CCEDD is a public district created to capture a portion of locally generated tax revenue and reinvest it in the surrounding area. Working alongside public agencies, private partners, and the community, the district supports coordinated efforts to improve infrastructure, encourage redevelopment, and strengthen the corridor over time.
For decades, Cortana Mall served as a major retail and economic anchor in Baton Rouge. Over time, however, the mall declined, leaving a large, highly visible site vacant and underutilized. Its deterioration reflected broader challenges along the surrounding corridors, including Florida Boulevard and Airline Highway, where disinvestment and changing market conditions had reshaped the area.
That trajectory shifted when Amazon committed to redeveloping the former mall site into a large-scale fulfillment center. In response to this unprecedented private investment, local leaders established the Cortana Corridor Economic Development District to ensure that the economic activity generated at the site would benefit the surrounding area. The district was designed to capture a portion of that growth and reinvest it in nearby corridors, neighborhoods, and businesses.
Today, the corridor is seeing renewed momentum. New and expanding businesses such as Aldi, Rouses, Starbucks, and Raising Cane’s reflect growing confidence in the area, alongside ongoing infrastructure improvements and redevelopment efforts. Guided by the Florida Corridor Plan, CCEDD continues to align public and private activity to support a more connected, active, and resilient corridor.
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The Cortana Corridor Economic Development District is a public entity created to reinvest locally generated tax revenue into projects that strengthen the area surrounding the former Cortana Mall and nearby corridors. CCEDD focuses on coordinated, long-term redevelopment that benefits surrounding neighborhoods, businesses, and the broader district.
CCEDD uses a portion of sales tax revenue generated within the district, including activity associated with major redevelopment such as the Amazon distribution facility. Those funds are reserved for reinvestment within the district and are used to support planning, infrastructure, redevelopment, and community-serving projects.
CCEDD is governed by an independent board appointed by the Mayor-President and the District 6 Council Member. Investments and major actions are reviewed through public meetings and follow applicable governance, procurement, and ethics requirements to ensure transparency and accountability.
CCEDD invests in a range of projects aligned with adopted plans and district priorities. These include planning efforts, infrastructure improvements, catalytic redevelopment projects, housing, land banking, and partnerships that support economic vitality and community benefit.
Residents can follow CCEDD’s work through public meetings and project updates. Businesses and development partners interested in working within the district are encouraged to review current projects and adopted plans, including the Florida Corridor Plan, which guides how reinvestment decisions are evaluated.
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