On April 12, the Port of South Louisiana, in conjunction with Associated Terminals and AECOM, hosted a crawfish boil and celebration commemorating the 25th anniversary of operations of Globalplex Intermodal Terminal, the port’s transshipment center. Local officials, former Executive Directors and employees and past commissioners were among the attendees for the event, held at the Port’s Guesthouse. Associated Terminals Chairman David Fennelly and I addressed the attendees at the celebration; it was an honor to recognize the transformation of Globalplex from a site filled with abandoned, dilapidated buildings to the vibrant terminal it is today. Globalplex is a world-class facility that can easily respond to the needs of clientele and shippers. This has been accomplished in no small part by a number of people; the Port of South Louisiana’s commissioners and Executive Directors past and present to have the vision, the engineers to put that vision into design, the contractors to turn those designs into reality, tenants to rent the buildings, the stevedores to move the cargo, and the Port staff to administer the daily operation. Our Port of South Louisiana family has done an excellent job ensuring the success of Globalplex.
As we celebrate the past and present of Globalplex, we look to the future with Formosa. On April 23, Governor John Bel Edwards and FG LA LLC executives announced the site selection of St. James Parish for a $9.4 billion chemical manufacturing complex along the west bank of the Mississippi River. Branded “The Sunshine Project,” the site’s complex will be built in two phases and produce ethylene, propylene, ethylene glycol and associated polymers. These materials are used to make everyday products such as plastic bottles, car casings, grocery bags, ropes, artificial turf, and polyester clothing.
The construction of the ethylene complex marks the largest industrial project in the history of our state, creating 1,200 new direct jobs and an estimated 8,000 new indirect jobs, totaling more than 9,000 jobs in the River Parishes and surrounding regions. Pending the completion and approval of permits for the site, construction of the complex could begin as early as 2019. The construction of the site is projected to be a 10 year process.
The announcement of the Sunshine Project and its site development within the Port of South Louisiana’s district, which spans 54 miles between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, are very positive changes to our region. We welcome Formosa and look forward to assisting them in constructing and operating their new facility. The addition of this new chemical manufacturing facility is one of the Port’s most important investments and we appreciate the many jobs the project brings to our community.
Over 1,000 people visited the grounds of the Executive Regional Airport over two straight weekends at the end of April and beginning of May. First, the Ford Tri-Motor, nicknamed the “Tin Goose” held a three-and-a-half-day tour where area aviation enthusiasts and local residents bought tickets to ride in this 1929 airliner. It was the first time this airplane was in south Louisiana which was evident with sales reaching 298 tickets. We would like to thank Lamarque Ford for sponsoring this event and EAA 971 for serving as host. The following weekend was the 2nd Annual St. John Parish Aviation Awareness, an event organized by Guys Achieving Goals, a 501c3 formed to introduce and promote aviation to our area youth. Volunteer pilots took to the skies with over 300 children ranging in age from 5 to 18, most for their very first flight. Food and other activities were provided by local sponsors and it proved to be a fun-filled day with families throughout the tri-parish area in attendance. We would like to congratulate Guys Achieving Goals on another successful year.
