Louisiana Economic Development (LED) is an organization dedicated to enhancing the state’s business environment and fostering economic growth. Its mission includes strengthening the foundations of Louisiana’s economy and creating opportunities for businesses to thrive, ultimately contributing to a more vibrant and prosperous state. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Louisiana Economic Development Chief Innovation Officer Josh Fleig to learn more.
Josh Fleig’s Background
What is Josh Fleig’s background? Fleig said:
“I’ve had an interesting career of seemingly disparate paths but the one common thread woven between all of them has been design thinking. My first job out of undergrad was teaching fine arts to high schoolers in Baton Rouge where I also built out a new multimedia program at the state’s first 1-to-1 laptop school. From there, I went to NYU to study interaction design at the Tisch School of the Arts. Post grad school I spent time at NBC Universal’s 30 Rock office inside an interactive media product development research team. I jumped to a small software company powering text-to-TV applications across all of the other broadcasters. In 2011, I helped to re-capitalize that company and successfully sell it in 2012. After the sale, I moved home to Louisiana where I’ve spent the last 12+ years focused at the intersection of economic development, technology and innovation in my home state.”
“As Louisiana’s first Chief Innovation Officer, my primary responsibility is to build a cohesive strategy that drives innovation across the state. This includes supporting startups, commercializing research, shaping forward-thinking policy, and telling Louisiana’s story as a leader in innovation. My role is about creating the tools—like grants, incentives, and investment capital—that help businesses and institutions turn bold ideas into economic growth.
My path to this position stems from a lifelong passion for driving change. Louisiana recognized the need to not only diversify our economy but to lead in emerging sectors. With my background in technology and pioneering companies and divisions,, I was fortunate to be chosen to spearhead this effort and establish a clear vision for Louisiana Innovation.”
What challenges have Josh Fleig and the team face in this role? Fleig acknowledged:
“One of the biggest challenges has been breaking through the perception that Louisiana is only about legacy industries like oil, gas, agriculture, and tourism. These industries are strengths, but innovation is about building on top of them. Communicating this vision to stakeholders and aligning everyone—startups, universities, investors, and policymakers—has required consistent effort.”
“We’ve overcome these challenges by highlighting real wins: companies investing in energy innovation, startups growing in Louisiana, and higher education institutions commercializing research. It’s about showing what’s possible and creating momentum that brings more people to the table.”
Louisiana Becoming National Tech Hub
Could you discuss how Louisiana is quickly becoming a national tech hub, and what changes the state has undergone to build upon its reputation as an oil + gas and agriculture hub? Fleig explained:
“Louisiana is leveraging its legacy industries as a foundation for innovation. For example, our leadership in petrochemicals is paving the way for advancements in battery technology, hydrogen, and carbon capture. Projects like H2theFuture or Louisiana State University’s Future Use of Energy in Louisiana program (FUEL) highlight how we’re positioning Louisiana as a living lab for energy innovation.”
“On the tech side, we’ve crafted legislation which creates incentives for AI and technology companies to establish themselves in the state. We’re also seeing growth in applied research areas, like coastal restoration and advanced manufacturing, that are deeply tied to Louisiana’s unique environmental challenges and opportunities.”
“The result? Companies are choosing Louisiana not just for what we’ve done historically but for what we’re building next.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of LED’s most significant milestones to date? Fleig cited:
“Under the new administration we moved quickly to re-align the department to move at the speed of business, not government. This was outlined by legislation that reformed the department’s leadership, created a focus on innovation and removed bureaucratic barriers to speed. We also moved quickly in response to the growing wave of AI infrastructure investment to craft an incentive that immediately made Louisiana a competitive location for the massive hyperscalers being built around the globe. These changes directly lead to the announcement of Meta’s AI hyperscale data center in Northeast Louisiana.”
Challenges Faced
Future Goals
What are some of your future goals for LED? Fleig concluded:
“Looking ahead, we aim to:
- Strengthen the Startup Ecosystem: Provide better access to coaching, capital, and customers to help startups grow and scale in Louisiana.
- Lead in Innovation Policy: Shape policies that attract investment and encourage innovation across all sectors.
- Commercialize Research: Partner with higher education to turn Louisiana-based research into new businesses and products.
- Tell Louisiana’s Story Better: Highlight our successes and potential on a national stage to attract talent, investment, and partnerships.
These goals reflect our commitment to building a future-focused, innovation-driven economy.”
