[00:00:02]
>> GET THE TECHNOLOGY RIGHT AND EVERYTHING ELSE GOES EASY.
[1. Call to Order – Jerald Jones, Chairman]
IT'S GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY THIS MORNING.OUR DECEMBER MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, 2023.
I'M GOING TO SAY THIS NOW IN CASE WE RUN OUT OF TIME LATER, BUT THIS MAY BE THE LAST MEETING OF THIS BOARD AS PRESENTLY CONSTITUTED, WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION COMING IN.
I WANT TO SAY IT'S BEEN MY PLEASURE TO WORK WITH EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.
SOME OF YOU NOT BEEN HERE THE ENTIRE EIGHT YEARS, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE WITH THE CHAIR.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOYALTY TO THE PROGRAMS THAT WE DO INTO THE STAFF THAT LED I KNOW YOU GUYS DO THE HEAVY LIFTING DAY IN AND DAY OUT BEFORE WE EVER GET HERE.
WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE FOR THIS BOARD FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WITH THAT, LET'S GET THIS BALL ROLLING.
>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
BRENDAN EMBARRASS. MAYOR DAVID TUBES.
>> MOONWELL FOR HORDE. GEORGE MASK.
>> REPRESENTATIVE BUSINESS SAME BLOCK, PROXY FOR PAULA DAVIS.
>> SENATOR MIGRIS. KENNETH HAVARD,.
SENATOR BRETT ALON, REPRESENTATIVE STORED BISHOP, YON MOLLAR, SECRETARY DON PEARSON.
>> JOHN WATSON, DESIGNATE FOR THE GOVERNOR.
TRAVIS HOLLY, DR. BEVERLY THOMPSON.
>> THANK YOU. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD,
[3. Approval of Minutes from October 25, 2023 meeting]
YOU'VE RECEIVED MINUTES FROM THE LAST MEETING WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THOSE MINUTES OF MOTION FROM MR. SLOAN.ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE BEING NONE, THE MOTION CARRIES.
GOOD MORNING, MISS DEBBY. HOW ARE YOU?
>> GOOD MORNING. WELL, AND YOURSELF?
WALK US THROUGH THE QUALITY JOBS PROGRAM, PLEASE, MA'AM.
[4. Quality Jobs Program – Michaela Adegbe]
>>THERE'S ONE NEW APPLICATION, 2021 0264 TERNIUM USA, INC. CADDO PARISH.
>> DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MOTION FROM MR. HAVARD, SECRETARY, MR. ST. BLOCK, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION?THERE IS NONE.
>> ONE RENEWAL APPLICATION, 2018 0441 A MEDICIS HOLDING COMPANY, LLC, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE FOR MAYOR TOUPS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE.
ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE IS NONE ALL IN FAVOR SAY. AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> ONE CHANGE OF COMPANY NAME ONLY 2013 0518.
CURRENT COMPANY NAME, IDAHO TIMBER OF CASADO, LLC.
NEW COMPANY NAME BECAUSE CASADO FOREST PRODUCTS, LLC, RED RIVER PARISH.
>> DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS CHANGE OF NAME FROM THIS MOTION FROM MR. SIMEON, SECOND FROM MR. NASSER.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? THERE BEING NONE.
ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> THIS CONCLUDES QUALITY JOBS.
>> LET'S SAY RESTORATION TAX ABATEMENT HELP US OUT.
[5. Restoration Tax Abatement Program – Travis Rosenberg]
>> YES, SIR. THERE ARE 17 NEW APPLICATIONS FOR THE RESTORATION TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM.
THESE FOUR ARE FOR ASH BROTHERS LLC AND ASCENSION PARISH, 2022 0448-A, 2022 0448-B, 2022 0448-C, AND 2022 0448.
[00:05:08]
>> THE NEXT 13 ARE FOR RPR GOVERNMENTS LPE IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, 2022 0226, 2022 0227, 2022 0239, 2022 0240, 2022 0241, 2022 0242, 2022 0243, 2022 0244, 2022 02045, 2022 0246, 2022 0247, 2022 0248, 2022 0249.
>> THANK YOU. ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE RTA OF MOTION.
MR. FIBRO, SECOND FROM MR. SLOAN.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE.
ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE BEING NONE ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE BEING NONE.
>> THERE ARE THREE RENEWAL APPLICATIONS.
2012 1173 FOR COUNTY WETLAND, LLC AND LAFAYETTE PARISH, 2017 0038 FOR NEW HOMES, LLC AND LAFAYETTE PARISH, AND 2017 0016 FOR VANTAGE HEALTH PLAN INC AND WASH YOUR TOWEL PARISH.
>> THE MOTION TO APPROVE THESE RENEWALS, MOTION FROM MR. SUN BELONGED SECOND FROM MR. SIMEON.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE.
ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE BEING NONE ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE BEING NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> THAT CONCLUDES THE RTA AGENDA.
>> GOOD MORNING. THERE FOR NEW APPLICATIONS FOR
[6. Enterprise Zone Program – Joyce Metoyer]
ENTERPRISE ZONE 2021 0345 AVENUES RECOVERY ST. TAMMANY, 2019 0201 ALAN HEALTHCARE PARTNERS LLC, ALAN PARISH, 2021 0327 BB MEETS LLC, TERRIBLE LONG PARISH, 2016 1119, THE NATIONAL WORLD WAR II MUSEUM INCORPORATED, ORLEANS PARISH.>>DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE FROM MR. NASSER? A SECOND FROM MAYOR TOUPS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? THERE BEING NONE.
ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>>ANY OPPOSITION? THERE BEING NONE.
>> WE HAVE THREE TERMINATIONS.
2020 0051, ASH INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED, LAFAYETTE PARISH.
THE EXISTING CONTRACT IS 2010 OF 20 TO 2, 9 OF 2025.
THE REQUEST TO TERMED IS 8,10 2022.
THE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN MET.
NO ADDITIONAL JOBS ARE ANTICIPATED.
2019 0140 SOUTHSIDE MACHINE WORKS INCORPORATED CAP BECAUSE YOU PARISH.
THE EXISTING CONTRACT IS 9, 25,19 THROUGH 9, 24 OF 2024.
THE REQUESTED TERM DATE IS 3, 25, 2022.
THE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN MET, NO ADDITIONAL JOBS OR ANTICIPATED.
2019 0421 WHISKEY BRIDGES INCORPORATED, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
THE EXISTING CONTRACT IS 2, 5, 20 -2, 4, 2025.
THE REQUESTED TERM DATE IS AUGUST 5, 2022.
THE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN MET, NO ADDITIONAL JOBS ARE ANTICIPATED.
>> MOTION TO APPROVE THESE CONTRACT TERMINATIONS.
MOTION FROM MR. MOSS, SECOND FROM MR. HAVARD.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE.
ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE BEING NONE ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>>ANY OPPOSITION? THERE BEING NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> GOOD MORNING. WE HAVE 12 NEW 2018 RULES,
[7. Industrial Tax Exemption – Kristin Cheng/Hud Usie]
[00:10:06]
I- TYPE APPLICATIONS, BUT WE HAVE TWO REQUESTING DEFERRAL AND THAT'S 2019-0394 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH AND 2022-0394, MAC LANEY COMPANY, IBERIA PARISH.>> LET'S MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR, 2019-0394 AND 2022-0394.
>> I HAVE AN ENTERTAINING MOTION TO DEFER THE CONTRACTS FOR HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL AND MAC LANEY, A MOTION FROM MR. SLOAN, SECOND FROM MAYOR TOUPS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE BEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SAY, AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE BEING NONE THE MOTION CARRIES.
THOSE MATTERS WILL BE DEFERRED TO THE MEETING IN FEBRUARY.
>> WE HAVE 10 REMAINING 2018 RULES, NEW I-TYPE APPLICATIONS, 2018-0323-C, BAGWELL ENERGY SERVICES INC. IBERIA PARISH, 2022-0326 BPP SALES LLC, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, 2023-0245, BEPUR LLC, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, 2023-0359, CAPCHEM TECHNOLOGY USA INC, ASCENSION PARISH, 2023-0392, CF INDUSTRIES NITROGEN LLC, ASCENSION PARISH, 2023-0090, CYBER SQUARE LLC, BEIGE PARISH, 2023-0367, CYBER SQUARE LLC, BOSSIER PARISH, 2018-0148-D, FLOPAM INC, IBERVILLE PARISH, 2022-0075, MKS PLASTICS LLC, TANGIPAHOA PARISH, AND 2023-0256, UBE AMERICA INC, JEFFERSON PARISH.
>> BEFORE WE ENTERTAIN A MOTION THE CHAIR WILL BE RECUSING HIMSELF FROM ANY DISCUSSION OR VOTE ON THE MATTER OF 2023-0359, CAPCHEM TECHNOLOGY USA INC.
BUT DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE APPLICATIONS? THE MOTION FROM MR. SLOAN, SECOND FROM DUTCH THOMPSON.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC?
>> I THINK I MIGHT HAVE READ THE WRONG NUMBER FOR MKS PLASTICS.
>> GOT IT. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT AFFECTS THE MOTION, SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE BEING NONE THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> WE HAVE EIGHT PRE-EO I-TYPE RENEWALS, 2016-0001 C & C MARINE AND REPAIR, PLAQUEMINES PARISH, 2016-1510, EPIC PIPING LLC, LIVINGSTON PARISH, 2014-0977-B, EXPERT RISER SOLUTIONS LLC, LAFAYETTE PARISH, 2015-0156-PT, LOUISIANA INTEGRATED POLYETHYLENE JV LLC, CALCASIEU PARISH, 2015-0264-B, MATHESON TRI-GAS INC, CALCASIEU PARISH, 2010-0198-D SABINE PASS LNG LP, CAMDEN PARISH, 2011-0659-F, SABINE PASS LIQUEFACTION LLC, CAMDEN PARISH, AND 2015-0156-B, SASSO USA CORPORATION, CALCASIEU PARISH.
>> DID WE HAVE A MOTION ON THESE RENEWABLES? A MOTION TO APPROVE FROM MR. MOSS, A SECOND FROM MR. NASSER.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SAY, AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE BEING NONE THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> WE HAVE ONE TRANSFER OF TAX EXEMPTION CONTRACT REQUEST.
TRITON WEST LLC, 2015-1505- PT IS TRANSFERRING TO EQUILON ENTERPRISES LLC, DBA, SHELL OIL PRODUCTS US, ST. CHARLES PARISH.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS TRANSFER FROM MR. NASSER, A SECOND MAYOR TOUPS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE BEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SAY, AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE BEING NONE THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> WE HAVE FOUR CANCELLATION OF CONTRACT REQUESTS.
BOLLINGER ALGIERS LLC, 2015-1878, COMPANY REQUESTS CANCELLATION IN ORLEANS PARISH.
DIVERSIFIED FOODS & SEASONINGS LLC, 2018-0149 AND 2018-0149-A IN ST. TAMMANY PARISH,
[00:15:05]
COMPANY REQUESTS CANCELLATION AND JOHN H. CARTER CO INC, 2018-0275 IN CALGARY PARISH, COMPANY REQUEST CANCELLATION.>> DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE CANCELLATIONS FROM MR. SIMEON, SECOND FROM MR. MOSS? ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE BEING NONE ALL IN FAVOR SAY, AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE BEING NONE THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> THAT CONCLUDES THE I-TECH PORTION.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THAT IS THE SHORTEST AGENDA [LAUGHTER] AND THE QUICKEST MEETING THAT WE HAVE HAD.
I WILL NOW GIVE MR. PIERSON TWO HOURS TO GIVE US A REPORT.
[9. Secretary Remarks – Secretary Don Pierson]
[LAUGHTER] TAKE ALL THE TIME YOU NEED.>> THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN. YOUR EXPERIENCE AND ELOQUENCE HERE HAVE BEEN EVIDENT AND YOUR RECORD OF SERVICE HAS BROUGHT US TO A PLACE WHERE WE ARE VERY EFFICIENT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT SERVICE TO THE BOARD.
IT WAS BOTH A BLESSING AND A CURSE THAT THEY DIDN'T TELL ME EVERYTHING WHEN I SIGNED UP FOR THIS JOB.
[LAUGHTER] MAYBE THAT'S A GOOD THING.
BUT IN ANY EVENT, IT'S BEEN MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AS A SECRETARY FOR LOUISIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AT THIS POINT IN MY SERVICE TO LED AND THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, I'M GOING TO BRING THAT SERVICE TO AN END.
I WISH TO EXPRESS MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO THE BOARD OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, OUR STAKEHOLDERS, THE CORPORATIONS THAT I HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH, THE CONSULTANT COMMUNITY, I THINK YOU'VE BEEN VALUED BY OUR ADMINISTRATION AND CERTAINLY AS CHAIRMAN HAS MENTIONED, THE LED STAFF.
YOUR DEDICATION, TEAMWORK, AND EFFORT HAVE MADE A GREAT DEAL OF SUCCESS POSSIBLE.
THOSE ARE MORE THAN WORDS FROM A DEPARTING LEADER.
I'M PRESENTING YOU TODAY WITH OUR LED ANNUAL REPORT, AND IT'S NOT LED'S ANNUAL REPORT, IT'S YOUR ANNUAL REPORT.
MUCH OF THE WORK HERE, MUCH OF THE SUCCESS WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THIS BOARD, THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM AND THOSE THAT ARE FOLLOWING OUR MEETING ELECTRONICALLY AND BEYOND.
OFTEN FRAME MY REMARKS IN PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE AND YOUR ANNUAL REPORT SHOW OUR PROGRESS WITH CAPITAL INVESTMENT, JOB CREATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT, FEDERAL PARTNERSHIPS, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INNOVATION ACROSS LOUISIANA.
DOCUMENT WILL BE RELEASED DIGITALLY TODAY AROUND NOON.
BUT I WAS CONVINCED THAT THIS BOARD IS THE RIGHT PLACE FOR IT TO BE INTRODUCED.
WE HAVE INCREASED CAPITAL INVESTMENT EVERY YEAR SINCE 2017 IN OUR STATE, INCLUDING THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS NOW OF MORE THAN $20 BILLION FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR STATE'S HISTORY.
WE HAVE THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN OUR STATE'S HISTORY.
THIS IS EVIDENCED OF YOUR GOOD WORK.
THE PRESENT, I HOPE YOU SAW YESTERDAY'S NEWS RELEASE THAT ACCORDING TO THE BUREAU OF ECONOMIC ANALYSIS, AND BY THE WAY, THAT'S THE US DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, THE DATA THAT THEY RELEASED SHOWS THAT LOUISIANA'S REAL GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT GREW 3.2% IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2023, OUTPACING 40 OTHER STATES AND EASILY EXCEEDING THE NATIONAL GDP GROWTH RATE OF 2.1%.
YOU'RE ON TRACK. THAT INCLUDES ON THAT LIST OF 40, PUTTING US IN THE TOP 10.
THE ONES THAT WE OUTPACED ARE FLORIDA, GEORGIA, ARKANSAS, MISSISSIPPI, ALABAMA, SOUTH CAROLINA, NORTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, KENTUCKY, VIRGINIA, NEW YORK, CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, ARIZONA, OREGON, AND WASHINGTON.
SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF THE SEC IN THERE TO ME.
[LAUGHTER] AS FOR THE FUTURE, ECONOMIST LAUREN SCOTT RECENTLY PREDICTED THAT LOUISIANA WILL ADD 80,000 MORE JOBS IN 2024 AND 2025, THANKS TO OUR SUCCESS POSITIONING LOUISIANA AS A LEADER IN THE GLOBAL ENERGY TRANSITION.
THIS WORK, THESE EXCEPTIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS WERE MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GOVERNOR'S LEADERSHIP, THE LEGISLATORS SUPPORT, AND THE EXCEPTIONAL WORK THAT YOU DO,
[00:20:04]
THOSE HERE IN THIS ROOM AND BEYOND.AS I DEPART SERVICE TO THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, AFTER DIRECTING MY CAREER TO THE BETTERMENT OF THE CITIZENS, AND EVERY MEMBER OF EVERY COMMUNITY ACROSS THE STATE, I'M PROUD TO REPORT THAT THE STATE OF OUR ECONOMY IS STRONG AND THE OUTLOOK AHEAD IS BRIGHT.
AGAIN, YOUR COMMITMENT TO LOUISIANA AND PROFESSIONALISM HAVE MADE THIS POSSIBLE.
YOU'VE MADE A PROFOUND IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF SO MANY INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE JOBS, CAREERS, OPPORTUNITY IN OUR STATE, AS WELL AS THE IMPROVEMENT IN THE QUALITY OF LIFE THOSE JOBS BRING TO THOUSANDS OF HOUSEHOLDS ACROSS OUR STATE.
IN CLOSING, I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS AND ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF LOUISIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND GOING FORWARD.
>> IT'S DIFFICULT FOR ME TO CALL HIM SECRETARY OR EVEN MR. PIERSON BECAUSE I'VE KNOWN HIM FOR AS DON FOR DECADES AND HE AND I HAD OUR ROOTS IN NORTHWEST LOUISIANA WHERE WE WORK TOGETHER THERE BEFORE EACH OF US FOUND OUR WAY TO BATON ROUGE.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU, DON, THAT IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS.
THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND YOU'VE LEAD YOUR TEAM TO DO FOR THIS STATE.
WE'VE SEEN EXCEPTIONAL GROWTH.
I THINK THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION WILL SEE FANTASTIC RESULTS ECONOMICALLY BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT THIS DEPARTMENT HAS DONE UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER?
>> I'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS BECAUSE THIS IS MY LAST MEETING.
>> PUT THAT MICROPHONE DOWN IN FRONT OF YOU, BROTHER. I DON'T WANT TO MISS A WORD OF IT.
>> I TALK LOW AND IT COMES FROM MY HEART.
IF YOU ALL WILL UNDERSTAND ME, EVERYTHING COMES FROM MY HEART.
BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU CHAIRMAN MR. DON AND SPECIAL ED STAFF AND EVERYBODY THAT SITS IN THIS ROOM AS A FRESHMAN LEGISLATURE COMING IN HERE AND HAD THE CHANCE THAT CHAIRMAN DAVIS GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HER PROXY BECAUSE SHE SAID THAT I KNEW WHAT I WAS DOING.
SOME PEOPLE DON'T BELIEVE IT BUT, I HAD COME IN AND WHEN I CAME IN THAT ESPECIALLY WITH SENATOR ARLEN BECAUSE WE HAD SOLAR AND WIND AND NOW CARBON CAPTURE COMING IN.
YOU ALL HAVE TRUSTED ME BECAUSE WE LOUISIANA WASN'T READY.
WE HAD 125 MISO SITE LOCATIONS AND WE WANTED TO PROTECT LANDOWNERS, AND WE WANTED TO PROTECT THE STATE OF LOUISIANA WITH THESE CONTRACTS BECAUSE MY BROTHER WAS EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION FOR 30 YEARS AND THEY WERE DEALING WITH THIS.
WE HAD TO UNDERSTAND THAT ITIP WAS JOB DRIVEN AND SO WERE [INAUDIBLE] BUT ONE JOB ON EACH SITE.
IT COSTS $1 MILLION JUST TO GET AN APPLICATION FROM MISO TO DO A SOLAR FARM.
THEY WERE COMING IN HERE WITH TWO MEN IN A TRUCK AND THE BIG SOLAR COMPANIES AND EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO THINK, AND ALL THIS WAS TO HELP.
WHAT WE DID WAS SAVE A LOT OF LAND OWNERS BECAUSE THEY WERE COMING IN HERE AND THERE'S NO PLACE OTHER THAN THE UNITED STATES THAT UNDERSTANDS OIL GAS LEASES, UNDERSTANDS EVERYTHING THAT WE DID.
WE PASS BILLS, [INAUDIBLE] AND PASS THEM IN THE THING.
NOW WE PROTECTED AND WE READY FOR SOLAR AND WIND.
I DON'T KNOW HOW I CAN THANK YOU-ALL THAT WE CAN COME IN HERE AND YOU ALL BELIEVED IN US AND NOW WE'RE READY.
I WANT TO THANK YOU-ALL THIS BOARD.
I'VE SERVED ON A LOT OF BOARDS.
THIS BOARD IS REALLY COMPASSIONATE, KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE BUILDING UP THERE.
[00:25:02]
I'M HOPING I'M ON COMMERCE AGAIN, BUT WE DON'T KNOW THE PROCESS IS BEING CHANGED, SO WHAT WE DO IS WE ALL LOVE LOUISIANA AND WE DO WHAT WE GOT TO DO.WITH THAT PROCESS OVER THERE AND THAT BUILDING, IT'S HARD TO CHANGE, I CAN TELL YOU.
I'D LIKE TO REALLY TALK ABOUT JUST FOR A FEW MINUTES, AND I REALLY WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO THESE NUMBERS.
IT STARTED WITH MIKE FOSTER WHEN WE FORMED THE COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE.
STATE OF LOUISIANA, THESE BOARDS, EVERYTHING.
WE WANT TO STOP OUT-MIGRATION, WANT TO KEEP OUR KIDS.
WE WANT TO INSURANCE AND CRIME AND ALL THIS STUFF WE TALKING ABOUT.
BUT THE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO TELL YOU RIGHT NOW IS A PEOPLE PROBLEM.
UNTIL WE SOLVE THIS, WE CANNOT BE ABLE TO MOVE.
THE AGE FROM 25-64 AND WORK IN AGE 42 PERCENT OF THAT 2,840,000 ELIGIBLE PEOPLE TO WORK.
I'D GO TO WORK, WHO DON'T WANT TO WORK, OR THEY WANT TO LIVE IN THE WELFARE SYSTEM.
WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS THEY CAN EARN $42,500 ON THE SYSTEM.
EVERY JOB AT THE COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE WORKFORCE WILL GUARANTEE YOU 65,000 WHEN YOU START.
WE HAVE TO MOVE THESE JUST A THIRD OF THEM.
IF WE CAN GET A THIRD INTO JOBS AT THESE COMPANIES AND EVERYBODY NEEDS, THEN WE'LL BE SUCCESSFUL.
WHEN YOU OUT AND YOU HEAR OF ANYBODY THAT'S LOOKING FOR A JOB, DOING EVERYTHING, THE COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM WILL TRAIN YOU FOR FREE WITH THE FIRST ACCOUNT EVERYTHING.
UNTIL WE CHANGE THIS PEOPLE PROBLEM AND CHANGE JUST MAYBE A THIRD OF THEM, FROM 42000-65000 TAXPAYERS THAT THE TAXES THAT THEY WILL PAY IS GOING TO PUT US AT A LEVEL THAT WE CAN START ELIMINATING INCOME TAX, WE CAN START ELIMINATING LESS TAXES.
WHEN YOU GIVE AN I-TAP AND EVERYTHING AND YOU DID YOUR JOB, JUST REMEMBER THAT WE STILL HAVE THIS POST-IMPORTANT JOB TO DO TO GET 840,000, SOME OF THEM BACK TO WORK IN LOUISIANA AND THEN WE HAVE ALL THE STUFF.
I WAS WITH A BUSINESS LAST WEEK, THEY ARE 1,000 SHOT RIGHT NOW, THEY WILL HIRE 1,000 PEOPLE TODAY, TRAIN THEM FOR FREE, AND IT WILL START AT 65,000, AND WHEN THEY'RE OVERTIME, THEY WILL GO OVER 100,000.
REMEMBER THESE FAILURES, 840,000 THAT ARE NOT IN OUR WORKFORCE, 42% OF THE PEOPLE I CAN WORK WITH IN THE WORKFORCE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR GIVING ME THE TIME.
THIS IS A SCREAMINGLY GOOD BOARD, VERY COMPASSIONATE.
EVERY BUSINESS THAT CAME HERE GOT A GOOD LOOK AND WAS REALLY GIVEN A GOOD CHANCE.
IF IT'S POSSIBLE, I MIGHT BE BACK, IF NOT, THANK YOU ALL FOR LETTING A FRESHMEN LEGISLATOR COME IN HERE AND YOU HAVE TRUSTED ME AND TRUSTED IN AISLE AND WE SAVED A LOT OF BUSINESS AND WE SAY THAT A LOT OF LAND OWNERS STUFF WITH PUTTING, WE WASN'T READY.
AS OF RIGHT NOW, MY SHOW HAS SHUT DOWN THE SOLAR RIGHT NOW FOR A YEAR.
THEY HAD 340 SOLAR PROJECTS IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, AND YOU GOT TO PAY A MILLION DOLLAR JUST TO GET THE PERMIT.
WE WERE READY, WE MADE THE LAWS, NOW LET'S WELCOME THEM IN. THANK YOU.
[00:30:03]
MR. NASSER.>> YEAH. BEFORE I GET STARTED, I'D LIKE TO THANK REPRESENTATIVE SAME BLOCK IN THE WORK THAT HE'S DONE ON THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND JUST TO PIGGYBACK A LITTLE BIT ON WHAT THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID.
I KNOW THIS GOES ON THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF LOUISIANA WITH THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BUT I'LL JUST TAKE MY HOME PARISH, FOR EXAMPLE, ST. JAMES SCHOOL DISTRICT.
IF IT WERE NOT FOR BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO OFFER WHAT I'M GETTING READY TO GET INTO, AND JERRY JONES, YOU'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH OUR DISTRICT.
BUT WE HAVE DIFFERENT COMPANIES THAT WORK WITH OUR CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER.
WE HAVE WELDING, WE HAVE INDUSTRIAL COATING, INDUSTRIAL INSULATING SCAFFOLD BUILDING THAT COST THE DISTRICT ZERO MONIES.
APACHE, A COMPANY THAT DOES THE INSULATING AND PAINTING SCAFFOLD BUILDING IN INDUSTRY, ACTUALLY COMES IN AND TRAIN OUR STUDENTS.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO GO TO COLLEGE ON HOW TO DO THOSE JOBS SKILLS, THEREBY THERE TO SWALLOW THEM WHEN THEY FINISHED THE COURSE.
THEREBY THEY TWIT CARD FOR THEM AND THEY TRAIN THEM IN H&S, GIVE THEM A JOB STARTING AT OVER $40,000 A YEAR.
THESE KIDS GO WORK IN INDUSTRY, SOME OF THEM END UP WORKING FOR THE REFINERIES OR THE CHEMICAL MANUFACTURERS THAT THEY ACTUALLY WORKING FOR, WITH THE CONTRACTOR.
SOME OF THEM GO TO COLLEGE TO BECOME ENGINEERS.
MY WHOLE POINT IS, THERE IS A WAY AND THERE IS A PATH TO DOING EXACTLY WHAT REPRESENTATIVES SAYING BELONGS, SAY IT, AND WE JUST NEED TO STAY ON TOP OF IT.
WELL, WITH THAT BEING SAID, JERRY, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE WAY YOU CONDUCT YOUR MEETINGS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTIONS YOU ASKED.
IT STOPS A LOT OF THE DISCUSSION THAT WE NEED TO HAVE BECAUSE OF THE QUESTIONS YOU DO ASK.
BUT BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY THAT COMES BEFORE THE BOARD OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, I HOPE YOU REALIZE THAT WE DO TAKE EACH INDIVIDUAL CASE AND LOOK AT IT FROM AN INDIVIDUAL STANDPOINT AND WE MAKE OUR DECISION BASED ON THE MERITS OF THE CASE.
SECRETARY PIERSON, AND STAFF, IT'S BEEN AN EYE-OPENING EXPERIENCE FOR ME.
THE WORK THAT YOU'LL DO ATTRACT BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY AND TO WORK WITH BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY TO TAKE TO GET THEM HERE, TO KEEP THEM HERE TOO FOR THE JOB GROWTH.
I NEVER REALIZED THE WORK THAT WENT INTO WHAT Y'ALL DO TO ATTRACT THE BUSINESS.
I WORKED IN THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY FOR 38-AND-A-HALF, AND I WORKED CONSTRUCTION BEFORE THAT.
I'M ONLY 40 YEARS OLD, SO GO FIGURE.
[LAUGHTER] BUT CERTAINLY, I WORKED CONSTRUCTION, I WORKED FOR THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY.
UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY GET INTO THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF IT HERE AND SEE WHAT TAKES PLACE TO ACTUALLY ATTRACT A BUSINESS, I WANT TO COMMEND YOU AND YOUR STAFF AND THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR DOING WHICH I'LL DO FOR THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.
IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE SERVING WITH THE MEMBERS.
WITH THAT, HOPEFULLY, I'LL SEE YOU ALL AGAIN.
IF NOT, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE, AND MAY ALL HAVE A MARRY BLESSED CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES. THANK YOU.
>> MR. NASSER, IS JUST DAWNED ON ME THAT IF YOU'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING CHRISTMAS EVE, MY GRANDKIDS WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO COME VISIT OUR [LAUGHTER].
>> SANTA CLOSE AT SCHOOL ALREADY.
>> THAT WHITE BEARD IS AMAZING, SIR.
IT REALLY IS. THANK YOU. MR. NASSER.
ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER? IF NOT, RECOGNIZE A MOTION.
[OVERLAPPING] I'M SORRY. MR. LEONARD.
>> I WASN'T PLANNING TO COME UP HERE TODAY, BUT ANYWAY, MY NAME IS JIMMY LEONARD, I'M WITH ADVANCE CONSULTING.
ONE THING I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL KNOW, COMING FROM MY HEART AND FROM MY EXPERIENCE WAS WORKING EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, IS THIS BOARD HAD TO MANAGE THROUGH SOME VERY UNPRECEDENTED ISSUES THROUGHOUT THIS TERM.
I CANNOT THANK YOU ALL ENOUGH FOR YOUR COMMITMENT, YOUR TIME, AND YOUR PROFESSIONALISM, AND THE WAY THAT YOU ALL CONDUCTED BUSINESS THROUGHOUT ALL THIS.
I WON'T SAY THAT EVERY MATTER HAD A POLICY OR POLITICAL PERFECT ALIGNMENT, BUT THE WAY THAT THE BUSINESS WAS CONDUCTED AND THE WAY THAT THIS BOARD MANAGED THAT PROCESS WAS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED ACROSS ALL OF OUR CLIENTS, AND MY COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS IN THE INDUSTRY.
WHEREAS I'M NOT GOING TO SPEAK FOR EVERYBODY, I THINK EVERYBODY ON THIS BOARD WHO'S BEEN THROUGH THIS PROCESS DESERVES A BIG THANK YOU,
[00:35:02]
AND APPRECIATION FOR YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR COMMITMENT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THIS IS SUCH A WELL-PAYING JOB FOR EVERYBODY WHO'S TRAVELING AROUND HERE THROUGHOUT THE STATE.THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. I SINCERELY APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU, MR. LEONARD. VERY KIND OF YOU.
MA'AM, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M ANDREA CARTER-VIRTANEN AND I'M WITH CHENIERE ENERGY.
I WAS PLANNING TO COME TO THE TABLE THIS MORNING AS A PRE-EXECUTIVE ORDER, I TAP RENEWAL.
I WANTED TO JUST TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE, IT HAS BEEN VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR ORGANIZATION.
I CAME READY WITH SOME STATS AND SO I'LL BE HAPPY TO SHARE THOSE WITH YOU ALL.
TO ME, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE WILL BE MAKING 400 SHIPMENTS OF LNG OUT OF OUR FACILITIES IN CAMERON PARISH THIS YEAR ALONE.
WE'VE RECENTLY ACHIEVED 3,000 CARGOS, EARLIER THIS YEAR.
WE BROKE EVERYBODY'S RECORD BECAUSE WE DID THOSE 3,000 CARGOS AND RIGHT AROUND 2,500 DAYS, WE'VE BEEN A LITTLE BUSY.
BUT NONE OF THAT HAPPENS WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THIS ORGANIZATION.
WHEN I STARTED WITH CHENIERE, WE HAD NEVER MADE A DROP OF LNG.
WE STILL HAD A DREAM, WE WERE STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
THAT WAS 10 YEARS AGO AND TO SEE WHERE WE'RE AT NOW, AND THE FOUNDATION THAT YOU'VE ESTABLISHED HAS ACTUALLY AFFORDED US THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENVISION FURTHER EXPANSION.
WE HAVE ANNOUNCED AND HAVE PLANS TO BUILD AN ADDITIONAL 20 METRIC TONS OF LNG A YEAR IN CAMERON PARISH, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO PUTTING THAT APPLICATION IN WITH FERC.
THE FULL APPLICATION WE HAVE PRE-FILLED, BUT THE FULL WILL GO IN THIS YEAR.
I WORKED WITH YOU ALL ON THE PRE-EXECUTIVE ORDER CONDITION OF OUR PROJECT, THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO US, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I KNOW THAT THAT WAS NOT AN EASY PROCESS TO GO THROUGH WITH THE RIGOR.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING A NEW RULE APPLICANT WHEN WE COME BEFORE YOU FOR STAGE 5, WHETHER YOU ALL ARE HERE OR NOT OR THOSE WHO WILL FOLLOW YOU.
I KNOW THAT THE GROUNDWORK YOU HAVE LAID WILL SERVE US ALL WELL.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THAT, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR WHAT CHENIERE HAS BEEN DOING.
>> NO, THERE'S NO QUESTION FOR YOU, THANK YOU.
I JUST REALIZED MY VERY FIRST MEETING EIGHT YEARS AGO WAS SIX HOURS LONG.
[LAUGHTER] IT WAS SIX HOURS LONG AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY ABOUT TODAY.
I'M TRYING TO HOLD US ON A LITTLE LONGER, IF YOU WILL, AT LEAST 45 MINUTES.
BUT THE POINT IS, IS THAT I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH BEING HERE.
I DON'T KNOW WHY I WAS SELECTED TO BE HERE, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I GET TO BE VICE CHAIR, IF YOU WILL.
I AM SO GLAD THIS MAN IS HEALTHY, BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY I COULD HAVE NAVIGATED SOME OF THE BOARD MEETINGS AND THE CONTENTIOUSNESS OF SOME OF THE MATERIAL THAT WE HAD, BUT MY BIGGEST THANKS GOES TO THE STAFF.
MANY OF YOU MAY REMEMBER DANIELLE, I USED TO CALL DANIELLE EVERY WEEK JUST TO GET MYSELF, HEY, WHAT'S I'M SORRY. SORRY, FOLKS HERE.
YEAH. I USED TO CALL IT DANIELLE EVERY WEEK JUST TO TALK ABOUT THE MATERIAL THAT WAS IN THE PACKETS THAT WERE COMING UP BECAUSE I JUST DID NOT KNOW.
I'VE LEARNED A LOT, I APPRECIATE THE STAFF AND WHAT THEY'VE DONE UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP, SIR, AND EVERYBODY AROUND HERE, I'VE GOTTEN A CHANCE TO SHAKE YOUR HANDS AND WE WILL SEE EACH OTHER AND RECOGNIZE FACES IF WE DON'T REMEMBER NAMES.
THAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME BUT THE STAFF, REALLY, WE HAVE GROWN, IF YOU WILL, AS AN ORGANIZATION UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE VARIOUS CHANGES, AND I JUST APPRECIATE IT.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HEALTHY, BROTHER.
>> THANK YOU, MR. SLOAN. ANYTHING ELSE? MR. SIMEON?
>> I'M FROM THE SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA AREA, AND I WANTED TO JUST REFLECT ON NOT JUST THE WORK THAT THIS BOARD DOES AND THE STAFF, BUT ALSO THE BENEFITS BOTH DIRECT AND INDIRECT.
AMONG THE MANY HATS I WEAR, I'M THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA.
WE HAVE A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT WAS INITIATED BY ONE OF OUR CORPORATE CITIZENS IN OUR AREA, SASSO INDUSTRY. WHAT 5.
WE DID WAS THEY CAME INTO THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST AS SOMEBODY WHO SAY, LOOK, WE WANT TO CREATE JOBS AND INVESTMENT THAT WE NORMALLY DO.
WE SAY WE WANT TO BECOME PART OF THE FABRIC OF THE COMMUNITY.
[00:40:03]
IN THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT WAS CREATED, GOING BACK TO WHAT YOU WERE SAYING ABOUT THE 800,000, THAT'S WORKFORCE THAT'S JUST NOT EMPLOYED.THEY TOOK THE THE TACT OF BRINGING PEOPLE INTO THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM AND GET TRAINING.
BUT IT WAS IN WELDING, TRUCKING, THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT IT TOOK A HOLISTIC APPROACH BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE, WHEN LIFE COMES IN AND TAKES OVER, SOME THINGS BECOME NOT PRIORITIZE.
NOT ONLY WERE PEOPLE ENCOURAGED TO COME IN AND GET INTO THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, BUT THEY ALSO, IF THEY HAD, THEY WERE ASSIGNED MENTORS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY STAYED IN THE PROGRAM.
IF SOMEONE DIDN'T SHOW UP, YOU LOOK AND SEE WHAT I'VE GOT CHILDCARE ISSUES.
WE HAD PEOPLE TO HELP WORK THROUGH THOSE ISSUES.
THEY HAD WE'VE GOT I'VE GOT OTHER ISSUES THAT HAVE TO DEAL WITH AND WE DEALT WITH ALL THESE THINGS AND WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
IT WAS AT THE POINT WHERE EVERY WELDING CLASS THAT CAME OUT ALL DONE WITH CERTIFIED WELDERS, THEY HAD JOBS BEFORE THEY EVEN WALK THE STAGE.
AND WE HAD A REPORT THAT WE HAD WE GAVE ONE TIME, I THINK IT WAS TO THE ROTARY CLUB, AND AT THE TIME THEY HAD ABOUT 95 PEOPLE THAT PASS THROUGH THE PROGRAM.
WHEN OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WAS SAYING, WELL, WE'VE HAD 95 PEOPLE, I MADE THE CORRECTION NO, WE'VE HAD 95 FAMILIES JUMPED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU CREATE A BREADWINNER IN A PROGRAM, YOU LIFT THAT ENTIRE FAMILY UP, AND THAT BECOMES A GENERATION OF BLESSING.
BUT ALL OF THAT STARTS HERE BECAUSE IF THE INDUSTRY DOESN'T COME THROUGH HERE AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE US IN THE TOP 10 OF SOMETHING IN THIS COUNTRY.
THAT'S NOT JUST, THAT'S JUST THE SURFACE OF IT.
AS THESE CORPORATIONS COME IN AND BECOME GOOD CORPORATE CITIZENS INTO THE COMMUNITIES, THE COMMUNITIES WILL ARISE AND WE AS A STATE WHERE RISE, SO I WANT TO THANK YOU, SECRETARY PIERSON. I WANT TO THANK YOU.
LET ME SERVE ON THIS BOARD BECAUSE IT'S BEEN GOOD TO SEE FROM ALL ASPECTS ABOUT WHERE IT STARTS AND THE BENEFITS THAT GO THROUGH.
ONCE YOU CREATE SOLID ROOTS, EVEN A MUSTARD SEED BECOMES AS MIDAS AS IT WANTS TO BE, SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYTHING ELSE? I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN, SO MOVED.
SECOND, MR. MAYOR, TUBES, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY SEASON.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.