Port Log Spring 2023

NEW LOOK The Port Rebrands

+ Tour the Port’s new headquarters in Reserve

+ Inside the Port’s rebranding makeover

+ See how the Port is securing funding for the future

PORT STAFF

chief executive officer Paul Matthews

chief administrative officer

Chambrel Riley-Williams

chief commercial officer Julia Fisher

chief operating officer Brian Cox

senior advisor for commercial operations Ted Knight

executive Assistant Patti Crockett

director of administration

Vickie Lewis-Clark

director of communications Micah Cormier

director of finance Grant Faucheux

director of human resources

Tamara Kennedy

public information officer

Alexandra ‘Alex’ Hernández

port of south louisiana P.O. Box AE Reserve, LA 70084 www.portsl.com

Phone: (985) 652-9278 | Fax: (504) 568-6270

port of south louisiana executive regional airport

Phone: (985) 652-9278 ext 8512

associated terminals

Phone: (985) 233-8545

The Port of South Louisiana is a member of the Ports Association of Louisiana. To become an associate member of PAL and to help further the maritime industry in Louisiana, please visit PAL’s website at www.portsoflouisiana.org or call the PAL office at (225) 334-9040.

PUBLISHED BY RENAISSANCE PUBLISHING LLC

editor Drew Hawkins

art director Ali Sullivan

production manager Rosa Balaguer

production designer Meghan Rooney

contributors William Kalec

Misty Milioto

MM Kaufman

Fritz Esker

To advertise call Meghan Schmitt at (504) 830-7246 or email Meghan@myneworleans.com.

110 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Ste. 123, Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 828-1380 • www.myneworleans.com

Copyright 2023 The Port Log, Port of South Louisiana, and Renaissance Publishing LLC. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Port of South Louisiana, Post Office Box 909, LaPlace, LA 70069-0909. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the consent of the owner or Publisher. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the magazine’s managers, owners or publisher. The Port Log is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos and artwork even if accompanied by a self addressed stamped envelope.

"Nothing ever seems impossible in spring, you know."

That quote from L.M. Montgomery rings true to me as I reflect on this season. Spring is a time to reflect, reset and renew and that’s what we are doing at the Port of South Louisiana. The first quarter of 2023 has been particularly exciting. “New” is a recurring word that can be heard through our hallways. New Headquarters, New Projects, New Initiatives, New Wins, New Faces, New Look.

We continue to put our nose to the ground everyday and focus on building on the successes we saw in 2022. Last year, our Port saw nearly 240 million tons of cargo move through our jurisdiction. The annual increase of 10 million tons was the first net increase in tonnage PortSL had seen in six years. The global shipping market continues to recognize the elite position our Port operates along the Lower Mississippi River, connecting 31 states and two Canadian provinces to the world. Our Commission and staff have taken giants steps to position ourselves for even more growth.

The Port of South Louisiana has a new home. Earlier this year, our Commission cut the ribbon on our new Headquarters Building. This state-of-the-art 30,000 square foot facility located on our Globalplex property in Reserve houses our entire administrative staff. The building features space that we offer to local civic and business organizations and officials can gather for meetings and workshops. We truly envision the Headquarters to be a beacon and incubator for economic development in the River Region and the state of Louisiana.

The Port of South Louisiana also launched a new brand. Under the direction of Staff and with the help of Red Six Media, the Port sought a branding message that would drive awareness, tell the Port’s story more succinctly, and create and strengthen relationships by featuring the kinetic energy and growth potential of the Port of South Louisiana. The new logo features the Port’s unique access to all four modes of transportation by water, rail, road and air. Those features along with our position as the second largest tonnage port in the United States with room for further devel-

opment also inspired a new tagline for PortSL: “A Better Way To Cargo”

This year, PortSL was fortunate to receive funding from the State of Louisiana’s Port Priority Program for critical projects. The Port of South Louisiana secured $10 million in funds that will be used to finance an expansion of the NATCO cold storage facility and renovations and repairs to the floor and conveyor system at Building 71 at Globalplex. These investments help facilitate economic development and create and maintain jobs for Louisiana families. Our team is in constant contact with our industry partners here at the Port to figure out their needs so that we could help facilitate economic growth.

Our Commission and Staff at PortSL know that maintaining relationships and forging new ones often lead to collaborative initiatives and successes. We were proud to host and attend events at the Port, like the Aviation Awareness Day event held at our Executive Regional airport which you will read about in this issue. We also host events outside of our jurisdiction, even in our nation’s capital. In January, the Port of South Louisiana had the honor of hosting the River Region Economic Development Inititaive breakfast at the historic Washington Mardi Gras event in the District of Columbia. This event allows political and business leaders to hear from the state’s congressional delegation and our region’s Parish Presidents. Events like these often lead to further initiatives being developed and drive awareness to the important work happening at the Port and in our region.

I hope that this issue of Port Log is informative and shines a light on some of the major things happening at Port of South Louisiana. I continue to wish all of you success. As always, our Commission, Staff and myself have an open door and should be of assistance to you in any way, please do not hesitate to reach out. Happy Spring!

Paul Matthews Chief Executive Officer

stanley bazile secretary

katie klibert commissioner

robbie leblanc treasurer

ryan burks chairman

whitney hickerson commissioner

judy b songy vice chairwoman

louis joseph commissioner

paul matthews ceo

p. joey murray, iii commissioner

d. paul robichaux commissioner

TRANSPORTATION CENTER OF THE AMERICAS

The state legislature established the Port of South Louisiana in 1960 to promote commerce and industrial development along the 54-mile stretch of the Mississippi River that runs through the St. Charles, St. John and St. James tri-parish regions.

PORT OF SOUTH LOUISIANA 2022

TOTAL TONNAGE: 239,257,758 (IN MILLION

PHILOSOPHY

The Port’s philosophy of development is to entice companies to set up regional operations within its boundaries. The Port serves primarily as a “landlord” port to more than 30 grain, petroleum and chemical companies. The exception to this is the port-owned world-class intermodal Globalplex facility SoLaPort, and the St. James Westbank property.

WORLD’S LARGEST PORT DISTRICT

The ports of South Louisiana, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, St. Bernard and Plaquemines make up the world’s largest continuous port district. They are responsible for moving one-fifth of all U.S. foreign waterborne commerce.

FACILITIES

Within the Port’s jurisdiction, there are seven grain elevators, multiple midstreaming operations, more than 40 liquid and dry-bulk terminals, the Globalplex Intermodal Terminal and the Port’s Executive Regional Airport.

PORT AREA

The Port covers a 54-mile stretch of the lower Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. The Port begins at river mile 114.9AHP near the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and winds through St. Charles, St. John the Baptist and St. James parishes. It continues north to river mile 168.5AHP just north of the Sunshine Bridge.

MISSION

The Port is charged with a mission to promote maritime commerce, trade and development, and to establish public and private partnerships for the creation of intermodal terminals and industrial facilities.

GOVERNANCE

The Port is under the jurisdiction of the state of Louisiana and authorized by the state constitution. A ninemember board of commissioners directs the Port; all of them are unsalaried.

PICKING UP IN THE RIVER PARISHES

BY WILLIAM KALEC

Local communities near the Port District lent a helping hand earlier this spring to beautify the region during the statewide ‘Love The Boot’ Week.

As enchanting as it is unique, Louisiana’s topography shapes this state’s identity and sustains our way of life.

From the wetlands hugging the coastline, to the Cajun prairies, and of course the winding Mississippi River stretching from the northern border down through Baton Rouge and New Orleans until it deposits at the toe of the boot in Plaquemines; these geographical features bolster numerous vital industries and dozens of leisure activities.

To help ensure this state’s natural wonders continues to serve generations of Louisianians for decades and centuries to come, organizers from Keep Louisiana Beautiful – an environmental research and advocacy group – promoted its annual ‘Love The Boot’ Week from April 17-23 to coincide with Earth Day. The 7-day initiative has been Louisiana’s largest litter removal event since its inception. This year, more than 500 trash pick-up and beautification activities were organized in all 64 Louisiana parishes – including well-attended gatherings in the River Parishes surrounding the Port of South Louisiana.

In St. John Parish, for instance, community leaders held the area’s annual Shred Day in concert with Love The Boot Week. The event was held at two locations – the REGALA parking lot in Reserve, and the Juan Anthony Joseph Park in Edgard – on April 22 and allowed parish residents to safely and confidentially shred and discard old or outdated medical records, bank statements, tax returns, receipts, credit card applications, or any other sensitive documents that cause clutter. It’s estimated nearly 7,000 pounds of paper was shredded. On that same day, teams of volunteers participated in St. John’s ‘Team Up To Clean Up’ effort to remove debris and other materials from ditches and drains on and near their property to reduce flooding.

"We were happy to partner with Keep Louisiana Beautiful to host one of the most successful clean up events in St. John Parish," Parish President Jaclyn Hotard said. "Thank you to the 400-plus volunteers who joined us during 'Love The Boot Week' to show our commitment in keeping our community clean."

In St. Charles Parish, local civic leaders and volunteers staged the 15th annual Trash Bash, a cleanup effort that concluded at the Edward A. Dufresne Community Center. Attracting helpers from groups such as elementary, middle, and high schools, various industries and family businesses, and social clubs, nearly 1,000 total volunteers picked up close to 350 bags of litter and 25 bags of recyclable materials – the event’s largest haul since it began in 2009. Collectively, volunteers worked 1,170 hours to beautify the region.

“We aligned Trash Bash to coincide with Keep Louisiana Beautiful’s Love the Boot Week this year to emphasize our mission of keeping our communities clean and free of litter,” Parish President Matthew Jewell said in a press release. “We nearly doubled our participation from last year’s event, and I want to thank everyone who came out to volunteer, from our residents to our industrial partners. Our residents always come out to help and make our community a better place, which really makes St. Charles Parish a special place.”

That same day – Earth Day, April 22 – the Keep St. James Parish Beautiful board hosted its annual Parish-Wide Cleanup Day. To accommodate willing volunteers on each side of the river, the event featured two staging locations – Lutcher Park on the East Bank and Vacherie Health Unit on the West Bank. Starting at 8 a.m. and extending to lunch, volunteers were outfitted in gloves and safety vests, and given trash bags to gather and remove litter and other items from roadsides near the Bonnet Carre Spillway, parks, schools, and other shared civic spaces.

According to the board, the mission of the annual Trash Bash is “to promote a parish that is safe, environmentally conscious, and provides cultural aesthetic enjoyments through cleanup and beautification projects spearheaded by community volunteers.”

Volunteers who joined post-cleanup festivities at the Dufresne Community Center were treated to a free lunch sponsored by Nucor and opportunities to win raffle prizes.

“Over the past few years, we have watched this event grow significantly. Every year we pick up over 100 bags

of litter, which helps to keep our parish looking its best” Keep St. James Beautiful board chairman Ken Guidry told L’Observateur. “By working together, we can make a significant difference in our community and ensure that it remains a beautiful place to live and work.”

Beyond erasing obvious eyesores from sight, removing litter lowers death rates among indigenous wildlife, strengthens flood protection by eliminating items known to clog drainage systems, and aids economic development, particularly tourism.

In early May 2023, Keep Louisiana Beautiful released its statewide impact report from Love The Boot Week.

In total, litter pick-up events across the state attracted 12,777 volunteers who combined collected and removed 313 tons of garbage and 135 pounds in recyclable plastic bottles and aluminum cans. In addition to those reactive beautification efforts, groups also partook in a handful of proactive beautification efforts as well. Volunteers planted 370 new trees, more than 3,000 new plants and refurbished 146 existing gardens. Using the Independent Sector Rate, Love The Boot Week activities accounted for $1.68 in volunteer value throughout Louisiana.

“We are thankful to the Louisiana businesses, governments, schools, families, and individuals who participated in Love the Boot Week,” said Susan Russell, Executive Director of Keep Louisiana Beautiful. “This event not only helps to improve communities, but it also brings awareness to our state’s litter problem. Only when we work together and change our behaviors will Louisiana see a reduction in litter.”

PORT OPENS NEW HEADQUARTERS BUILDING

The Port unveils its new headquarters in Reserve.

BY FRITZ ESKER

March 1st was an exciting day for the Port of South Louisiana. The Port held a ribbon cutting for its brand-new, state-of-the-art headquarters in Reserve, Louisiana. The opening of the building coincided with the Port’s rebranding plans to better spread its message to the world and highlight its position as an elite player in global shipping markets.

“We are here, we are growing, and we are open for business,” said the Port of South Louisiana’s Chief Executive Officer Paul Matthews. “It’s a new era at the Port of South Louisiana.”

The Port performed this expansion while already playing a pivotal role in global shipping. It is the nation’s leading grain exporter and the second larg -

PortSL CEO Paul Matthews & PortSL Commission Chairman Ryan Burks (center) cut the ribbon officially opening PortSL's headquarters to the public.

est port in the Western Hemisphere. It hosts companies that employ more than 86,000 Louisiana workers. Over 3,500 vessels call on the port annually for waterborne commerce. 2022 was the first time in six years the Port increased its tonnage to a total of 239,257,758 short tons compared to total of 229,797,480 short tons in 2021.

The new headquarters building is three stories tall and covers 30,000 square feet. Approximately

20,000 square feet is devoted to office space.

The first floor of the building is a covered parking garage. The office areas feature many windows overlooking the Mississippi River.

“It’s a daily reminder of what we do,” Matthews said of the window views.

The new building will have a much larger conference room than the previous headquarters, as well as several more conference rooms with the space to fit large delegations of people and the technol -

PortSL Administrative Staff

ogy to handle video conferencing for important parties unable to attend a meeting in person. The nicer facilities have earned positive feedback from employees so far.

“It helps with morale to be in a new state-of-the-art building,” Matthews said. “Folks wanted a building that matched the prominent place we had in the global shipping industry.”

Matthews added that the Port does not want the new building to only be used by for conferences and meetings. They also want to make the building available to any organization in the River Parishes that is looking for meeting space. The facility’s central location between Baton Rouge and New Orleans makes it a good candidate for hosting important events. The facility cost $11.6 million to build, a significant chunk of which

came from $9.6 million of funding from the state of Louisiana through Capital Outlay. Dale Hymel Jr., the port’s chief planning and project officer, supervised the project. Guy Hopkins served as contractor, and Meyer Engineers, LTD served as architect and engineer. Civil & Environmental Consulting Engineers worked as resident inspector.

The project faced some significant challenges such as Hurricane Ida, the COVID-19 pandemic, and supply chain issues. But the work got done, and it is a historic moment for the port. “This is the first time in the Port of South Louisiana’s history that the entire administrative staff will be under one roof,” Matthews said. “I am elated that the Port of South Louisiana’s fresh, modern look will no doubt make our port more attractive to foreign and domes -

Port SL CEO Paul Matthews and members of the board of commissioners

tic investment and will attract jobs for the families of the River Parishes and the state of Louisiana.”

The Port isn’t resting on its laurels when considering future expansions and improvements. In January, the Port entered into a purchase and sale agreement for the 254-acre Avondale Global Gateway. The move met with approval from local leaders.

“This acquisition of Avondale Global Gateway sets the stage for exciting new developments at the waterfront industrial park and will serve as a catalyst for new economic activity in Jefferson Parish and across our region,” Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng told WWL in January.

The acquisition is important to the West Bank because there are no public docks between the mouth of the Mississippi River and St. James Parish. As a result, industries in this area often rely on trains or trucks to transport their cargo. If these businesses are able to transport cargo by water, then they will move more goods at a lower cost.

“The most efficient way to move cargo is by water,” Matthews said.

If shipping from the West Bank becomes easier, then it increases the likelihood companies will want to relocate there and it will bring new jobs to the area. It would spur growth in what Matthews referred to as an “underdeveloped” part of the Greater New Orleans Area.

The Avondale efforts are just part of the Port’s larger hopes and plans to expand upon its 54-mile stretch of land.

“We are thinking outside of the box and we want people to be aware that we’re here and we’re growing,” Matthews said. •

CEO Paul Matthews with team from Red Six Media

THE PORT, REIMAGINED

BY MISTY MILIOTO

W hen the Port of South Louisiana changed its management team at the beginning of 2022, the new leaders agreed that the Port needed a fresh brand identity. For starters, they wanted a new branding message that would drive awareness, tell the Port’s story more succinctly, and create and strengthen relationships by featuring the kinetic energy and growth potential of the Port of South Louisiana.

That meant highlighting the Port of South Louisiana’s position as an elite player in global shipping markets with economic growth potential for all stakeholders. It also meant spotlighting new goals and missions — like the Port’s focus on agriculture, infrastructure improvements and energy diversity.

The Port of South Louisiana, which last refreshed its brand messaging in 1998, consulted with several regional advertising agencies and hired Red Six Media to oversee the rebranding efforts. “Red Six Media stood out from the pack,” said Alexandra Hernandez, public information officer at the Port of South Louisiana. “They’ve worked with numerous clients in the River Region, such as Dow, River Parishes Tourist Commission and St. Charles Parish, and we felt they had the foundational knowledge about the region upon which we could build our future trademark.”

According to André du Broc, senior copywriter at Red Six Media, branding is one of the most valuable assets for a business. “A brand is what first greets the eyes and ears of your customers or clients,” he said. “It is a virtual handshake that carries a promise. It is tone, voice, design, color, font and all the pieces of a company’s daily wardrobe. A strong brand lasts in the hearts and minds of all who encounter it. An awesome brand goes to infinity and beyond.”

To start, Red Six Media asked a lot of questions and aimed to understand the audiences that would be targeted with the rebrand. “We consider our Discover Phase to be the most important step in getting a brand right,” du Broc said. “Identifying the audiences is of the utmost importance. Knowing who we are trying to reach shapes everything in our branding strategy.”

Rather than the term “audience,” du Broc prefers “seeker.”

“They are in movement and hope to find what they’re looking for even when they don’t know they’re looking for it,” he said. “So, what are they seeking?”

THE MESSAGE

Aside from wanting a dynamic brand, the Port of South Louisiana wanted the new brand materials to exemplify the Port’s multimodality (transportation via water, land, rail and air).

“We also carefully considered the audience we wanted to target,” Hernandez said. The Port of South Louisiana narrowed the audiences down to the maritime and commercial industries, government entities and the community at large.

“In business-to-business communication, it is well-assumed that all parties are seeking to win, but what they consider a win can differ,” du Broc said. “In the maritime industry, winning may be finding efficiencies that drive down costs and drive up profits. For government officials, winning may be finding the approval of the community and constituents because they supported job and economic growth opportunities. For the community, winning may be finding job and economic stability and safety. The brand message must make a promise to each of these groups that they will find what they seek.”

The new brand messaging will now inform the maritime industry that the Port of South Louisiana is easily accessible via four modes of transportation that allow access to more than 60 percent of the United States and two Canadian provinces. It also will convey that more than 20,000 acres of available land, most with Mississippi River frontage, is prime for development.

Meanwhile, the rebranded materials will inform local, state and federal officials that the Port of South Louisiana is an undeniable driver of the regional and state economies. Furthermore, that these officials should remain confident that their support of port infrastructure funding will further advance industry in the River Region and continue to improve the quality of life of its residents.

The Port of South Louisiana gets a whole new look thanks to a recent rebrand.

Finally, the new brand will communicate the Port of South Louisiana’s economic impact on the River Region’s residents and workforce. This impact comes in the form of creating jobs, higher earnings and tax revenue, and the Port’s commitment to reinvesting into the community.

Represented by a new tagline, “A Better Way to Cargo,” the main message of the rebrand is that the Port of South Louisiana is the smartest locale from which to move cargo. “Its location, accessibility, multimodality, cost savings, workforce, and focus on efficiency and safety cannot be found anywhere else in the nation,” Hernandez said.

“The new tagline—A Better Way to Cargo—implements a contemporary colloquialism called verbing (the use of a noun in place of a verb),” du Broc said. “This choice brings a more youthful energy to freshen a brand that promises to do something new and better. ‘A Better Way to Cargo’ means that maritime audiences will find their efficiency; government officials will find approval in their support for a competitive Louisiana port; and the community will find peace of mind in knowing that their local Port is doing something better.”

THE MATERIALS

The new branding materials created by Red Six Media are contemporary and vibrant, using clean fonts. “Any brand that is decades old can become dusty,” du Broc said. “In the Port of South Louisiana’s case, the brand was a bit dated

and lacked energy and personality. It did little to stand out as a contemporary or cutting-edge competitor in the market. Vibrant new colors were chosen to add vitality along with a logo that highlights the Port’s competitive advantage of having four points of access—road, rail, air and water.”

Additionally, the new logo’s shield is a representation of protection from risk, danger or other unpleasant experiences. “It represents a place of safeguard, shelter and security,” Hernandez said. “We are rolling out new marketing materials like brochures, advertisements and a revamp of our website (the latter will come soon after the rollout), and the rebranding will be reflected on our social media.”

A BRIGHT FUTURE

According to du Broc, it was a dream working with CEO Paul Matthews and his team at the Port of South Louisiana. “It’s very rare that we step into a discovery meeting and find a client who is so fired up about reworking their brand,” he said. “His energy was infectious and his vision for the Port was clearly communicated. This made our work easier and more accurate. As a Louisiana company, we’re excited to see the Port of South Louisiana grow and flourish with new energy and a new brand.”

The Port of South Louisiana moved into its new headquarters in Reserve this past March, at which time it revealed the new brand messaging. “We are excited that the stars aligned to be able to do both at once,” Hernandez said.

CAPITOL IDEAS

BY MM KAUFMAN

The Port of South Louisiana hosts an “Economic Initiative” breakfast at Washington Mardi Gras

In January, the Port of South Louisiana had the honor of hosting an “Economic Initiative” breakfast at the historic Washington Mardi Gras event in the District of Columbia. This event allows political and business leaders from various parts of Louisiana to celebrate the state’s unique cultural traditions at the country’s capitol, while also gathering to hear from the region’s congressional delegation and elected officials.

Their mutual goals are to bring improvement and positive change to the state of Louisiana, and to exhibit and celebrate Louisiana traditions.

The 2023 breakfast was attended by people from the Louisiana state legislature, local leaders from the River Region, south Louisiana governmental officials, industry leaders, business associates, and association members. “The breakfast was a smashing success!” said Port of South Louisiana’s public information officer Alexandra “Alex” Hernández. “It has become one of the must-do events of the Washington Mardi Gras.”

The Economic Initiative is a shared overall economic development vision held between the parishes of the River Region and the Port of South Louisiana to target industries that are conducive to growth and prosperity for their respective communities, as well as fit within the social fabric of the region. Louisiana’s River Region comprises the St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, and St. James parishes and located between New Orleans and Baton Rouge along the Mississippi River.

The River Region boasts one of America’s largest industrial complexes that comprises agricultural,

petrochemical, and manufacturing enterprises. The region’s ideal location, competitive market access, and highly skilled labor pool, are reflected in the continued investment in the region from industrial magnates.

RREDI was formed in 2004 to develop a collective strategy to further economic growth and diversification of the region,. The River Region Economic Development Initiative is committed to working in tandem with the various parishes for the economic benefit of the river region.

This year the Economic Initiative breakfast, hosted at the Washington Hilton Hotel in DC, included several notable speakers and was emceed by Port of South Louisiana CEO Paul Matthews. Noteworthy speakers included Senator Bill Cassidy, Congressman Troy

St. John the Baptist Parish Officials: (L-R) Councilwoman Tania Schnyder, Economic Development Board Committee Member Elizabeth Joseph, Parish President Jaclyn Hotard, Assessor Lucien Gauff, III, Director of Economic Development Michelle Jenkins Miller, Director of Purchasing Peter Montz, and Councilman Michael Wright

Carter, Congressman Garret Graves, Congressman Mike Johnson, Congressman Clay Higgins, Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungresser, St. John the Baptist Parish President Jaclyn Hotard, St. Charles Parish President Matthew Jewell, and St. James Parish President Peter Dufresne.

The Washington Mardi Gras event has a long and interesting history. It had a false start in 1938 when the Louisiana State Society of D.C. nixed it just days prior to the celebration, but in 1944 the Society’s president C.J. Bourg and Lt. Col. Leonce Legendre decided to throw a Mardi Gras-style celebration on George Washington’s birthday— February 22. For the next thirteen years, the event continued intermittently due to international conflicts such as the Korean War and the Cold War.

Then in 1957, after much opposition from the Society and the Louisiana delegation, Russell Long

insisted and achieved his goal of creating The Mystick Krewe of Louisianians. They were eager to introduce fellow Washingtonians to their favorite holiday. Twenty years later, in 1977, the Washington Mardi Gras Association was formed as the official sponsor, later to be replaced by the non-profit organization, the Mystick Krewe of Louisianians.

The Washington Mardi Gras event in DC began as an exhibition of the spirit of Mardi Gras, but over the years, and into modern times, has evolved into a celebration of Louisiana, its policies and its people. From its inception, Washington Mardi Gras has expanded to a three-day whirlwind of parties, brunches, dinners, and networking events, culminating in a formal ball under the auspices of the Mystick Krewe of Louisianians.

The agenda of the Port’s breakfast included economic development projects within the River

Senator Bill Cassidy

Congressman Mike Johnson

Congressman Clay Higgins

Congressman Garret Graves

Congressman Troy Carter

Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser

Region, two focusing on Greenfield and Avondale, and infrastructure improvements, specifically the Westshore Levee Project and upgrades to Port infrastructure at Globalplex and the Executive Regional Airport. But the talking point most echoed during the breakfast was the dedicated alliance that the Louisiana Congressional delegation has in working with each other for the benefit of the state and its citizens.

The Port of South Louisiana has a long history of enacting initiatives to benefit the region. “Since its creation in 1960,” said Micah Cormier,

the Port’s director of communications, “the Port of South Louisiana has been the driver of economic development for the River Region.”

Because of the Port’s focus on attracting foreign and domestic investment, thousands of jobs have been created along the Mississippi River. The Port of South Louisiana has a long and successful history of partnering with the parish governments, businesses, and civic organizations in order to create initiatives that both foster growth and create generational wealth for the families of

St. Charles, St. James, and St. John Parish.

L-R: St. Charles Parish President Matthew Jewell, St. James Parish President Pete Dufresne, St. John the Baptist Parish President Jaclyn Hotard, and PortSL CEO Paul Matthews

L-R: PortSL Commission Treasurer Robbie LeBlanc, PortSL Commission Chairman Ryan Burks, PortSL Commissioners Katie Klibert, D. Paul Robichaux, Joey Murray, and PortSL CEO Paul Matthews

PortSL senior staff members with CEO Paul Matthews. L-R: PortSL Director of Human Resources Tamara Kennedy, PIO Alex Hernández, Chief Commercial Officer Julia Fisher, and Chief Administrative Officer Chambrel Riley-Williams

St. James Parish Officials L-R: Councilman Alvin St. Pierre, Parish President Pete Dufresne, Councilwoman Vondra Etienne-Steib, Councilman Jason Amato, Councilman Ryan Louque

FUNDING THE FUTURE OF LOUISIANA’S PORTS

BY WILLIAM KALEC

Operations at the six deep draft ports along the Mississippi River – the Port of South Louisiana being one of them –impact the global economy, remain pertinent to our national security, and have been the economic lifeblood for thousands (if not millions) of local families for generations.

Recognizing the multi-layered importance of maritime commerce in Louisiana, in 1989 the state legislature created the Port Priority Program to supply public funds for landside infrastructure development or renovation projects that would provide local jobs and create diverse and cost-effec -

tive methods to move cargo, thus making taxpayer-funded highways and roads less congested and safer.

Since the program’s inception the Port of South Louisiana has participated and benefited from this state-level initiative. In fact, these strategically targeted funds have been applied to a multitude of projects that have supported various industries and employers within the 54-mile-long Port District.

“The importance of this program was reaffirmed when one of the first things Gov. Edwards did after he was elected was double the funding of the program from $20 million to $40 million, even at

Using grants from the state’s ‘Port Priority Program,’ officials at the Port of South Louisiana continue to identify projects that create quality careers and generate tax revenue in the River Parishes.

a time in 2016 when the state was facing budget challenges,” said Micah Cormier of the Port of South Louisiana. “For every dollar that the state invests in ports, eight dollars is returned through taxes or fees back to the state. So the value in investing imports and the economic impact of ports in Louisiana is undeniable.”

In 2022, the Port of South Louisiana secured $10 million in funds from the state’s $40 million Port Priority Program that will be used to finance an expansion of the NATCO cold storage facility and renovations and repairs to the floor and conveyor system at Building 71 at Globalplex.

Upgrading Building 71 to open up warehouse space at Globalplex has been a multi-year and multi-phase effort – the first phase simply being to repair and reinforce the structure’s walls and roof so that it could be of functional use. This latest chapter of construction will strengthen the current heavy load capacity floor to handle 1,000 pounds of material per square foot.

The $5.5 million NATCO expansion will be funded almost entirely through the state’s Port Priority Program, with the Port matching 10 percent (roughly $600,000) to cover the remaining estimated construction cost. Currently, the cold storage facility expansion is in the engineering stage with construction set to begin in the fall of 2023.

Once completed, the facility will grow to 98,470 sq. feet from 84,000 sq. feet, an expansion that will lead to more production, more earnings, and more employment opportunities at the southeast Louisiana meat, dairy and dry foods distributor. Pinpointing and highlighting that direct and obvious financial effect that state funds from the Port Priority Program would provide is perhaps the most vital factor determining whether a project gets approved or not by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.

Because of that, Port officials are pretty proactive when it comes to identifying the best projects to pitch for state funding.

“For us as a port, we try to determine projects and then apply for funding for projects that we think would grow the port and spe -

cifically create jobs,” Cormier said. “And sometimes we do work with our tenants to identify those projects that would do just that. For instance, NATCO, which leases from us on our Globalplex property, expressed a need to expand their cold storage facility because it would retain and create local jobs, so that’s why we deemed that as a worthy project to seek state funding through the Port Priority Program. We’re looking for projects that will have an economic impact for the state of Louisiana.”

Considering the state’s Port Priority Program disperses $39 million annually, and considering many of these proposed construction projects come with 7- or 8-figure price tags, Port officials diligently pore over research and data to determine what to “pitch” the DOTD. Another reason why the Port of South Louisiana is so calculated when applying for Port Priority Program grants is that the submission process is, well, rather thorough and time consuming.

According to Cormier, going the extra mile to secure the finances necessary to keep businesses within the Port District viable and competitive is one of many reasons why the Port of South Louisiana has always been able to attract global industrial leaders to set up operations along this particular stretch of the Mississippi River.

“Having the ability to access funds, whether through the federal government or the state government as is the case with the Port Priority Program, is one of the benefits of doing business with the Port of South Louisiana,” Cormier said. “So tenants that come and invest here, we work with them every day in order to identify areas where funding could be of the greatest use and produce the greatest return on investment for the people of Louisiana.”

“And for us, it’s a never-ending process that we embrace,” Cormier continued, “because we want to continue to grow. This was one of the first things our CEO (Paul Matthews) wanted when he took the position – for us to go out and talk to our industry partners here at the Port and figure out their needs so that we could help facilitate economic growth.”

CLEARED FOR TAKE-OFF ONCE AGAIN

BY WILL KALEC

For the 4th time since 2017, the Port of South Louisiana’s Executive Regional Airport welcomed pilots from around the Southeast and more than 100 kids from the River Parishes and beyond for Aviation Awareness Day – a charity endeavor created by the non-profit organization “Guys Achieving Goals.”

Grounded since 2019 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the return of the mark-your-calendar event was actually delayed one week further due to inclement weather, although the extended wait didn’t tamper the spirits of attendees, aged 11-17 years old. Those in attendance were introduced to various career paths associated with aviation (both in the air and on the ground) that require an advanced understanding of science, engineering, technology, and mathematics.

As it has been since its inception, though, the high point of Aviation Awareness Day continues to be the freeof-charge aircraft rides offered to kids. Planes used

included a single-engine Cessna 172 — the plane many aviation experts dub the most successful plane in aircraft history because of the units sold and the longevity of production — the twin-engine monoplane Cessna 310, and several models of Piper planes. Placed in the trusted hands of veteran pilots willing to answer questions before and after takeoff, kids were taken up in the air – many for the first time in their lives – and shown that carving a career in aviation isn’t out of reach.

“This was a true community event, and it took the generosity of community leaders and businesses to make it happen,” Airport Supervisor Charles Palmer said. “From the Port supplying fuel for the planes, to restaurants donating drinks and food, musicians coming to play in the after -

After a brief hiatus due to COVID-19 and uncooperative weather, Aviation Awareness Day finally returned to the Port of South Louisiana’s Executive Regional Airport

noon, and of course all the volunteers and pilots from across the area providing a once-in-a-lifetime experience for these kids. Even with the delay, so many pilots still came when it was rescheduled, because they know what this means to those kids.

“It was a long and busy day, but certainly a worthwhile effort.”

In addition to the fleet of planes manned by volunteer pilots, attending children and their parents also got to watch members of the U.S. Coast Guard perform a helicopter search and rescue mission. Furthermore, students and staff from Nicholls State’s Geomatics Department introduced the audience to the operation of unmanned aerial drones, which have been used in a variety of capacities such as mapping Louisiana’s ever-evolving coastline.

Exposing young adults to ALL aspects of aviation – not just being a pilot – and providing them real-life role models in different fields of aviation for which to follow was overall goal of this cause when Paul Green, a Navy veteran, East St. John High School grad and longtime aircraft maintenance technician, and the late

Pastor Donald August originally founded the event. Even though Aviation Awareness Day is still relatively new, a handful of former attendees have gone on to pursue careers in the field and secure their pilot’s license. Those success stories, and the ones still to come, are why the Port of South Louisiana continues to proudly host this event and other gatherings that directly benefit residents in and around the River Parishes.

“The main function of the airport will always be aviation – providing easier access to the River Parishes, whether that be for business at the Port or multiple other reasons,” Palmer said. “But when we can open our gates to the local community, when we can bus kids in and give them a memory they’ll never forget, that’s just a great use of our facility, as well.”

RIVERWORKS DISCOVERY - WHO WORKS THE RIVERS

DELEGATION FROM TABASCO, MEXICO

L-R: Consul Tito Livio Morales Burelo, PortSL Senior Advisor for Commercial Operations Ted Knight, Undersecretary Carla Bustillos Rodriguez, and PortSL Chief Operations Officer Brian Cox.

L-R: PortSL Chief Operations Officer Brian Cox, Consul Tito Livio Morales Burelo, Undersecretary Carla Bustillos Rodriguez, and Carlos Raúl Suárez

L-R: PortSL Chief Operations Officer Brian Cox, Consul Tito Livio Morales Burelo, Undersecretary Carla Bustillos Rodriguez, and Carlos Raúl Suárez

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WEEK

KICKOFF BREAKFAST 2023

U.S. Congressman Garret Graves

Jaclyn Hotard Parish President, St. John the Baptist Parish

Julia Fisher Chief Commercial Officer, Port of South Louisiana

Paul Matthews Chief Executive Officer, Port of South Louisiana

Ted James Region VI Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration

Globalplex Intermodal Terminal

ADDRESS: 155 West 10th Street, Reserve, La. 70084

MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box AE Reserve, Louisiana 70084

PHONE: 985-652-9278

FAX: 985-653-0798

E-MAIL: info@portsl.com

WEB: www.portsl.com

CONTACT(S): Julia Fisher, Chief Commercial Officer

LOCATION: River mile 138.5

EQUIPMENT: Two Manitowoc 2250 rail-mounted gantry cranes; 100,000-pound capacity weighing scale for trucks; 100,000 square foot warehouse; 72,000-sq. foot, and 40,000-sq. foot transit shed; and a 177,000 sq. foot paved open storage pad

DOCK: 204 ft. x 660 ft. with upstream and downstream mooring dolphins. allow for dockage of panamax size vessels; 700 ft x 65 ft finger pier general cargo operators associated terminals ph: 985-536-4520

Globalplex Bulk Dock

MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box AE Reserve, Louisiana 70084

PHONE: 985-652-9278

FAX: 985-653-0798

E-MAIL: info@portsl.com

WEB: www.portsl.com

CONTACT(S): Julia Fisher, Chief Commercial Officer

LOCATION: River mile 138.5

FUNCTION: Transfer and store bulk, primarily cement fluorspar limestone and wood chips

EQUIPMENT: An 800 tons-per-hour continuous Carlsen ship unloader, a 1,800 tons-perhour ship-loading system, 100,000 tons of cement storage in two storage domes, 70,000 tons of storage for flourspar in an A-frame building and approximately nine acres of paved open storage for wood chips and other products.

DOCK: 507’ x 44’ with upstream and downstream mooring buoys to allow for panamax-size vessels

ADM Reserve

ADDRESS: 2032 La. Highway 44, Reserve, La. 70084

PHONE: 985-536-1151

FAX: 985-536-1152

WEB: ADMWorld.com

CONTACT(S): Mike Landry, generale manager of commercial operations

LOCATION: River mile 139.2

FUNCTION: Grain export elevator.

OTHER: Fully automated

Port of South Louisiana Executive Regional Airport

MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 909, La Place, La. 70069-0909

PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 355 Airport Road, Reserve, La. 70084

PHONE: 985-652-9278

WEB: portsl.com/airport-services

EMAIL: psl-era@portsl.com

CONTACT: Brian Cox, Chief Operating Officer

LOCATION: N30° 05.25’, W30°34.97

Plains Marketing L.P.

ADDRESS: 6410 Plains Terminal Road, St. James, La. 70086

TERMINAL MANAGER: Craig Ellinwood

PHONE: 225-265-2353

FAX: 225-265-3171

WEB: PAALP.com

LOCATION: Mile marker 158.6

FUNCTION: Storage of petroleum products.

SoLaPort

West Bank industrial site acquired for development into an industrial park located adjacent to Dow in St. Charles Parish.

MPLX L.P. (Pin Oak Terminals)

ADDRESS: 4006 Highway 44, Mt. Airy, La. 70076

CONTACT: Gregg Qualls

PHONE: 504-533-8783

WEB: PinOakTerminals.com

LOCATION: Mile marker 144.1

FUNCTION: Storage of petroleum products.

PSL Westbank St. James

CONTACT: Julia Fisher, Chief Commercial Officer

Property acquired for development.

Flag Filia at Cargill

PHOTO BY ALEXANDRA HERNANDEZ