Thanks to The News Star for the following excellent article written by Greg Hilburn:

2012 gets down to BUSINESS

Ouachita Parish has been bleeding jobs for almost a decade, but at least two economists believe the regional hub of northeastern Louisiana could enjoy net job growth in 2012, thanks to ongoing expansions at CenturyLink and JPMorgan Chase & Co.

"There has been a slow, steady decline in employment in Ouachita Parish for nine consecutive years, but I expect that to abate in 2012," said Bob Eisenstadt, director of the University of Louisiana at Monroe's Center for Business and Economic Research. "I believe we've bottomed out and will see a modest turnaround."

LSU economists Loren Scott and James Richardson forecast a growth rate of 0.5 percent for Ouachita in 2012 after a lost decade that saw the exit of two Top 10 employers in State Farm and Guide Corp.

Unfortunately, job losses and population declines in rural northeastern Louisiana are expected to continue, although there are bright spots like ConAgra's Lamb Weston sweet potato processing plant near Delhi.

Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret believes those recent expansion projects have set the foundation for more growth in Ouachita and the region.

"Generally, I see more opportunity for manufacturing in northeastern Louisiana because of the available land and the credibility that's been established with success stories like CenturyLink, Conagra and others," he said.

"Overall, it's a brighter outlook that we've seen in quite a few years," Eisenstadt said. "The Ouachita Parish economy is strengthening."

CenturyLink

CenturyLink's explosive growth since 2009 elevated it from Monroe's signature company to Louisiana's top corporate star.

With as much as $20 billion in annual revenue, CenturyLink is the largest company headquartered in the state.

The company, with its headquarters on U.S. 165 North, offers northeastern Louisiana's most lucrative job growth in 2012 and beyond.

CenturyLink announced last summer it will add 800 jobs here during the next five years with an average salary of $65,000 plus benefits and invest $30 million in a capital expansion to make room for the new workers. That's in addition to the completion of a 350-job expansion announced in 2009.

Gov. Bobby Jindal said the Monroe company "will truly transform the economy here for generations to come."

And when CenturyLink adds 800 employees to its Monroe headquarters, it could lead to 1,250 spinoff jobs that are likely to be just as lucrative in pay as those of Monroe's Fortune 100 company.

Once all of the new jobs are in place, the company will employ 2,500 workers at its headquarters with a $155 million local annual payroll.

"I think we have a great future here in Monroe," CenturyLink chief executive Glen Post said when the company announced its expansion plans.

See the complete article here: 

http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/201201010115/NEWS01/201010315