CHALMETTE, La.—The St. Bernard Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with St. Bernard Parish Government, hosted its Annual State of the Parish Luncheon on Thursday, April 26, at the Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center.
The luncheon featured opening remarks from Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, who spoke to the success and growth that St. Bernard has seen in recent years, as well as some of the challenges occurring at the state level, such as the potential of budget cuts to education and health care. Overall, Governor Edwards’ outlook was a positive reflection of the success the state has seen over the last two years, citing the state’s low unemployment rate, economic development wins and coastal restoration efforts.
St. Bernard Parish President Guy McInnis gave his featured State of Parish Address, highlighting accomplishments made over the last year, and goals for the future. "It's always exciting to share with the community the successes we have enjoyed,” said McInnis. “I would like to thank the community and the Governor for attending and showing support for our parish."
The event was sold out, boasting over 300 attendees—almost tripling its attendance at the 2017 State of the Parish Luncheon. Cathy Alfonso, Chief Executive Officer for the St. Bernard Chamber stated, “The event was a huge success, thanks to the teamwork between the Chamber and St. Bernard Parish Government. State of the Parish will continue to grow bigger and better every year. In case you didn’t know, big things are happening in St. Bernard Parish and we look forward to 2019.”
The St. Bernard Chamber of Commerce is a professional business organization, whose mission is to provide the resources and representation necessary for the enhancement of our local business environment. The Chamber currently represents approximately 215 members, representing over 4,800 employees in the Metro New Orleans area. In addition to the dozens of networking and business development events and its Leadership St. Bernard Program, the St. Bernard Chamber of Commerce provides key resources and support for the success of the St. Bernard Parish and metropolitan business community. For more information, please visit www.stbernardchamber.org
