NFIB State Director Leah Long today commended Louisiana’s “remarkable improvement” in the 2025 Rich States, Poor States report, marking the largest single-year improvement of any state in this year’s edition of the ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index.

“This remarkable improvement is a hopeful sign for small business owners across Louisiana,” Long said. “Lawmakers have taken important steps to create an environment where small businesses can grow and thrive. The new ranking shows those efforts are paying off.”

Published annually by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), Rich States, Poor States evaluates all 50 states based on 15 key policy variables that affect business decisions and economic growth. These include tax burdens, labor policies, and recently passed legislation.

Louisiana’s economic outlook ranking improved from 31st in 2024 to 18th in 2025, reflecting recent reforms that NFIB has long championed.

“You don’t turn around a state’s economic outlook overnight,” she said, “but this new ranking is validation that Louisiana’s leaders are making the kinds of pro-growth decisions that can benefit small business owners for years to come.”

The 2025 edition of Rich States, Poor States is available online at www.alec.org.