The Bossier Chamber presented its 2025 State of Community Report to a sold-out crowd yesterday. This annual report provides valuable economic information on several sectors.
Healthcare:
1. Caddo-Bossier healthcare employees represent 21% of the local employment
2. STATEWIDE Employment including hospitals is 319,541 with annual payroll of $18.3 billion
3. Overall Caddo-Bossier hospital economic impact is second in the state (NOLA is first)
Energy:
1. Oil & gas/mining employment is 29,572 with annual payroll of $3.3 billion
2. Severance tax collected in Bossier Parish was $53 million
3. and in Caddo Parish $114 million. (Parishes are capped at $1.254 million in severance tax income, the balance goes to the state budget.)
Transportation:
1. More than half of the local workers (65,318) live within 10 miles of their workplaces, 27,530 within 10-24 miles and 23.842 greater than 50 miles
2. Through Aug.2025, Shreveport Regional Airport and the busiest summer (May-Aug.) since 1981, and the fourth busiest summer in the airport’s 73-year history
3. The $128 million I-20 rehabilitation project completion date is early 2026
4. The $361 million Jimmie Davis Bridge Replacement has an estimated completion date of mid to late 2027.
Defense:
1. Barksdale has 5139 active duty, 2270 civilians, and 1596 reservists
2. FY 24 Barksdale surpassed one billion dollars in total economic impact for the first time
3. Barksdale payrolls--$446.5 million military, $175.8 million civilian –total $662 million
Cyber and Technology
1. National Cyber Research Park in Bossier has 2102 jobs in 2025 with 2885 projected by 2026
Education:
1. Caddo public school enrollment 33,058
2. Bossier public school enrollment 22,105
3. Caddo public school graduation rate 79.6%
4. Bossier public school graduation rate 86.%
5. Military students in Caddo 628
6. Military students in Bossier 3028
The report provides much-needed POSITIVE economic news about Caddo and Bossier. Hats off to Bossier Chamber for this report.
John came to Shreveport in January of 1977 when he was transferred to Barksdale AFB.
He’s been active in Shreveport politics since deciding to make Shreveport his home.
John practiced law for 40 years and he now monitors local politics. He regularly attends Shreveport City Council and Caddo Parish Commission meetings.
John is published weekly in The Inquisitor, bi-monthly in The Forum News, and frequently in the Shreveport Times.
He enjoys addressing civic groups on local government issues and elections.