Moving Forward

New business and industrial projects announced for St. Landry Parish over the past 24 months have the potential to create more than 800 new, good-paying jobs, and a dozen or more prospects considering location here could add another 500 permanent spots, according to figures compiled by St. Landry Economic Development.

Besides those that have already announced new or expanded facilities, more than 20 prospects are actively considering new homes in St. Landry Parish, economic development director Bill Rodier said.

Those that have already announced that they like St. Landry and what if offers include:

• The $400 million Hazelwood Energy Project now under construction near Krotz Springs that is projected to create 123 direct full time positions, 135 indirect positions and 200 temporary construction related positions.
• C & G Container, which is building a new facility near Grand Coteau and “will relocate up to 100 immediate jobs and has the potential to add another 75 full time direct positions to the parish,” according to Rodier.

• The Wal-Mart Neighborhood Center recently opened in Opelousas that is projected to ultimately mean 90 to 100 new jobs to the community.
• The Go Bear Travel Center recently opened in Grand Coteau. projected to create up to 45 new full time positions.
• A $5 million expansion by Crest Industries in the Eunice area that is anticipated to bring 20 new jobs averaging $50,000 per year, plus benefits. State economic development authorities estimate the investment will result in an additional 24 indirect jobs, for a total of 44 new jobs in the area.
• Opening of a larger Noble Plastics facility that “has a great potential for future expansion and additional jobs,” in Rodier’s estimation.
• A one-of-a-kind Loves Travel Center that broke ground in January 2016 in Port Barre, expected to create up to 35 direct full time positions.
• A new Giles Nissan dealership in the Harry Guilbeau development area that may create as many as two dozen new jobs for sales people and technicians.

In addition, a major project at the Alon Refinery in Krotz Springs, while creating only 15 new permanent jobs, provided 2,000 temporary construction jobs here.

“The parish tourism commission reported-record breaking lodging numbers as temporary workers stayed in area hotels, campgrounds, and RV Facilities,” Rodier noted. “In addition to paying for lodging, these workers bought food, gasoline, clothing, and other necessities that added substantially to the whole parish economy.”

And, Rodier says, there will likely be more good news to come, in the form of more construction jobs and more permanent spots once construction is done.

“Nothing breeds success like success,” he said, “and each new project that we bring to St. Landry helps us to show other decision makers that there are good reasons to locate here and to hire our willing workers.”

The list of those who are undecided but are looking hard at St. Landry includes:

• A light fabrication and assembly that would create 85 permanent jobs with an average production wage is $19.50 per hour plus benefits.

• A prospect that could have “a major impact that would expand across the region and even the state,” Rodier said. He said St. Landry is on the “short list” for this project that “would create up to 100 white collar high paying positions, collectively averaging close to $100,000 annually.”
• A heavy industrial concern that may make a firm commitment within the next two months.
• A manufacturing prospect looking at a site in the center of the parish that could create 50 new direct positions.

“We need to remember that these are very competitive times and that there is no guarantee that these prospective employers will come to St. Landry,” Rodier said. “But there are positive signs that they are looking very carefully at what we have to offer, and that alone is encouraging—it means that we are competitive with other parishes in the area and will be able to attract our fair share of new employers.

“At the same time,” Rodier said, “St. Landry economic development is working every day to help our existing small businesses expand, create new jobs, and become as successful and profitable as they can be.”