SE block growing at least 12%

Secretary of Louisiana Economic Development Don Pierson says the six southern states - Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee - encompass a workforce of about 12M people. In fact, Louisiana and Arkansas have seen a 14 percent increase in per capita income over the last four years. The other four states are growing at a rate of 9-to-12 percent, he says. In addition, Louisiana’s GDP has surged 17 percent - Tennessee (16%), Alabama (15%), Kentucky and Arkansas (13%), and Mississippi (12%). As a group, the six states benefit from access to the Mississippi River that provides commercial access to two-thirds of America’s states,” according to Pierson. (Source: America Development 02/29/20) https://www.areadevelopment.com/regionalreports/q1-2020/manufacturing-drives-growth-in-southern-states.shtml