Area Development
GE Capital dedicated its New Orleans, Louisiana, Technology Center, where the company has created 100 professional jobs on its way to employing an estimated 300 workers by 2015.

Located in Place St. Charles in the Central Business District, the Technology Center will provide strategic software development and information technology support for GE Capital financial services operations in the U.S. and throughout North America.

The company will employ 150 workers by the end of 2013, and the 60,000-square-foot center’s annual payroll will exceed $30 million by 2017. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in 301 new indirect jobs, for a total of more than 600 new jobs. The announcement marks the completed expansion of GE Capital’s initial 20,000-square-foot office in Place St. Charles, a 52-floor office tower in downtown New Orleans.

“We took our time to select a location for this important center,” said GE Senior Vice President Brackett Denniston. “We looked all over the country but, after much consideration, New Orleans rose to the top of our list because of its location, infrastructure and friendly business climate.”

GE Capital Vice President and Chief Information Officer Martha Poulter said, “As we approach our one-year anniversary at the GE Capital Technology Center, we know we made the right decision to build our center in Louisiana. We are hiring information technology professionals with skills that are crucial to GE Capital’s future success. Establishing our center in a state that is committed to our growth, as well as that of the technology industry as a whole, lets us know we will be able to attract the talented professionals we need.”

Gov. Bobby Jindal said, “GE Capital's new technology center is great news for the New Orleans area and our entire state. GE looked all over the nation before selecting New Orleans for this expansion, and we’re proud to welcome this new center to Louisiana. When we announced this project last year, I said that GE’s investment means that we in Louisiana are proving our mettle in the software development world and the information sector world. The project is a sign that New Orleans is rising to a new era where the city will be a beacon of career opportunities in technology and jobs of the future. Today’s dedication marks a major milestone in that endeavor.

“This project is proof that Louisiana is on the forefront of the software development industry, and we won't stop working until we make Louisiana the best place in the world to invest and create jobs,” he added.

New Orleans was selected because of the city’s rapidly growing technology sector and attractive quality of life, the state’s strong business climate, customized recruitment services offered by LED FastStart and a competitive incentives package from LED, local economic development officials said.