Last week, the Greater Shreveport Chamber, alongside Executive Committee members of the Board and regional partners, traveled to Washington, D.C., for the annual GSC to DC Fly-In, continuing a more than 45-year tradition of advocating for the economic growth and long-term success of Northwest Louisiana.
The delegation kicked off the visit with a policy briefing at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where participants received updates on key federal issues impacting businesses nationwide. Throughout the trip, the group met with members of Louisiana’s congressional delegation, including Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Senator Bill Cassidy, Congressman Cleo Fields, Congresswoman Julia Letlow, and representatives from the offices of Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Senator John Kennedy, Congressman Clay Higgins, and Congressman Nathaniel Moran.
During these meetings, the delegation emphasized critical infrastructure and economic priorities for the region. Key topics included the advancement of the I-49 Inner City Connector and the Port of Caddo-Bossier SIU 15/I-69 Service Road, as well as continued support for Barksdale Air Force Base. Leaders also advocated for federal investment in Red River navigation, expansion of research capabilities at LSU Health Shreveport, and broader economic development initiatives that position Northwest Louisiana for future growth.
In addition to policy discussions, the delegation engaged with industry leaders to better understand emerging opportunities tied to large-scale data center development. The group met with Amazon Web Services at Amazon’s HQ2 in Arlington, Virginia, and toured STACK Infrastructure’s campus in Manassas. These visits provided valuable insight into the energy and water infrastructure demands associated with hyperscale data centers—an increasingly important topic as similar projects take shape in the region.
The annual GSC to DC Fly-In plays a vital role in ensuring that Northwest Louisiana’s priorities are clearly communicated at the federal level. By strengthening relationships with elected officials and industry partners, the Chamber continues to advocate for strategic investments that drive economic development, support workforce growth, and create new opportunities for the region.
