LED Honors 2018 Lantern Awards Winners for Manufacturing Excellence

BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana Economic Development honored the state’s 2018 Lantern Award winners during a private reception today at the Governor’s Mansion. Lantern Award winners demonstrate excellence in manufacturing and outstanding service to their communities through the involvement of their businesses and employees.

“Manufacturers drive Louisiana’s economy in the most important ways,” LED Secretary Don Pierson said. “They provide good-paying jobs and have a strong multiplier effect, creating even more jobs outside their facilities. Harnessing our talented workforce, they compete and win in a global economy, as they produce vital products that are in demand by companies and consumers. At LED, we maintain strong business and industry partnerships throughout our state to make manufacturers more competitive and to enhance the quality of their workforce. We thank these Louisiana companies for the invaluable contributions they are making in their communities, and we acknowledge and congratulate them for their achievements.”

Lantern Award winners are selected by Louisiana’s eight Regional Planning and Development Districts, based on the contributions of the manufacturers to their communities, including investments in employment growth and facility expansion. Each business also must demonstrate sustainability by remaining in operation at least three years prior to the nomination.

The 2018 Lantern Award winners are:

Acadiana Region
Savoie’s Sausage & Food Products
Opelousas

Bayou Region
CORTEC
Houma

Capital Region
Tin Roof Brewing
Baton Rouge

Central Region
Southern Designs
Vidalia

Northeast Region
Graphic Packaging International
West Monroe

Northwest Region
Alliance Compressors
Natchitoches

Southeast Region
Lighthouse Louisiana
New Orleans

Southwest Region
Volunteer Pastilles
Lake Charles

As part of the Lantern Awards ceremony, the Louisiana Quality Foundation recognizes Louisiana Performance Excellence Award winners. This year’s winners are the Natchitoches Regional Medical Center and Woman’s Hospital of Baton Rouge.

Since LED launched the Lantern Awards in 1979, the program has recognized more than 300 Louisiana manufacturing businesses. LED’s program partners include the Louisiana Industrial Development Executives Association and the Louisiana Quality Foundation.

Award-winners receive lanterns handcrafted and donated by Bevolo Gas and Electric Lights of New Orleans. The lanterns have become an internationally recognized trademark of New Orleans, and Bevolo is the oldest and largest copper gas lantern manufacturer in the U.S., and the second-oldest in the world.

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