AVONDALE, La. – Avondale Global Gateway owner Host said the site has “proven to be a center of commerce generating economic growth for Jefferson Parish.” Host said it is on track to move more than one million tons of cargo at the site in 2023. The maritime company signed Sesco Cement and Gulf Wind Technology as long-term tenants at AGG and said it saw a “continuous stream” of ships at the docks.
This October marked the first anniversary of AGG’s debut. Since then, the site has generated hundreds of full-time jobs and “rejuvenated a once dormant 275-acre shipyard,” said its owner.
Host has donated over $300,000 to United Way Southeast Louisiana, the NOLA Coalition, the Bridge City Fire Department, Son of a Saint and more.
Over the summer, AGG contracted its third long-term tenant, Sesco Cement, which said it plans to invest $40 million at the site over the next few years. Since then, AGG has moved more than 100,000 tons of cement, a significant portion of which was destined for use in Louisiana’s expanding LNG industry.
Host said Sesco Cement and Gulf Wind Technology are major tenants in its target industry clusters centered around food products, construction materials and renewable energy. Host hopes to attract more tenants that benefit from proximity to each other to “add value to cargo moving through the site.”
“After not seeing a ship at the site in decades, many had given up on ever seeing Avondale Shipyard once again generate economic prosperity for the West Bank and the State of Louisiana,” said Adam Anderson, CEO and chairman of Host, in a press release. “Now Jefferson Parish’s West Bank sees a continuous stream of ships arriving at Avondale, some from as far as Korea, importing essential cargo like windmill blades. As we close out 2023, we are proud that Avondale Global Gateway has created hundreds of jobs, brought new industrial business and ship traffic to the region, and returned the site to profitability. This is all in just one year. There is even more to come as we continue bringing economic success to Jefferson Parish’s West Bank.”
In 2024, Anderson hopes to attract more industrial tenants, increasing river, rail and road shipments at the property. A recent $2 million renovation and upgrade to the gate complex, in partnership with the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission, should help AGG reach those goals.
Host said an economic impact report by Stephen R. Barnes shows that a fully developed AGG will bring more than 2,000 on-site jobs, more than 3,000 additional jobs across the state, $32 billion in total economic output, and an $8.6 billion increase in Louisiana payrolls. The new activity has the potential to generate $554.9 million in new state tax revenue and $286.9 million in new sales tax revenue to benefit Jefferson Parish.
