Collateral Evaluation Associates, Inc. (CEA) has provided machinery and equipment appraisals in Louisiana since 1990. Our expertise as machinery and equipment appraisers includes medical equipment, construction equipment, manufacturing equipment, industrial equipment, and transportation equipment.

CEA provides machinery and equipment appraisals for the following purposes: asset based loans or refinancing; ad valorem tax purposes; allocation of purchase price; condemnation or eminent domain; FAS141/FAS142 reporting; insurance purposes; leasing; corporate conversions, dissolutions, mergers, purchases, sales, etc.

CEA has completed appraisals in the following Louisiana cities and towns: Baton Rouge; Coushatta; Metairie; New Orleans; River Ridge; Shreveport.

Louisiana’s climate (subtropical in the south and temperate in the north) and rich alluvial soil make the state one of the nation’s leading producers of sweet potatoes, rice, and sugarcane. Other major commodities are soybeans, cotton, and dairy products, and strawberries, corn, hay, pecans, and truck vegetables are produced in quantity. Fishing is a major industry; shrimp, menhaden, and oysters are principal catches. Louisiana is a leading fur trapping state; its marshes supply most of the country’s muskrat furs. Pelts are also obtained from mink, nutria, coypus, opossums, otter, and raccoon.

The state has great mineral wealth. It leads the nation in the production of salt and sulfur, and it ranks high in the production of crude petroleum (of which many deposits are offshore), natural gas, and natural gas liquids. Timber is plentiful; forests cover almost 50% of the land area.

The state rapidly industrialized in the 1960’s and 70’s and has giant oil refineries, petrochemical plants, foundries, and lumber and paper mills. Other industries produce foods, transportation equipment, and electronic equipment. Four of the ten busiest U.S. ports (New Orleans, South Louisiana, Baton Rouge, and Plaquemines) line the lower Mississippi River.

Tourism is increasingly important to the state economy; New Orleans is the major attraction with its history, nightlife, and Old World charm. The largest city in Louisiana, it is especially noted for its picturesque French quarter, which has many celebrated restaurants, and for the Mardi Gras, perhaps the most famous festival in the United States, held annually since 1838.
Baton Rouge is the capital and the second largest city. Other major cities are Shreveport, Lake Charles, Kenner and Lafayette.