October 22, 2007

Back To Top Of Page

THE COMMUNITY AND THE PORT OF LAKE CHARLES

The Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District today release its 2007 Economic Impact study results.  This study encompassed calendar year 2006 and shows 58,219 jobs in the state of Louisiana were related to Port business activity at the public and private terminals located throughout the Lake Charles Port District.  “The Port of Lake Charles is a vital economic engine for the five parishes of Southwest Louisiana as well as the State of Louisiana,” said Davidson Darbone, President of the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District.  “By having a flexible and aggressive strategic plan, this organization continues to attract business to the region and that means jobs for our communities,” Darbone went on to say.

Martin Associates, a consulting firm from Lancaster, PA was contracted by the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District to measure the local and regional economic impacts generated by maritime activity within the Port District.  John Martin of Martin Associates presented his findings to the Board of Commissioners at the monthly board meeting of the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District’s October meeting.  Mr. Martin told the Board of the 58,219 jobs identified, 10,375 are considered direct jobs.  Direct jobs are those jobs that are generated by activities at the marine terminals and should such activities cease, these jobs are the most directly dependent upon the vessel and cargo activity at Lake Charles.

11,130 jobs are induced jobs, or those jobs supporting the local purchases made by the 10,375 individuals holding the direct jobs due to port activity. The firms dependent upon the marine activity at the Port of Lake Charles made $1,045.0 billion of local purchases for office supplies, equipment, utilities, communications, maintenance and repair services, transportation services, professional services, and goods and services. These purchases supported 9,819 indirect jobs in the State of Louisiana.  In addition to the direct, induced and indirect job impacts, 26,894 related jobs in Louisiana are with importers and exporters of the cargo moving over marine terminals located at the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District.

September 20, 2007

Back To Top Of Page

LAKE CHARLES HARBOR AND TERMINAL DISTRICT HOSTS 10TH ANNUAL RICE COOK OFF TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL RICE MONTH

September is National Rice Month. In celebration, the Calcasieu-Cameron Rice Growers Association sponsored the 10th Annual Rice Cook Off today at the Port of Lake Charles. The Port of Lake Charles hosted the event and sponsored of the awards luncheon. Family and Consumer Science students from area middle schools and high schools participated in the event.

1st place for the “Best Dish” category went to Jourdan Fruge (Shrimp and Black Bean Salad) of Moss Bluff Middle, 2nd place went to Abby Perkins (Chocolate Rice Cheesecake) of FK White Middle, and 3rd place went to Kevin Kurten (Creamy Coconut Delight) of WW Lewis Middle School. Jourdan Fruge also one 1st place for the most heart healthy dish. Farmers Rice Milling Co., Inc. sponsored rice cookers for each contestant.

The production, milling, and exporting of rice has a major economic affect on Southwest Louisiana and the education of our students in Family and Consumer Sciences is important in combating health, nutrition, and family issues that are major problems for our community.

(From left to right:  David Habetz, President Calcasieu-Cameron Rice Growers Association, Jourdan Fruge (1st Place and Most Heart Healthy Dish), Abby Perkins (2nd Place), Kevin Kurten (3rd Place)

July 30, 2007

Back To Top Of Page

HARBOR POLICE AND CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT RECEIVES GRANT UNDER 2005 BUFFER ZONE PROTECTION PLAN

The Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District is pleased to announce that a grant submitted by the Harbor Police Department in concert with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office (CPSO) was approved under the 2005 Buffer Zone Protection Program. The $50,000 grant provided funds to acquire eleven two-way marine radios, nine night vision binoculars, four regular portable radios, four satellite phones, one FURUNO Net radar, and one scanner for detector for divers/hull scanning.

The CPSO requested and received approval for four two-way marine radios, four night vision binoculars, one FURUNO Net radar, and one scanner for detector for divers/hull scanning. The items were purchased by the Harbor Police under the 2005 Buffer Protection Plan and transferred to the CPSO after authorization from the Port of Lake Charles Board of Commissioners at its July board meeting.

“The tools provided under the Buffer Protection Program will increase the ability of the Harbor Police and Sheriff’s Department to protect the assets of the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District and the community waterway,” said R. Adam McBride, Port Director. “Protecting and securing our port and waterway is essential to our homeland security.”

“One very important responsibility of the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office is homeland security, which includes protecting our port,” says Sheriff Tony Mancuso.  “We are very pleased to receive money from this grant to purchase this specialized equipment which will enable us provide more secure waterways.”

The Buffer Zone Protection Program is a grant program administered by the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security, Preparedness Division. Its purpose is to provide specifically identified assets to law enforcement agencies to enhance the security of port’s assets and waterways.  The Harbor Police have responsibility for the protection of the landside assets and the CPSO provides assistance in protecting the assets from the waterside through their Marine Division.

The Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District is the 12th largest Port District in the United States and is located on the Calcasieu Ship Channel in Southwest Louisiana. The Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District is governed by a seven member Board of Commissioners.  To learn more about the Port of Lake Charles and the surrounding area, visit the Port’s website at www.portlc.com.

(Pictured Standing from Left to Right: R. Adam McBride, Port Director for the Port of Lake Charles, Lt. Ron Johnson, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office Maritime Enforcement, and Major David Wagoner, Harbor Police Department. Seated from Left to Right: Davidson Darbonne, President of the Board of Commissioners for the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District and Nelson Robles, Homeland Security, sign the Cooperate Endeavor Agreement.)

July 18, 2007

Back To Top Of Page

PORT DIRECTOR ELECTED VICE PRESIDENT OF PORTS ASSOCIATION OF LOUISIANA

Mr. R. Adam McBride, Port Director, of Lake Charles Harbor & Terminal District was elected vice president of the Ports Association of Louisiana (PAL). The office became effective July 1, 2007.

In 2003, Mr. McBride joined the Port of Lake Charles as its Port Director.  Since that time the Port has adopted its first Strategic Plan and seen its customer base diversify and grow as well as significantly improved financial and operating results.

PAL, founded in 1984, is a non-profit trade association formed to aid in the advancement of Louisiana ports, which encourages economic development within the State of Louisiana. The association currently has 27 member ports and 100 associate members.

(R. Adam McBride addressing the assembly at the 2006 PAL conference hosted by the Port of Lake Charles at L’Auberge du Lac Hotel & Casino)

July 5, 2007

Back To Top Of Page

LAKE CHARLES HARBOR AND TERMINAL DISTRICT ANNOUNCES NEWLY ELECTED BOARD OFFICERS

The Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District at its June meeting elected a new slate of officers for 2007/2008. The seven member Board elected the following officers; Mr. Davidson Darbone, president, Mr. Harry Hank, vice president and Mr. Stephen Hebert, secretary/treasurer. The offices took effect July 1, 2007.

Mr. Darbone was appointed to the District’s Board in October of 2005 and is the president of Grand Oaks, Inc. of Lake Charles.   David worked for PPG Industries for 17 years until 1995.  David is also currently the president of the local Home Builders Association, a board member for the Louisiana Association of Home Builders, a member of the Lake Charles Kiwanis North, and All Coming Together (ACT). Mr. Darbone is the first African-American elected to serve as president of the Board of Commissioners to the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District.

Mr. Hank was appointed to the Board in September 2004 and has resided in Lake Charles, LA, since 1971. He earned a BS in Chemical Engineering at the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy. Harry retired from PPG Industries in 1998 after 37 years of service as a Works Manager at the Lake Charles facility. Harry has been actively involved in community service both before and since his retirement.

Mr. Hebert of Westlake, LA, was appointed to the board in February 2007 and started his working career in 1970 with “3001” the Geospatial Company.  Stephen was named as a Director of “3001” in 2001, and in 2004 he was named president. He managed the first federally funded countrywide GIS programs for property ownership mapping, which included one of the first commercial applications of Global Positioning System (GPS) surveying. He also managed the first all digital, comprehensive river charting project for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the first statewide digital orthophotography mission for the U.S. Geological Survey and the State of Louisiana.  In the late nineties, Mr. Hebert implemented a newly designed airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) sensor created for “3001”, and supervised “3001’s” pioneering efforts in the market of digital photogrammetric mapping cameras.

The Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District is the 12th largest Port District in the United States and is located on the Calcasieu Ship Channel in Southwest Louisiana. The Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District is governed by a seven member Board of Commissioners.  To learn more about the Port of Lake Charles and the surrounding area, visit the Port’s website at www.portlc.com.

July 3, 2007

Back To Top Of Page

PULP FINDS NEW HOME AT PORT OF LAKE CHARLES

Lake Charles Cargo Terminals (LCCT), a Division of Gearbulk Shipping Ltd. announced recently at a special board meeting of the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District that Gearbulk will begin carrying wood pulp to the Port of Lake Charles.  Mr. Anthony Damron, General Manager of the LCCT operation in Lake Charles addressed the seven member Board of Directors for the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District at the May 29th meeting.

“On behalf of LCCT and Gearbulk it is my pleasure to inform you that effective with the arrival of the M/V “Raven Arrow” at the Port of Lake Charles on June 26, 2007, Gearbulk’s inbound tonnage will increase due to the agreement reached between Gearbulk and Votorantim Celulose e Papel (VCP) to carry wood pulp from Paranagua, Brazil to Lake Charles, Louisiana.” said Mr. Damron.  “There was a great deal of time and energy put into the negotiation of this agreement and LCCT feels one major factor that convinced our customer to send their wood pulp to Lake Charles occurred after visiting the Port’s facilities and walking through the new transit sheds #16 & #17(which total 200,000 square feet). VCP representatives were impressed with the new facilities, plans for future development and attitude at the Port Lake Charles” he went on to say.

VCP is located in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and has a US office in Baltimore, MD.  The wood pulp is manufactured using wood fiber from managed plantation operations.    After the wood pulp is received in Lake Charles, under the direction of LCCT, Lake Charles longshoremen will transfer the pulp from transit sheds into rail cars which will be delivered to the end user in the State of Oregon.

Mark Abraham, President of the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District said, “This is very exciting news for the Port of Lake Charles and Gearbulk, this announcement really does give validation to the strategic capital plan developed and presented to the Board by Adam McBride, our Port Director.  Modern and efficient facilities make it possible for steamship lines like Gearbulk to entice additional cargos to the Port.   It is our understanding that starting with the arrival of the Raven Arrow; Gearbulk expects to carry about 10,000 to 15,000 metric tons of pulp into Lake Charles through the end of this year.  However, for the shipping period of 2008, Gearbulk tells us it will carry 60,000 to 90,000 tons of pulp to Lake Charles; an increase of over 40% in total annual volume of cargo carried by Gearbulk into Lake Charles. Expanding the Ports cargo base through diversification of cargo will assist the Port with future growth,” Abraham added.

Gearbulk is an international shipping company providing high quality transportation and logistics services for various industrial sectors.  The company is a leading carrier of unitized forest products and non-ferrous metals, and operates the world's largest fleet of open hatch gantry craned (OHGC) vessels, controlling approximately 35% of the world's OHGC vessel capacity.  With two traveling gantry cranes serving perfectly box shaped holds, these vessels are specifically designed and equipped to transport unitized cargoes.  Gearbulk conducts operations on a worldwide basis through a network of offices located in 16 countries and using over 500 agents.  Gearbulk employs about 270 staff in representative and branch offices.  The North American headquarters is located in Tampa, Florida.

The Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District is the 12th largest Port District in the United States and is located on the Calcasieu Ship Channel in Southwest Louisiana. The Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District is governed by a seven member Board of Commissioners.  To learn more about the Port of Lake Charles and the surrounding area, visit the Port’s website at www.portlc.com.

(Port of Lake Charles’ longshoreman using forklift fitted with side clamps to unload VCP’s wood pulp into one of the Port’s new 100,000 sq.ft. warehouses)

May 18, 2007

Back To Top Of Page

LAKE CHARLES HARBOR AND TERMINAL DISTRICT ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH SHEEHAN PIPE LINE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

The Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District announced today that the Port of Lake Charles and Sheehan Pipe Line Construction Company have entered into a six month lease agreement on twenty acres of property located in Westlake, Louisiana.  The acreage will be used as a staging area and field office for the construction company.

“As an ongoing effort to promote jobs and economic development in Southwest Louisiana, the Port is pleased to meet the requirements of Sheehan Pipe Line by making available the Westlake property,” said Dan Loughney, Port of Lake Charles Director of Marketing and Trade Development. 

Sheehan will use the acreage for staging equipment and as a base of operations to install pipeline for Cheniere’s Creole Trail LNG terminal.  Creole Trail LNG will be located on 1,463 acres along the Calcasieu River Ship Channel in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. Sheehan will also use the site as a location for workers to report for transport to the pipeline construction site.

Sheehan Pipe Line Construction Company is a fourth generation family-owned company based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with over a century of experience in pipeline construction. Sheehan is one of the nation’s oldest pipeline construction companies and has completed more than 23,000 miles of pipe since 1903.

The Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District is the 12th largest Port District in the United States and is located on the Calcasieu Ship Channel in Southwest Louisiana. The Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District is governed by a seven member Board of Commissioners.  To learn more about the Port of Lake Charles and the surrounding area, visit the Port’s website at www.portlc.com.

(Site location for Sheehan Pipe Line Construction Company in Westlake, LA)

April 23, 2007

Back To Top Of Page

LAKE CHARLES HARBOR AND TERMINAL DISTRICT ANNOUNCES OPENING OF NEW WAREHOUSES

The Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District and Lake Charles Cargo Terminal (LCCT) a division of Gearbulk Inc. officially opened two new 100,000 square foot warehouses today at the Port of Lake Charles.  At a ribbon cutting ceremony held at the Port, speakers representing the Port and LCCT spoke to an audience of customers, vendors, longshoremen and city officials about the new structures. Representatives of Gearbulk Europe and South America were also in attendance.

Mark Abraham, President of the Board of Commissioners for the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District said, “The opening of these two new warehouses shows the Lake Charles community as well as the international shipping community that the Port of Lake Charles is building for the future”.  Abraham went on to say that “these warehouses represent the beginning of the Port’s five year capital improvement program of $125 million to rehabilitate and build modern, efficient facilities that will serve this Port and community well into the 21st century”.

The warehouses are 200 feet wide and 500 feet long (100,000 sq. ft.) with paved concrete floors. The warehouses are clear span which allows easy access and efficient mobility for cargo handling.  The buildings have 34 ft high ceilings and are rail accessible. The total construction costs for the project was $13 million and the general contractor on the warehouse project was F Miller Construction, LLC. 

The warehouses will provide additional space to handle forest products carried by Gearbulk Inc. such as lumber, plywood, door skins, medium density fiber board (MDF), and fencing materials imported from Argentina, Brazil, and Germany for customers throughout the United States.  Gearbulk also carries aluminum to Lake Charles.

Gearbulk Inc. is the world's largest integrated forest products carrier, and established a forest product import terminal, Lake Charles Cargo Terminal (LCCT), at the Port of Lake Charles in 2004. In January of 2006, Gearbulk Inc. extended the contact for an additional five years.

“LCCT is extremely pleased with the final product of this project”, said Tony Damron, General Manager for LCCT Lake Charles.  “The versatility of these new facilities will make cargo flow more efficiently and in this business, efficiency is everything,” Damron went on to say.

Gearbulk Inc. is an international shipping company providing high quality transportation and logistics services for various industrial sectors.  The company is a leading carrier of unitized forest products and non-ferrous metals, operating the world's largest fleet of open hatch gantry craned (OHGC) vessels, controlling approximately 36% of the world's OHGC vessel capacity.  Gearbulk’s vessels are box hold vessels specifically designed and equipped to handle unitized cargoes. Gearbulk Inc. conducts operations on a worldwide basis through a network of offices located in 16 countries and utilizes over 500 agents.  Gearbulk Inc. employs approximately 270 staff in representative and branch offices.  The North American headquarters is located in Tampa, Florida.

The Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District was created by Louisiana Legislature in 1924. The District encompasses 203 square miles in Calcasieu Parish, has a 40 foot channel and is the 12th largest Port District in the United States. The Port of Lake Charles has 13 deep water berths and over 1 million sq. ft. of covered storage. The District is governed by a seven member Board of Commissioners.

(Aerial view of the two recently completed 100,000 square foot Warehouses #16 a nd #17 at the Port of Lake Charles’ City Docks in Lake Charles, LA)

April 5, 2007

Back To Top Of Page

LOUISIANA PORTS IDENTIFY $849 MILLION IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT NEEDS FOR NEXT 5 YEARS

LAKE Charles, La., April 5, 2007— If Louisiana’s maritime infrastructure is to remain competitive over the next five years, Louisiana ports will need to complete 104 projects with a combined cost of $849 million, according to a study released this week by the Ports Association of Louisiana.

“Funding for new port infrastructure and dredging is a state priority, and our Congressional and State Legislators are supportive and aware of the future needs,” said PAL Executive Director Joe Accardo Jr., today as he shared details of the statewide study that outline a five-year capital improvement plan during a regional news conference at the Port of Lake Charles. “We must secure the funding to continue this capital improvement plan.”

“Historically, ports have funded maritime projects from numerous state, local, and federal funding sources with the majority of the funding provided by the ports themselves,” he added. “However, to meet the funding needs identified in the study, the ports will have to seek and secure $73 million annually in additional funds based on the past level of contribution from historical funding sources.”

PAL members completed $455 million in capital projects during the period of 2001 through 2005. Ports received funding from numerous sources; however 89 percent of the funding came from four sources. These sources include port-generated income (38.8 percent), port bonds (20.4 percent), Louisiana Port Construction & Development Priority Program (21 percent) and the state Capital Outlay Budget (8.9 percent). The report also identified 11 percent of the funds coming from other federal and state grant programs and private investment.

The news conference, co-hosted by the Port of Lake Charles, the West Calcasieu Port, the West Cameron Port and the Port of Mermentau, was designed to share the PAL report -- 2007-2011 Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan – with Southwest Louisiana.

“This study provides a good benchmark for where we are and where we expect Louisiana ports to be in the year 2011, as we work towards funding solutions and new opportunities,” noted Adam McBride, director of the Port of Lake Charles and a member of the PAL executive committee. “This report eliminates the debate and provides a solid framework for future capital investment.”

Accardo explained that PAL commissioned the Shaw Group to draft the study in an effort to develop and provide an independent, comprehensive and objective view of the historical sources of funding for ports and the immediate and anticipated future capital improvement needs which Louisiana’s ports will require over the next five years.

In addition to addressing capital needs, the study also reviews the competitiveness of Louisiana ports with neighboring U.S. Gulf states, and provides a projection of future capital improvements for Louisiana’s ports.

“It is time for all of the ports in the state to address where they are in the present market environment, their future capital improvement needs, and what is needed to maintain their competitiveness with other neighboring U.S. Gulf coast ports,” Accardo said. “Louisiana’s port system provides the state with tremendous economic impacts and is a gateway that delivers thousand of commodities within the international marketplace.

“These ports are vital to local economies, as well as the state’s economy,” he added. “One in eight jobs in the state are attributed to ports, and Louisiana ports are geographically positioned near the center of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and are competing with nearly 50 other ports in neighboring U.S. Gulf states.

“Ports and waterways are Louisiana’s true link to the global marketplace,” Accardo emphasized. “This is an aggressive study, and the completion of projects identified in PAL’s capital improvement plan is critical to the state’s economy and its competitiveness with neighboring Gulf of Mexico states.”

The initial list of projects proposed by the PAL study was refined using a complex rating system designed to allow inclusion of only those projects with the highest probability of occurring within the next five years.

“The study represents an exhaustive approach to data collection and analysis,” McBride said. “Each of the 31 PAL member ports was interviewed and surveyed to collect data, and as a result of these efforts, a list of projects and associated costs was compiled.”

In addition to identifying the most critical infrastructure projects, the study also validates the economic impact of ports and the maritime industry; valuates present and future trends in the global marketplace in which the ports operate; reviews historic funding sources that have been available to ports; and, summarizes port-funding mechanisms utilized in other U.S. Gulf Coast states.

The complete study can be accessed through PAL’s website (www.portsoflouisiana.org).

March 7, 2007

Back To Top Of Page

LAKE CHARLES HARBOR AND TERMINAL DISTRICT ANNOUNCES $1.3 BILLION PROJECT

Mr. Mark Abraham, President of the Board of Commissioners for the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District announced today that Lake Charles Cogeneration and the Port of Lake Charles have entered into an option to lease agreement to construct a gasification plant on Port property at a total cost of $1.3 billion. The agreement also addresses a long-term operational agreement regarding the receipt and delivery of petroleum coke to the plant from the Port’s Bulk Terminal #1 once the plant is completed.

Gasification is the process by which a solid fuel source is subjected to very high temperatures and pressures to create a chemical reaction that leads to the creation of what is known as a “synthesis gas” or "syn gas”. Syn gas, in turn, can be used as an input to create other chemicals, such as methanol, or it can be cleaned and modified to create a “synthetic natural gas” or “SNG”. SNG is pipeline quality gas and generally indistinguishable from natural gas produced from regional geological formations.

SNG is of the same quality as traditional natural gas, but is derived from a fuel source that has less price volatility and is typically discounted in price relative to solid fuels like coal.

“With the approval today of two resolutions by the Board of Commissioners, one resolution entering into an option to lease agreement, and the other resolution for the Board to authorize preliminary official action for issuance of up to $1 billion in industrial development GO Zone Bonds, the Board sees sustained and positive growth in the Lake Charles area,” said Board President Mark Abraham. “We believe this is the largest single capital project ever announced for Calcasieu Parish. As an economic engine for Southwest Louisiana, I see this project as a continuation of new and exciting economic development slated for our region,” Abraham went on to say.

The gasification plant will be built on 70 acres located adjacent to the Port’s Bulk Terminal #1 and is expected to take four years to complete. It is anticipated there will be approximately 3,000 jobs during construction and 150 to 200 operational jobs once the plant is online. An economic impact analyses reports total job impacts will exceed 1,900 locally and 10,000 state wide.

The plant will use petroleum coke as feeder stock requiring 7,000 to 8,000 tons per day to convert the solid fuel into Synthetic Natural Gas (“SNG”). The SNG will be transported through third party-owned pipelines. Other usable products generated by the plant will be steam, electricity, methanol, hydrogen and sulfur.

On December 16, 2005, H.R. 4440 – “Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005” – was enacted by the United States Congress. This legislation provides tax-based incentives for both individuals and companies doing business in certain declared hurricane disaster regions (“Zones”). The purpose for the incentives is to enhance rebuilding and revitalizing communities along the Gulf Coast. This legislation permits an entity, such as the Port of Lake Charles, to issue tax-exempt bond financing at very low interest rates to help rebuild the economy in the Zone. Proceeds can be used to pay for acquisition, construction, reconstruction, and renovation of commercial property, including buildings, their structural components, and fixed improvements.

Funding of the Lake Charles Cogeneration gasification project qualifies for GO Zone bond funds, and credit of Lake Charles Cogeneration will secure the payment of the GO Zone bonds. Governor Blanco, the Louisiana Department of Economic Development (LED), and the Louisiana State Bond Commission must approve any request for issuance of GO Zone bonds. Lake Charles Cogeneration has had a number of discussions with Governor Blanco and LED regarding approval of up to $1 billion for the project, while Lake Charles Cogeneration plans to invest a further $300 million in the project. The Port of Lake Charles will submit an application to the Governor, LED, and the Louisiana Bond Commission on behalf of Lake Charles Cogeneration for the issuance of $1 billion in GO Zone bonds.

The Port will engage the services of the law firm Taylor, Porter, Brooks and Phillips, LLC in Baton Rouge, Louisiana as bond counsel. The law firm must be approved by the State Attorney General and the bond counsel’s fees cannot exceed an approved Attorney General Fee Schedule.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Board of Commissioners and Staff at the Port of Lake Charles for their patience and cooperation in working with us through this very involved process. We look forward to working with the people at the Port as well as the community in bringing this project to fruition,” said Donald Maley Jr., Vice President of Leucadia National Corporation.

The agreement provides an initial option period of up to 18 months. The option period will commence upon the filing of the application by the Port with the Louisiana Department of Economic Development for GO Zone bond approval, which must be submitted no later than March 23, 2007. The lease term will be for forty years with two ten year options thereafter.

Lake Charles Cogeneration has secured an independent economic impact analysis of the project prepared by David E. Dismukes, Ph.D, a professor at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Dr. Dismukes summarizes the economic impact of the project with the following observations. i.)The project is over $1 billion in capital investment. ii.) Estimated economic impact will be $405 million for the local economy, $1.4 billion total impact for the Louisiana economy. iii.) Estimated employment impact will be 1,912 jobs for local economy, 12,226 total jobs for Louisiana. iv.) Hydrogen produced from lower cost feedstock is needed by refineries to meet clean gasoline and diesel fuel emission standards and v.) Carbon Dioxide (CO2) produced at the plant could be used for regional enhanced oil recovery, just to name a few of the economic impacts in Dr. Dismukes’ study. To see the complete study by Dr. Dismukes click the link below:

Economic Impact Analysis of the Proposed Lake Charles Gasification Project

2 MB

State Senator Willie Mount, District #27, said of the announcement, “I am so pleased to see that the parties involved have come together and advanced this project to the point at which it is today. This has been a long process and the hard work getting to this point will pay off in economic benefits to the citizens and communities of Southwest Louisiana. Through the number of good jobs, facility infrastructure, and proactive responses of the Port of Lake Charles and the State of Louisiana, a strong message is being sent to both domestic and international industry that Southwest Louisiana is a great place to do business.”

Commissioner Dale Sittig of the Louisiana Public Service Commission said of the project, “Since natural gas prices have become volatile and expensive, the PSC has been searching for ways to stabilize the price of natural gas for Louisiana consumers. This project offers a long term supply of natural gas at reasonable prices in an environmentally acceptable process. The economic impact of this project, the jobs created, and the industry it will support will provide long-term benefits to our ratepayers.”

The Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District is the 12th largest Port District in the United States and is located on the Calcasieu Ship Channel in Southwest Louisiana. The Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District is governed by a seven member Board of Commissioners. To learn more about the Port of Lake Charles and the surrounding area, visit the Port’s website at www.portlc.com.

Single tower gasification plant located in Florida. Lake Charles Cogeneration proposed plant at the Port of Lake Charles calls for a five (5) tower gasification plant.  

February 26, 2007

Back To Top Of Page

LAKE CHARLES HARBOR AND TERMINAL DISTRICT ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF NEW BOARD MEMBER

Port of Lake Charles Board of Commissioners, announced today that Stephen Hebert of Westlake, LA, has been appointed by Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco to the Port of Lake Charles Board of Commissioners.  Mr. Hebert will replace Mr. Leonard Knapp’s position on the Board whose term expired after three years of service.

“On behalf of the Board of Commissioners and Staff, I would like to welcome Stephen to the Port of Lake Charles,” said Mr. Abraham.  “With Stephen’s experience, I am confident the Port of Lake Charles will continue to be a strong economic engine for our community, the parishes of Southwest Louisiana and the State of Louisiana.” 

Mr. Hebert started his working career in 1970 with “3001” the Geospatial Company.  Stephen was named as a Director of “3001” in 2001 and in 2004, he was named President. Since 2001, his primary responsibilities have included government and customer relations, contract negotiations, and creation and implementation of new technology. He managed the first federally funded countrywide GIS programs for property ownership mapping, which included one of the first commercial applications of Global Positioning System (GPS) surveying. His experience in CADD, GIS, and hydrography led to his management of the first all digital, comprehensive river charting project for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the first statewide digital orthophotography mission for the U.S. Geological Survey and the State of Louisiana.  In the late nineties, Mr. Hebert implemented a newly designed airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) sensor created for 3001, and supervised 3001’s pioneering efforts in the market of digital photogrammetric mapping cameras.

”I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people of Westlake for presenting my name to Governor Blanco for her consideration as an appointee to the Board of Commissioners for the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District,” said Mr. Hebert.  “I am honored to serve and represent the community of Westlake, and I intend to draw upon my 37 years of experience in private business. In my new appointment on the business committee, I understand the economic importance of the Port to the local economy and will stress the utilization of local business by the Port,” he went on to say.

Mr. Hebert is a registered Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) in several states. He is also a Certified Hydrographer and a Certified Mapper under the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS).

(Port Attorney Mike Dees (right) swears in Stephen Hebert (left) for the office of Port of Lake Charles Commissioner)

January 31, 2007

PORT OFFICIALS PLAN ACTIVE AGENDA IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

Representatives of the Port of Lake Charles Board of Commissioners and staff will join the Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau in Washington, D.C. during the Mardi Gras season to promote economic development for Southwest Louisiana.

R. Adam McBride, Port Director of the Port of Lake Charles, said he hopes this year’s trip to Washington will prove to be as productive as in recent years when the Port officials met with national and international trade leaders to discuss economic development and cargo handling operations at the Port of Lake Charles.

While in Washington, the Port delegation will meet with Southwest Louisiana congressional officials, US Agency for International Development (USAID) and Department of Agriculture officials to discuss various food aid programs authorized under the PL-480, Title I & II, Food for Peace and Feed the Children. Port officials will also confer with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Transportation Security Administration, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The Port will co-host an economic development brunch for Louisiana’s congressional delegation, business and industry representatives, and high-level government representatives. Co-hosting functions in Washington, D.C. provides the Port and community leaders the opportunity to promote the Port, the State, and Southwest Louisiana in an informal setting.

Back To Top Of Page

December 14, 2006

Back To Top Of Page

LAKE CHARLES HARBOR AND TERMINAL DISTRICT HOST CONFERENCE TO DEVELOP TRADE BETWEEN WEST AFRICA AND SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA

On Wednesday, December 6, 2006, the Port of Lake Charles hosted a conference to discuss potential trade opportunities between Liberia, Cameroon, Gabon, and Southwest Louisiana. Participation in the conference included Board members and staff from the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District, the Liberian-American Center for Trade Development, the Douala Urban Council, the Lake Charles African American Chamber of Commerce, and representatives from Senator Mary Landrieu’s and Congressman Charles Boustany’s office.

Mark Abraham, President and David Darbone, Secretary/Treasurer of the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District welcomed the group to the Port of Lake Charles and expressed the Port’s interest in playing a vital role in assisting the group in achieving its goals.  R. Adam McBride, Port Director for the Port of Lake Charles said, “It is the desire of the Board of Commissioners and Port staff to reach out to the community and assist to help promote trade and economic development for Southwest Louisiana”. 

The conference’s main focus was to clarify and identify possible trade markets between West Africa and Southwest Louisiana.  Discussions also included international financing and transportation issues in West Africa, Southwest Louisiana and the United States.  Mr. Julius Oben, representative of the Douala Urban Council, expressed West Africa’s willingness to trade with the United States and more specifically with Louisiana.  Mr. Oben said, “Our interest in Louisiana is due to the relationships developed from the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) workshop held in Lake Charles in 2005 to increase awareness for African economic growth”.  The AGOA was signed into law on May 18, 2000 as Title 1 of The Trade and Development Act of 2000 which offers tangible incentives for African countries to continue their efforts to open their economies and build free markets.

Mr. Chester Jones, Chairman of the African American Chamber of Commerce said “it is very important the interest shown to this group by Senator Mary Landrieu’s office as well as Congressman’s Boustany’s office, we anticipate concrete results from the groups efforts.

The Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District was created by the Louisiana Legislature in 1924. The District encompasses 203 square miles in Calcasieu Parish and is 12th largest port district in the United States. The Port of Lake Charles has 15 deep water ship berths, a 40 ft. channel, and over 1.6 million sq. ft. of covered storage. The District is governed by seven appointed Commissioners.

(Mark Abraham, President, David Darbone, Secretary/Treasurer, and R. Adam McBride, Port Director, Lake Charles Harbor & Terminal District welcomes Julius Oben, Douala Urban Council, and Joe DeClouette, President of the Lake Charles African American Chamber of Commerce to the African Trade Conference)

Back To Top Of Page

November 9, 2006

Back To Top Of Page

LAKE CHARLES HARBOR AND TERMINAL DISTRICT ANNOUNCES HIRING OF DIRECTOR OF NAVIGATION AND SECURITY

R. Adam McBride, Port Director for the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District, is pleased to announce that Mr. Channing Hayden has been appointed as the Port’s Director of Navigation and Security.  “Channing’s areas of responsibility will include the coordination and oversight of navigation and disposal sites along the Calcasieu Ship Channel as well as maintenance of the channel and homeland security issues,” said Mr. McBride.  “Channing will also act as the Port’s liaison with the U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers, the U.S. Coast Guard as well as other State and Federal Agencies”

Mr. Hayden is a graduate of Tulane University with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. He worked for the New Orleans Steamship Association of Louisiana from May 1967 to October 2005, serving in both its Labor Relations Department and General Department. The General Department is the trade association for the steamship industry on the Mississippi and Calcasieu Rivers. On January 1, 1995, Mr. Hayden was elected President and Chief Executive Officer of the Steamship Association and continued in the position through October 31, 2005.  

Mr. Hayden’s qualifications include university training in General Management and Industrial Relations/Personnel Management, work experience in Industrial Relations, General Trade Association Management, and Management Consulting.

October 3, 2006

Back To Top Of Page

LAKE CHARLES HARBOR AND TERMINAL DISTRICT ANNOUNCES 9th ANNUAL RICE COOK-OFF

September was National Rice Month. In celebration, the Calcasieu-Cameron Rice Growers sponsored the 9th Annual Rice Cook Off on September 28, 2006, at the Port of Lake Charles. The Port of Lake Charles hosted the event and was the sponsor of the awards luncheon. The cook off and awards luncheon was held in the Port of Lake Charles Board Room. Family and Consumer Science students from area middle schools and high schools participated in the event.

1st, 2nd, and 3rd place cash prizes were given in the Best Rice Dish category and a 1st place prize was given to the most heart healthy dish. Farmers Rice Milling Co., Inc. sponsored rice cookers for each contestant. The Calcasieu-Cameron Rice Growers appreciated the support as the production, milling, and exporting of rice has a major economic affect on Southwest Louisiana and the education of family issues that are major problems for our community.

(Rice Cook-off winners from left to right: Andre Williams, Reynaud Middle - 3rd place, Jessica Gibbs, Washington Marion - 1st place heart healthy dish, Lauren Hansen, W. W. Lewis - 1st place, and Luke Welcher, Hackberry High - 2nd Place)

August 28, 2006

Back To Top Of Page

LAKE CHARLES HARBOR AND TERMINAL DISTRICT ANNOUNCES GEARBULK'S NEW EUROPEAN SERVICE

Mr. R. Adam McBride, Port Director for the Port of Lake Charles, and Gearbulk Inc. are pleased to announce the arrival of Gearbulk’s European service at the Port of Lake Charles. The European service will carry dimensional European soft-wood lumber from Brake, Germany which will account for 50,000 tons of additional forest products at the Port of Lake Charles each year.

Gearbulk Inc. is the world's largest integrated forest products carrier. In August of 2004, Gearbulk established an import forest products terminal at the Port of Lake Charles where forest products from Brazil and Argentina such as lumber, plywood, and fencing materials are imported for customers throughout the United States.  Since 2004, Gearbulk Inc. has shipped over 500,000 tons of forest products through the Port of Lake Charles. Other commodities carried by Gearbulk Inc. include aluminum and soda ash.

“By establishing a forest products terminal at Lake Charles, Gearbulk showed its confidence in the Port of Lake Charles and its staff. Bringing our European service to the Port shows Gearbulk’s commitment to the Port of Lake Charles,” said Mr. Tony Damron, Terminal Manager for Lake Charles Cargo Terminals.

“The Port, stevedores, and labor officials are delighted to acquire Gearbulk’s European service. We desire to maintain our commitment of exceptional service to Gearbulk and their customers. This new service reaffirms the Port’s focus on diversifying and growing its cargo base,” said R. Adam McBride, Port Director for the Port of Lake Charles.

Due to anticipated tonnage growth with both the South American and European services, the Port of Lake Charles is constructing two 100,000 sq. ft. warehouses with paved concrete floors. The warehouses will have 34ft high ceilings with 30ft doors and have a clear span of 200ft which will allow easy access and efficient mobility throughout for cargo handling.

Gearbulk Inc. is an international shipping company providing high quality transportation and logistics services for various industrial sectors.  The company is a leading carrier of unitized forest products and non-ferrous metals. Gearbulk Inc. operates the world's largest fleet of open hatch gantry craned (OHGC) vessels, controlling approximately 35% of the world's OHGC vessel capacity.  Gearbulk’s vessels are box hold vessels specifically designed and equipped to handle unitized cargoes. Gearbulk Inc. conducts operations on a worldwide basis through a network of offices located in 16 countries and using over 500 agents.  Gearbulk Inc. employs approximately 270 staff in representative and branch offices.  The North American headquarters is located in Tampa, Florida.

The Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District was created by Louisiana Legislature in 1924. The District encompasses 203 square miles in Calcasieu Parish. The Port of Lake Charles has 13 deep water ship berths, a 40ft channel, and over 1.4 million sq. ft. of covered storage. The District is governed by seven appointed Commissioners.

August 14, 2006

Back To Top Of Page

LAKE CHARLES HARBOR AND TERMINAL DISTRICT ANNOUNCES MASTER PLANNING FOR INDUSTRIAL CANAL PROPERTIES

The Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District announced today its first meeting with the internationally recognized engineering firm of CH2M-Hill regarding master planning for the development of the Port of Lake Charles Industrial Canal property.  CH2M-Hill was awarded the master planning contract at the June 2006, regular public meeting of the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District’s Board following review of consultants and proposals.  CH2M-Hill will be assisted in their investigations by several local sub-contractors: The Summit Group of Sulphur, LA, Webb Surveying of Lake Charles, LA, and Arabie Environmental Solutions of Lake Charles, LA.

The Industrial Canal property was purchased by the District in the 1970’s and is located between mile markers No. 22 and No. 23 on the Calcasieu River Ship Channel.   The entire property encompasses approximately 640 acres of which 510 acres are currently either under lease or under option.  The Port is investigating the remaining 100 acres of property for future development.

“This is a prime piece of industrial property located on deep water”, said R. Adam McBride, Port Director for the Port of Lake Charles.  “The Port of Lake Charles is very fortunate to have property with these features; very little undeveloped property like the Industrial Canal property exists in Calcasieu Parish”, McBride went on to say.

The initial phase of the Master Plan will include Geotechnical investigation, soils testing, identification of environmental and wetland impacts, and necessary mitigation efforts.  The plan also calls for storm drainage, road layout, and preliminary dock, berth, and bulkhead layout for ship and barge traffic. The consultants will also provide preliminary cost estimates and phasing for the overall development project.  “We see the Port of Lake Charles as an economic engine for all of Southwest Louisiana, and by developing this property for the most efficient use, we will provide new jobs and increased commerce within the region”, added McBride.

The Master Plan will be completed by the first quarter of 2007 at a cost of $248,000 and will be presented to the District’s Board of Commissioners at that time.

The Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District was created by the Louisiana Legislature in 1924. The District encompasses 203 square miles in Calcasieu Parish. The Port of Lake Charles has 13 deep water ship berths, a 40 ft. channel, and over 1.6 million sq. ft. of covered storage. The District is governed by seven appointed Commissioners.

July 14, 2006

Back To Top Of Page

LAKE CHARLES HARBOR AND TERMINAL DISTRICT ANNOUNCES NEWLY ELECTED BOARD OFFICERS

The Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District announced the newly elected board officers effective July 1, 2006: Mark Abraham, President; Leonard Knapp, Vice President; and Davidson Darbone, Secretary and Treasurer. These terms are valid for one year.

Mr. Abraham, a former board member of the Lake Charles City Council, is a local businessman and has served as a Board Commissioner since 2003. Mark Abraham graduated from Louisiana State University with a BS degree in Accounting. He has served on various civic boards in the community and was past president of the Lake Charles City Council.

Mr. Knapp is a Lake Charles attorney and former District Attorney for the 14th Judicial District who also has been on the Board of Commissioners since 2003.  He received his law degree from Louisiana State University and from Tulane University. He is a member of a number of legal associations and is active in community organizations.

Mr. Darbone, a member of the Board of Commissioners since 2005, is the President of Grand Oaks, Inc.   David worked for PPG Industries for 17 years until 1995.  He is the Vice President for the local Home Builders Association, board member for the Louisiana Association of Home Builders, member of the Lake Charles Kiwanis North, and ACT.

June 29, 2006

Back To Top Of Page

LAKE CHARLES HARBOR AND TERMINAL DISTRICT ANNOUNCES TIMOTHY MANUEL AS RECIPIENT OF THE PORT MARITIME SCHOLARSHIP

The Board of Commissioners of the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District presented Timothy Manuel with this year’s Port of Lake Charles Maritime Enhancement Scholarship.

Timothy Manuel, the son of Carl and Christina Manuel, graduated from Barbe Senior High School with a 3.3 grade point average. The 18-year-old excelled in Math and Science and plans to major in Computer Science at McNeese Sate University.  While at Barbe Senior High School, Timothy was a member of the Chess Club and played the trumpet in the Barbe marching band. He is also an Eagle Scout.  Tim’s mother, Christina, is the traffic manager in the operations department for the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District and has been employed by the district for 26 years.

The Board established the Port Maritime Enhancement Scholarship program in 1994 for qualified applicants who plan to attend McNeese State University.
The scholarship is worth $10,000 which will be administered at $1,250 a semester for four years. The first scholarship was awarded to a Kinder High School senior.

Kay Barnett, President of the Port of Lake Charles Board of Commissioners said “the Port is delighted to sponsor this scholarship to help local, deserving students with an ever increasing cost to obtain an education.”

Dependents of either a Port employee or a full-time qualified member of the International Longshoreman’s Association are eligible for the Port of Lake Charles Maritime Enhancement Scholarship.

June 6, 2006

Back To Top Of Page

LAKE CHARLES HARBOR AND TERMINAL DISTRICT ANNOUNCES CHENIERE LNG AGREEMENT

The Port of Lake Charles announced today that they have reached an agreement in principle with Cheniere LNG concerning the development of the Creole Trail LNG project in Cameron Parish, LA.

Cheniere is currently in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) permitting process to construct, own and operate one of the nation’s largest LNG import terminals in Cameron Parish, alongside the Calcasieu Ship Channel.  The terminal will have a rated capacity of 3.3 billion cubic feet of gas send-out daily, and will be supplied by up to 400 LNG tankers per year.  Natural gas from the facility will be transported by pipeline to consumers and industry throughout the eastern United States.  Subject to final FERC authority and release of certain dredge material placement easement rights by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, construction will begin with completion expected by 2011.  With a capital cost approaching one billion dollars, the construction phase will employ up to 700 people, with nearly 100 permanent jobs in the ongoing operational phase.

The President of the Board of Commissioners of the Port of Lake Charles, Mrs. Kay Barnett, observed that, “This construction and future operations will provide an immensely valuable economic boost to Cameron Parish as they rebuild after Hurricane Rita.  The terminal development will also provide much needed natural gas for the nation.  With the completion of the Creole Trail Project, the Sempra LNG terminal in Hackberry, and the expansion of the Trunkline LNG terminal, the Port of Lake Charles and Calcasieu and Cameron Parishes will be home to the largest LNG import complex in the nation providing up to 10% of the nation’s gas supply.”

The agreement in principle between the Port and Cheniere provides a stream of funding to the Port based on terminal throughput which will allow the Port to meet its obligations to provide dredge material placement areas for maintaining and operating the Channel which runs from 34 miles offshore in the Gulf to the I-10 bridge in Lake Charles and supports not only the LNG terminals, but also numerous refineries, agricultural exporters, and other cargo uses.

Port Director Adam McBride said, “Our port is currently the 12th largest in the nation with 55 million tons of cargo moving annually.  With the completion of the LNG terminals in our waterway over the next few years, we will move well into the top ten ports supporting the country’s oil, gasoline and natural gas needs far into the future.”

The agreement, modeled on a similar agreement with the Sempra LNG facility, will provide a minimum of $500,000 annually to the Port to support the acquisition and development of dredge material placement areas along the Ship Channel.

“The Port still needs to work closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to find cost effective and environmentally acceptable methods of handling dredged material,” Adam McBride said.  “It is our view that we can accomplish this with the support of Cheniere in this agreement.  There remains a risk to the Port that the costs of operating and maintaining the channel may exceed the funding available, but the Board of Commissioners of the Port felt that this risk was acceptable in view of the huge economic development potential of the Creole Trail project.”

Board President Kay Barnett added, “This project will be a tremendous boon to all of SWLA as we rebuild from last year’s hurricanes, and we look forward to continuing our support and encouragement of this project as it moves through the permitting and construction phases.  We at the Port are happy to be able to assist Cheniere LNG in advancing their Creole Trail project.”

April 28, 2006

Back To Top Of Page

LAKE CHARLES HARBOR AND TERMINAL DISTRICT OFFICIALS ATTEND USDA USAID FOOD AID CONFERENCE VII

Mr. Dan Loughney, Director of Marketing & Trade Development, Mr. Bill Rase, Director of Operations, and Mr. Therrance Chretien, Marketing Representative, of the Port of Lake Charles attended the eighth annual USDA and USAID International Food Aid Conference April 24 -27, in Kansas City, Missouri.   Over 600 registrants representing grain and processed commodity vendors, ocean carriers and domestic transportation lines, private voluntary organizations, U.S. ports, trade associations, the World Food Program, and government officials attended the conference.  This year’s theme, Horizon for Hope, incorporated workshops and wanted to enhance participants’ discussion on the effects of farm and food policy, agricultural supply and demand, and international trade policy.

The conference also provided a forum for food aid discussions designed to improve communication and cooperation between government, private voluntary organizations, and agricultural industry representatives involved in providing export food aid.  The Port of Lake Charles plays a major role in USDA and USAID food aid program. The Port handled over 162,000 tons of USDA cargoes in 2005. The Port is also the only U.S. port that handles commodities under the Public Law 480, Title II Pre-position program. The program provides for the donation of U.S. agricultural commodities by the U.S. Government for humanitarian food needs. The contract’s purpose is to position cargo in a port and it is made available to meet extraordinary relief requirements in foreign countries. The Port has been awarded this contract since its inception in 1998.

“Pre-positioned commodities average 100,000 tons annually and produce over 70,000 I.L.A. man-hours,” according to Loughney.

Port officials also had meetings with numerous customers and associates at the conference, including USAID representatives to discuss the pre-position program.

“This was my first USDA/USAID food-aid conference and it allowed me the opportunity meet with processors, shippers, carriers, port customers, and potential customers in one location, providing a great opportunity to strengthen the Port’s relationship with these various groups,” said Loughney.

Special guest speakers from the conference included Chuck Conner, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture; Dr. J.B. Penn, Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services; John Powell, Deputy Executive Director for Fundraising and Communications, United Nations' World Food Programme; Teresa Lasseter, Administrator, Farm Service Agency; Mike Yost, Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service; Tony Hall, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies, Peter McPherson, President, National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, and leading advocates for hunger relief programs.  Key topics discussed during the conference were impact of the World Trade Organization on food aid policies, recent developments in the Public Law 480 Title II implementation, evolving ideas in food aid, and small business contracting programs.

April 7, 2006

Back To Top Of Page

LAKE CHARLES HARBOR AND TERMINAL DISTRICT ANNOUNCES CAMPAIGN FOR MINORITY–OWNED BUSINESSES

 
R. Adam McBride, Port Director for the Port of Lake Charles announced today that the Lake Charles Harbor & Terminal District has started a campaign to attract more minority-owned businesses to participate in the Port of Lake Charles’ future capital improvement projects. The campaign is being announced with an advertisement in the American Press, Sunday, April 9, 2006 edition. Also advertisements will be placed in Gumbo Magazine and other periodicals.

“Over the past five years, the Port of Lake Charles has paid over $55.8 million to contractors for various Port capital projects,” said Mr. McBride. “The District’s strategic plan, over the next five years, calls for $70 million worth of capital improvements. The Lake Charles Harbor & Terminal District strongly encourages minority-owned businesses to take this opportunity to bid these contracts,” continued McBride.

On Thursday, April 20, the Port—in conjunction with The Chamber/Southwest Louisiana, the Small Business Development Center, the African-American Chamber of Commerce and the Southwest Louisiana Partnership for Economic Development—will be holding an informal outreach meeting at 3:30 p.m. in the Port of Lake Charles’ administration building for minority-owned businesses to familiarize these businesses on how to become an approved vendor to the Port of Lake Charles. This program will include topics on Louisiana State Law regarding the public bid process, requirements for a business to be eligible to submit bids, and steps on how to submit bids. There is no cost to attend this program. Please take advantage of this great opportunity by calling 337 493-3505 to make reservations as space will be limited.

Back To Top Of Page

March 27, 2006

Back To Top Of Page

LAKE CHARLES HARBOR AND TERMINAL DISTRICT ANNOUNCES LARGEST BAGGED SHIPMENT IN HISTORY

R. Adam McBride, Port Director for the Port of Lake Charles is pleased to announce that the M/V Liberty Sun sailed from the Port of Lake Charles destined for the Philippines with the largest volume of bagged goods in the Port of Lake Charles eighty year history.

“This shipment validates the renewed energy at the Port of Lake Charles. This “can do” attitude is spreading throughout all the Port’s operations. Importers, exporters, and steamship lines are seeing positive changes here at the Port of Lake Charles,” said R. Adam McBride Port Director.

The M/V Liberty Sun, owned by the Liberty Maritime Corporation in Lake Success, New York, loaded nearly