As Texas and Louisiana recover from the recession, these six diverse firms with operations in the two states are gaining new work and remain optimistic about the future. Hurricane recovery work will continue as a driver in the region, while the Texas economy shows resiliency. The state reported a strong $11-billion year-end balance for fiscal 2009, which bodes well for state-funded construction programs, according to a survey last year by the National Association of State Budget Officers. Residential construction starts for the south central region are forecast to increase 29% in 2011, with total construction starts set to rise 10%, says Robert Murray, chief economist of McGraw-Hill Construction, the parent firm of ENR Texas & Louisiana.