“Louisiana wins again,” was the headline as Gov. Jeff Landry and Louisiana Economic Development trumpeted the official announcement of the $5.8 billion Hyundai steel plant planned for the Donaldsonville area of Ascension Parish.
President Donald Trump hosted Landry and several elected officials in the Roosevelt Room of the White House to deliver the monumental news for the state and region, which had not been seen at such a magnitude since the governor and Facebook’s parent company, Meta, announced a large artificial intelligence data center in northeastern Louisiana.
The first-of-its-kind Hyundai project was described in LED’s materials as a transformational project for the southeastern Louisiana region.
Hyundai Steel Company, which is a subsidiary of Hyundai-Kia Motor Group, plans to build in the RiverPlex Mega Park industrial zone west of Donaldsonville along the western bank of the Mississippi River. The project is expected to bring in thousands of direct and indirect jobs with even more estimated for the greater Baton Rouge region, as the state’s capital is located about a 35-mile drive from the site.
Additionally, Hyundai will partner with the Port of South Louisiana for dock access and River Parishes Community College and the Louisiana Community College and Technical College System to develop the workforce.
The company expects construction to begin in the third quarter of 2026.
During the March 24 briefing at the White House, President Trump said the steel mill will be the first for Hyundai in the United States.
“One of the largest companies in the world, by the way, supplying steel for auto parts and auto plants in Alabama and Georgia, which will soon produce more than 1 million American made cars every single year,” Trump said. “Cars are coming into this country at levels never seen before. Get ready.”
He added that the steel plant is part of a larger $21 billion investment Hyundai plans to invest in the United States over upcoming years.
Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung said the investment is the largest ever in the United States for the South Korean multinational automotive manufacturer.
“We are especially excited about Hyundai Steel’s multi-billion investment in a new facility in Louisiana,” Chung said.
After opening to questions, the governor said the announcement shows policies in action.
“It’s not promises, it’s about action,” Landry said. “I appreciate their patience because all last year many of these legislators, the speaker and the senate president, we worked on making Louisiana as friendly for business as the president is making America. We worked on public safety, we worked on education reform, which the president has been working on. We worked on historic tax reform. And what I can tell you, to echo what the president said, in Louisiana right now, I believe before the summer is over, we will have $50 billion worth of construction projects going on in Louisiana. That is a record, Mr. President.”
The governor went on to point out that business executives were there to invest in the United States.
“For decades now, what Americans have seen is jobs being off-shored rather than on-shored,” Landry said. “Today’s announcement is exactly that. This is a message for all of America that this president and the governors out there care about the American worker.”
Along with the announcement at the White House in Washington, D.C., a local event was held at the Price LeBlanc PACE Center in Gonzales to celebrate the news. Photos posted to social media showed a crowd of people watching the announcement from the nation’s capital on a video screen.
What they’re saying
The following quotes about the Hyundai project were collected through news releases.
“Hyundai’s $20 billion investment is further proof that President Trump is delivering on his promise to create American jobs, jumpstart the economy after President Biden’s failures, and bring back America’s manufacturing industry,” U.S. Rep. Johnson, who represents much of the northwestern part of the state, said in a news release. “This incredible investment, which includes $5.8 billion for a steel plant in my home state of Louisiana, is welcome news to American workers and their families, and adds to the more than $2 trillion in new U.S. investments President Trump has secured in just two months.”
“Ascension is proud to support businesses that drive both progress and opportunity for our citizens,” Ascension Parish President Clint Cointment said in a news release. “Through Hyundai Steel Company, we will see the creation of over 1,300 jobs, with many positions being filled by individuals trained right here in Ascension Parish. Education and training are essential in addressing poverty and inequality and laying the foundation for lasting economic growth. Today marks a milestone in our community’s journey toward a brighter and more prosperous future for all of Ascension.”
“River Parishes Community College is honored to be the lead training and workforce development partner for this groundbreaking project,” RPCC Chancellor Quintin D. Taylor said in a news release. “Today’s announcement marks a generational opportunity for the citizens of Donaldsonville, the Westbank of Ascension Parish, and surrounding communities. We are committed and eager to provide the access and training needed to equip local residents and other prospective students with the skills required to seize the new career opportunities created by Hyundai Steel. As the River Region’s workforce solution, we are excited to partner with HSC to help meet their workforce needs. Finally, I’d like to extend my gratitude to Governor Landry and LED Secretary Bourgeois for bringing this transformative project to Louisiana and the west bank of Ascension.”
“Port of South Louisiana’s partnership on this game-changing project exemplifies the power of regionalism in driving economic progress that extends beyond political boundaries,” Port of South Louisiana CEO Paul Matthews said in a news release. “The benefits of Port of South Louisiana’s investment in this multi-use, deep-water dock will have a ripple effect across the entire region, bringing jobs to families and spurring long-term transformative growth and new investments to our communities.”
“This transformative investment from Hyundai Steel Company is a game-changer for Ascension Parish, introducing a new industry and creating abundant high-paying job opportunities for our community,” Ascension Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Kate MacArthur said in a news release. “By working closely with our partners, we remain committed to attracting new investment, developing a skilled workforce, enhancing our community, and driving long-term economic growth.”
“Hyundai Steel Company represents the largest single economic development project announcement in our region since the formation of BRAC in 2005,” Baton Rouge Area Chamber President and CEO Lori Melancon said in a news release. “Located in the RiverPlex MegaPark — established in 2015 through a partnership between Ascension Economic Development Corporation, BRAC, LED, and local landowners — this investment will create significant opportunities across the region while advancing new low-carbon projects in the energy and manufacturing sectors.”
“This historic investment will help set up Louisiana for long-term economic success, creating thousands of high-quality jobs and positioning our state as a leader in next-generation, low-carbon steel production,” Entergy Louisiana President and CEO Phillip May said in a news release. “Partnerships like this between industry leaders, elected officials, local communities and economic development partners are critical to driving transformative projects that benefit future generations.”
Gonzales Weekly Citizen and Donaldsonville Chief, part of the USA Today Network of Louisiana, cover Ascension Parish and the greater Baton Rouge area. Follow at facebook.com/WeeklyCitizen and facebook.com/DonaldsonvilleChief.
