TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS……............................................................................... ii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY………………………………………………………. iii OUTLOOK FOR 2014-15; UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS……………………. 1 BRIEF HISTORY OF THE LOUISIANA ECONOMY…………………….…… 15 THE OUTLOOK FOR THE METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS…….… 28 The New Orleans MSA: Solid Recovery But Avondale and Stewart Lurk .. 31 Baton Rouge: An Historical Industrial Expansion………………………… 41 Shreveport/Bossier: Bonanza at the Port; Elio Maybe?................................. 54 Lafayette: Strong Oil Patch = Strong Growth………………………………64 Houma: The GOM Is Back……………………………............................... 71 Lake Charles: Can It Possible Be This Grand?............................................. 80 Monroe: Welcome to CenturyLink City…………………………………… 94 Alexandria: Is the Slide Over?........................................................................ 99 THE OUTLOOK FOR THE RURAL PARISHES: 2014-15…………………….. 105 THE OUTLOOK FOR THE STATE 2014-15…………………………………….. 111
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