Port Log – Moving The River Parishes Forward

Robichaux and the River

By Misty Milioto

After a nationwide search, Jay Robichaux has filled the role of executive director of the River Parishes Tourist Commission following longtime director Buddy Boe’s departure in June. In this role, Robichaux is responsible for leading a team of tourism professionals in the marketing of St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, and St. James parishes—a region that is rich in history and culture.

While Robichaux says that it is the people that he most loves about this special part of the state, which is also home to the Port of South Louisiana, it is the education that the RPTC provides that he most loves about his new role.

“I was born and raised in the River Parishes, so it is the only home I know,” he says. “This position represents my home to the entire world.”

Robichaux, who previously served as a School Board Member in St. Charles Parish, has now taken over where Boe left off. Last year, during the height of the pandemic, Boe and the RPTC began rebranding the region through a number of initiatives in an effort to aid and support local businesses, all while promoting the area to visitors. The rebranding included several initiatives to meet those goals, including making preparations to promote closed tourism attractions once restrictions were lifted and using technology to attract stuck-at-home travelers to the region once it was safe to resume travel. Robichaux is now overseeing the rebranding efforts.

Continue reading HERE.

Building Back Louisiana

The Bipartisan Federal Infrastructure Bill co-authored by Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy could provide short-term and long-term benefits to regional maritime commerce and the state’s economy. 

By William Kalec

Recognizing the multi-faceted importance of domestic and international maritime commerce from an economic and national security perspective, politicians from both sides of the aisle have proposed, authored, and passed legislation to, directly and indirectly, support Louisiana’s vital port system.

In late July 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act by a convincing 69-30 margin (one senator refrained from voting). Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy was one of five lead Republication negotiators for the bill, which, if signed by President Joe Biden, would represent the largest investment in infrastructure and coastal resiliency in the history of Louisiana.

In an op-ed Sen. Cassidy wrote for CNBC’s website on Sept. 24, 2021, he noted that analysts of the bipartisan infrastructure bill—which provides $550 billion in new funding—claim that the long-term spending on capital assets will improve economic efficiency, productivity, and the GDP without affecting inflation.

“This legislation will create tens of thousands of new jobs,” Sen. Cassidy said. “The new bridges and repaired highways will shorten commutes. Rural broadband will connect and give all Americans access to Telehealth, online education, and other benefits. Flood mitigation, weatherization, and coastal restoration will protect against flooding and lower utility bills. Improved water, sewer, and drainage will revitalize communities. This bill is good for Louisiana and the United States.”

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Director’s Log  

By Paul G. Aucoin, Executive Director

Hurricane Ida made landfall on the coast of southeast Louisiana on the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina -August 29, 2021- as a strong category 4 hurricane. In its wake, more than one million Louisianians were left without power, partly due to the collapsing of a key transmission line over the Mississippi River. According to Entergy, the local power company, more than 2,000 miles of transmission lines were knocked out of service. Ida and the subsequent power outages caused navigation interruptions on the Lower Mississippi River and the related maritime industry.

Many facilities that had shut down just prior to Hurricane Ida’s passage had hoped to restart operations soon after but the uncertainty of power restoration kept those plans at bay. With Louisiana port facilities shut down, many in the agriculture and petrochemical industry kept a watchful eye on how long they would remain closed. Hurricane Ida caused considerable damage to Port of South Louisiana buildings and property. Few facilities came out unscathed, but most did not sustain the damage Cargill’s Reserve, Louisiana terminal experienced. Thankfully, outages were relatively short-lived and exports back-ups averted.

Continue reading HERE.