Aclara Resources Inc. announced a $277 million investment to construct the first U.S. heavy rare earth separation facility at the Port of Vinton in Calcasieu Parish, bringing nearly 600 new job opportunities.

Orion Engineers + Constructors is relocating its corporate headquarters from Theodore, Alabama, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The move involves a $5+ million investment, the creation of 50 new direct jobs with an average annual salary of $100,000, and a total estimated job impact of 111 in the Capital Region. Louisiana offered incentives including the Quality Jobs program to secure the project.

Louisiana, led by Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and Keep Louisiana Beautiful (KLB), has joined the Greatest American Cleanup to help remove 25 billion pieces of litter nationally by July 4, 2026. Citizens are encouraged to participate through KLB programs like Get Down & Cleanup and Love the Boot Week. New Orleans will also host the Keep America Beautiful (KAB) National Summit in February 2026.

ARCO Executive Director Roma Kidd is retiring after 44 years of leadership, during which she greatly expanded programs and advocacy for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Early voting for the November 15 Open General/Orleans Municipal Parochial General Election in Louisiana will take place from Saturday, November 1 through Saturday, November 8 (excluding Sunday, Nov. 2), from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Voters can cast ballots at their parish Registrar of Voters Office or designated locations, and are reminded to bring an ID.

Winners of the local Blues Challenge advance to the Internation Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee

ULM’s College of Business and Social Sciences will host its annual Symposium from Oct. 27–30, featuring keynote speaker Jim Davidson, student competitions, and events built around this year’s theme, “Superpowers: Discover Yours, Transform the World.”

The Crawfish Étouffée & Cocktails event connected Hollywood insiders with Louisiana leaders to spotlight the state’s growing film industry and powerful new tax incentives.

The Rollin' on the Riverfront fall event has been cancelled due to weather, but downtown Monroe is gearing up for a full slate of holiday festivities in December. Including the annual tree lighting, parade, and Holidays on the Marketplace.

Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, LA, is celebrating National Forest Products Week (Oct. 19–25) with events highlighting its top-ranked forestry program. The celebration includes a panel of forestry experts, stories from the program’s history, and a look ahead to the new Forest Products Innovation Center. Learn more on the Beyond 1894 Podcast featuring professors Heidi Adams and Nan Nan.