition. In Louisiana, 23.2 percent of roads are in poor condition, and here renewable energy use – 3.4 percent – is below the national average of 12.3 percent. The only state worse than Louisiana in terms of infrastructure is West Virginia. It is known – at least in the past – in coal production, the percentage of use of renewable energy is 6 percent. However, Louisiana has 31.3 percent of its roads in poor condition.

Louisiana offers a better chance of achieving fame and fortune than states traditionally known for it, New York and California, according to the Best States report, and those states have a higher cost of living than Louisiana.

“Always take these standards with a grain of salt,” said Dan Groft, HC Drew’s director of business and economic analysis. There are many different levels with different methods, and these methods change frequently which means the results may be inconsistent. Furthermore, the choice of parameter is subjective.

Groft explains how one category influences the others. “It’s hard to have a high-stakes economy with high crime, poor education, an unhealthy population, and especially poor infrastructure. Those factors do not contribute to an environment conducive to business growth and innovation. Then there are the persistently low standards themselves, which don’t paint the state’s best image in the minds of the innovators and outside-the-box thinkers Louisiana needs to attract for economic diversification.

“Change does not happen overnight. Consider how long it will take to upgrade the region’s infrastructure. “

Maintaining the existing industry base by finding ways to improve quality of life in ways that attract and retain businesses and residents, such as adding renewable and alternative refined and manufactured products to the mix. According to Groft, they are some of the most important.

“There are no easy solutions. But there are solutions in progress. As we continue to recover from natural disasters, Calcasieu’s Long-Term Recovery Plan and JustImagineSWLA’s Long-Term Plan are digging into quality-of-life components to improve much-needed infrastructure and housing. Despite all that, McNeese and Sowella are trying to grow and improve the union by continuing to attract new businesses and retain existing ones. All these seem like a great blueprint for the rest of the country to follow.

The level of natural environment depends on air and water quality. Louisiana factories emit 3,533 pounds of industrial toxins per square mile, compared to an average of 926.

Louisiana outperforms California, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Kentucky, Hawaii, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New Jersey and Illinois for fiscal stability. This rating includes ratings of long-term and short-term fiscal stability, including the government’s credit rating, budget balance, and cash flow.