Editing Lake Charles, Louisiana (section)

==Economy==
[[File:SWIMMING IN POLLUTED LAKE CHARLES. OLIN-MATHIESON PLANT IN BACKGROUND - NARA - 546145.jpg|thumb|Swimming in polluted Lake Charles opposite the Olin Mathieson chemical plant in 1972: Cleanup efforts of Lake Charles' waterways have been so successful that Prien Lake now supports both recreational and commercial fishing, and has a safe public beach.<ref>{{cite web | title = Total Maximum Daily Load for Toxics for the Calcasieu Estuary | publisher = United States Environmental Protection Agency | date = May 2002 | url = http://www.epa.gov/waters/tmdldocs/2613_calctoxics%28f%29.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Where to Fish in the Lake Charles Area | publisher = Gulf Coast Council Federation of Fly Fishers | url = http://www.gulfcoastfff.org/uploads/subm/FISH.HTM | access-date = May 14, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140811001303/http://www.gulfcoastfff.org/uploads/subm/FISH.HTM | archive-date = August 11, 2014 | url-status = dead }}</ref>]]

The top employer, the Calcasieu Parish School System, employs around 5,000 workers. The second-largest employer is L'Auberge Casino Resort, which has 2,400 workers.

===Industry and manufacturing===
Several petrochemical plants and an oil refinery are located nearby along the Calcasieu Ship Channel. Turner Industries, [[Westlake Chemical|Westlake Chemical Corporation]], and [[Citgo Petroleum Corporation|Citgo]] each employ over a thousand people.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allianceswla.org/Images/Interior/2011%20major%20employers.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120412211636/http://allianceswla.org/Images/Interior/2011%20major%20employers.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 12, 2012|title= 2011 Southwest Louisiana Major Employers |access-date=September 1, 2018}}</ref> The [[Trunkline LNG]] terminal, immediately southwest of Lake Charles, is one of the United States' few [[liquified natural gas]] terminals. It has facilities for LNG receipt, storage, and regasification. Other industrial companies include [[PPG Industries]], [[Phillips 66]], [[Sasol]], and [[W. R. Grace and Company|W. R. Grace]]. Local industry also includes a number of manufacturing companies. [[Chennault International Airport]] hosts [[AAR Corp]], which services airplanes, and a [[Northrop Grumman]] facility. [[The Shaw Group]] has a manufacturing facility, which manufactures and exports parts for nuclear power plants.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://atomicinsights.com/shaw-group-announces-nuclear-component-manufacturing-plant-joint-venture/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402132700/http://atomicinsights.com/shaw-group-announces-nuclear-component-manufacturing-plant-joint-venture/|archive-date=April 2, 2015|title=Shaw Group Announces Nuclear Component Manufacturing Plant Joint Venture - Atomic Insights|date=August 28, 2008 }}</ref>

===Commerce and retail===
With small businesses, big-box stores, and a regional mall, Lake Charles serves as the shopping and retail hub of the [[Southwest Louisiana|five-parish area]]. [[Prien Lake Mall]], which serves nearly 300,000 people, is anchored by three department stores.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.simon.com/mall/prien-lake-mall/stores |title=Complete List Of Stores Located At Prien Lake Mall – A Shopping Center In Lake Charles, LA – A Simon Mall |website=Simon.com |access-date=March 30, 2017}}</ref> The Lake Charles Power Center is a [[Power center (retail)|shopping area]] that has {{convert|1000000|sqft|m2|}} of shopping space.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.derekdevelopmentcorp.com/developments/lake-charles-power-center/|title=Lake Charles Power Centre|website=Derekdevelopmentcorp.com – Derek Development Corp|access-date=September 1, 2018}}</ref> The Cottage Shop District supports approximately a dozen small businesses.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thecottageshops.com/ |title=The Cottage Shops Cultural District |website=thecottageshops.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130720131118/http://thecottageshops.com/ |archive-date=20 July 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Casinos===
[[File:Golden Nugget Lake Charles.JPG|thumb|Golden Nugget Casino in Lake Charles]]

Lake Charles has Louisiana's biggest casino market.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Boone|first1=Timothy|title=The Advocate|url=http://theadvocate.com/news/acadiana/11889960-123/baton-rouge-casino-market-continues|website=Theadvocate.com|publisher=The Advocate|access-date=August 4, 2015}}</ref> The [[L'Auberge du Lac Resort|L'Auberge du Lac]] Casino Resort is a {{convert|242|acre|ha|adj=on}}, 26-story hotel in Lake Charles. It has nearly 1000 guest rooms, a casino, golf course, spa, and meeting center.<ref>{{cite web | title = L'Auberge Casino Resort Property Fact Sheet | publisher = KPLCtc.com | date = January 14, 2013 | url = http://www.kplctv.com/story/10056208/lauberge-du-lac-casino-resort-property-fact-sheet}}</ref> A second casino, the [[Golden Nugget Lake Charles]], opened in 2014 next to L'Auberge du Lac.<ref>{{cite news|title=Houston billionaire's Lake Charles casino opens early|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|author=Erin Mulvaney|date=December 7, 2014|url=http://www.chron.com/business/real-estate/article/Houston-billionaire-s-Lake-Charles-casino-set-to-5941718.php|access-date=December 8, 2014}}</ref> The 18-story casino resort hotel has more than 740 guest rooms, a casino, golf course, meeting space, and retail corridor, and a private beach and marina.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kaplan |first=David |url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/local/article/Golden-Nugget-to-be-erected-in-Louisiana-with-4687617.php |title=Golden Nugget to be erected in Louisiana with 'the best synergy outside of Vegas' |newspaper=Mysa|date=July 25, 2013 |access-date=March 30, 2017}}</ref>

While [[Caesars Entertainment|Horseshoe Lake Charles]] is technically in one of the city's suburbs known as [[Westlake, Louisiana]], it forms part of the city's gambling market, along  with [[Delta Downs]] in [[Vinton, Louisiana]] and [[Coushatta Casino Resort]] in [[Kinder, Louisiana]].