Public officials, many of whom signed non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), will join Hyundai executives today for a groundbreaking for a proposed steel facility dogged by allegations of secrecy and misuse of public money. 

While the agreements between the state and Hyundai do not even mandate the number of jobs that Hyundai will provide, those same agreements legally obligate the state to paying Hyundai, a South Korean corporation, public money for its steel mill. The Landry Administration’s Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between Hyundai and Louisiana Economic Development in May of 2025 commits hundreds of millions of dollars directly to Hyundai or for Hyundai’s benefit. This money includes: 

• $100 million to buy land for Hyundai ($91 million has been spent)
• $100 million to build the facility
• $146 million for a railroad
• $86 million for a road 

The Advocate has estimated the total package to Hyundai to exceed $2 billion dollars. The facility threatens the historic community of Modeste, where families have lived since before Emancipation. 

Residents and advocates have submitted public records requests regarding the Hyundai deal to government agencies for the last year. Despite a refusal to provide records by several agencies, including Ascension Parish government (now in court over this matter), advocates and Ascension Parish residents have been able to piece together some aspects of the massive taxpayer giveaway. Given that the Landry Administration has presided over the Hyundai, Meta and Space X “deals,” the agreements for Meta and SpaceX likely include similar transfer of taxpayer money to these corporations. 

The following statement should be attributed to Ashley Gaignard, Founder and President of Rural Roots Louisiana, based in Donaldsonville, Louisiana 

“Why is the state of Louisiana giving so much money to Hyundai instead of taking care of our own people? If the state would give hundreds of millions of dollars to businesses in Ascension rather than Hyundai, I promise we would create jobs that are safe, clean, and preserve our home for our kids. Responsible development must be transparent, follow the law, protect our health, cultural heritage and provide enforceable benefits for the people already living here. 

Public money is being used to build a road and a rail overpass for Hyundai when the traffic in our parish is a mess. Public money was used to buy land for Hyundai.  

It is outrageous. It’s time to invest in our own people.” 

The following statement should be attributed to Anne Rolfes, Director of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, based in New Orleans, Louisiana 

“When you look behind the curtain at what’s going on with Hyundai, it is easy to understand why the biggest corporations on earth are coming to Louisiana. The state of Louisiana is committing hundreds of millions of dollars to Hyundai, and yet Hyundai does not even have a legal obligation to provide jobs. It’s a lopsided love affair.  

Corporations like SpaceX and Meta are coming here because they see that Louisiana can be taken for a ride. Our public officials are signing NDAs, and the public is kept from information about the massive amounts of taxpayer dollars that are promised.  Landry claims this will benefit Louisiana, but the math simply doesn’t work, and the Hyundai deal shows it. We are giving away hundreds of millions of dollars – by some estimates more than two billion – and getting pollution and a destroyed landscape in return.” 

Background 

Details about the state giveaways to Hyundai Steel are included in the lawsuit challenging the state’s Cooperative Endeavor Agreement, filed on April 2, 2026. 

The Hyundai Steel mill is a centerpiece of the Governor’s agenda, championed by Governor Landry at the 2025 White House announcement of the project. The Governor’s public statements about Hyundai have not included information about state financing of the project.

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