LED outlines Riverplex/Hyundai commitments, training center and site readiness funding

Anne Villa, deputy secretary and CFO of Louisiana Economic Development, briefed the committee on LED’s capital outlay line items and incentive programs. Villa said the Economic Development Awards Program (EDAP) and the certified sites program are tools LED uses to promote industrial development; "Thus far, we have certified 158" sites, she said.

Villa described capital commitments tied to the Hyundai announcement at the Riverplex Megapark in Ascension Parish. LED has appropriated multiple phases of road funding and a mixture of direct general funds and P5 requests for later fiscal years; she said work on Phase 2 roads is under way and that additional phases will roll into FY27–FY30 as construction proceeds. LED officials told the committee they coordinate closely with the Division of Administration on cash forecasts to determine near‑term funding needs.

Villa also highlighted workforce components of the commitment. The River Parishes Community College will host a Hyundai Steel training center; LED and partners expect the facility to open in 2027 or 2028 and said the program will provide steel‑industry pathways aligned with Hyundai’s hiring needs. The department asked the committee to consider funding that aligns to the project’s multi‑year cash flow rather than requiring full up‑front funding that delays construction and workforce training.

The committee commended LED’s work and asked for follow‑up briefings on project status in member districts. LED said it will provide updated cash‑flow forecasts and commit to continuing coordination with the division and legislators.