Join us for the Ideas for Leadership Conference!
On Thursday preceding LegisGator will be a full-day conference attracting national thought leaders in community development, energy, and career-centered education. Recognizable national thought-leaders will speak about ideas and challenges facing Louisiana and the country. The Future Louisiana Conference will provide compelling practices from outside of Louisiana that can inspire ideas for our state’s future.
Session Topics
Prepare for the Workforce
- Reinventing LA’s K-12 Funding
- Case Example: Solving Indiana’s Workforce Needs in High Schools
- How States are Preparing for the Workforce
Community Development
- Case Example: Community Project Financing
- Latest in Rural Development
- Financing Development and Redevelopment Projects
Mayors of Louisiana’s Major Cities
- Plenary Speaker: Margaret Spellings, CEO Bipartisan Policy Center
- An Aside: David McCullough, III American Impact Project
- Jeff Jenkins, CEO, Bernhard Capital Partners on Louisiana’s Energy Future
Energy
- Comparing Carbon Capture in Texas
- Innovation in Energy
- State of U.S. Energy
Impact Investing
- Investing in Louisiana’s Future
- Impact Investing 101: expanding the Philanthropic Toolkit
- Louisiana in Action: Lessons of Local Impact
Agenda
Speakers
Keynote speakers Margaret Spellings and Jeff Jenkins will headline the event. Click Button below to see the full slate of speakers scheduled for all the session tracks.
LegisGator ’26
For over 20 years, the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance has brought together state and federal elected officials, business leaders, and community stakeholders to discuss key issues shaping Louisiana’s future during LegisGator, Louisiana’s premier
public policy and business forum. Building on this success, this year the SWLA Economic Development Alliance is partnering with Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) and Leaders for a Better Louisiana (Better Louisiana) to include an expanded schedule of policy-focused meetings and networking with the addition of LABI’s Policy Forum and the Future Louisiana Conference, making this three-day
event the largest in-state legislative focused gathering, outside of session.
Get more information on the full conference offerings, including LABI’s Policy Forum and SWLA Economic Alliance’s LegisGator
Room Block
A block of rooms is available at L’Auberge Casino and Resort. Please make your hotel reservations by calling 1-866-580-7444. Identify yourself as a member of the 2026 LegisGator Group using Group Code SGATOR26 or go online:
Platinum Sponsors
