[00:00:09]
[1. Call to Order – Jerald Jones, Chairman]
I'M CALLING THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, THE DECEMBER 3RD, 2025 MEETING TO ORDER.
MS. [INAUDIBLE], WILL YOU CALL ROLL?
HAPPY HOLIDAYS. MR STEWARD MOSS
REPRESENTATIVE VINCENT ST. BLANC FOR DARYL DESHOTEL?
>> SENATOR EDDIE LAMBERT FOR SENATOR FRANKLIN FOYLE.
>> REPRESENTATIVE JULIE EMERSON.
>> THANK YOU. IT'S GOOD TO SEE EVERYONE.
[Additional Item]
I WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE FOR CALLS, TEXTS, NOTES.LAST MONTH IN THE PASSING OF MY WIFE.
IT'S BEEN A DIFFICULT TIME, BUT ONE WONDERFUL THING THAT COMES OUT OF CIRCUMSTANCES AS YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT FRIENDSHIP FAMILY, AND RELATIONSHIPS REALLY DO MEAN.
AND SO I THANK EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESSES AND THANK YOU, ROBBIE, FOR HANDLING THE MEETING LAST MONTH.
WITH THAT, I THINK EVERYONE HAS HAD
[3. Approval of Minutes from October 22, 2025 meeting]
AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING.IF IF IT'S APPROPRIATE, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THOSE MINUTES, HAVE A MOTION FOR MR. MILLER, SECOND FOR MR. NASSER.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE.
THE MOTION CARRIES. GOOD MORNING, MS. [INAUDIBLE]. HOW ARE YOU?
[4. Quality Jobs Program – Michaela Adegbe]
>> GOOD MORNING. WELL AND YOURSELF.
>> OKAY. JUST WALK US THROUGH THE QUALITY JOBS PROGRAM, PLEASE, MA'AM.
>> THERE ARE FIVE NEW APPLICATIONS.
2022-0326 BBP SALES LLC, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, 2023-0185, DELTA BIO-FUEL OPC LLC, IBERIA PARISH, 2023-0249, FLY GUYS INC LAFAYETTE PARISH, 2023-0323, LINCOLN FOOD SERVICE EQUIPMENT, LLC, CADDO PARISH, 2022-0171, PLOKE POWER INC IBERVILLE PARISH.
>> VERY GOOD. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE APPLICATIONS? MOTION FROM MORE OR TWO. SECOND FOR MR. MOSS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD?
>> I NEED TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM FLY GUYS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE? ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE ARE BEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> ONE RENEWAL APPLICATION 2020-0327, CABOT CORPORATION, EVANGELINE PARISH.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS RENEWAL MOTION FROM MR. ST. BLANC.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE.
ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE.
AYE ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> TWO CHANGE OF PROJECT PHYSICAL LOCATION, 2019-0206 CALCASIEUR PASS OPERATIONS, LLC, PREVIOUS ADDRESS 236 DAVIS ROAD, CAMERON LOUISIANA 70631 CAMERON PARISH, NEW ADDRESS 671 DAVIS ROAD, CAMERON LOUISIANA 70631 CAMERON PARISH.
2020-0253, PLAQUEMINES L&G OPERATIONS, LLC.
PREVIOUS ADDRESS, 19,000 HIGHWAY 23, POINT ES LOUISIANA, 70083, PLAQUEMINES PARISH, NEW ADDRESS, 2,200 HIGHWAY 23, PORT SULPHUR, LOUISIANA, 70083 PLAQUEMINES PARISH.
[00:05:02]
>> AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT SIMPLY WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THESE, THEY ARE NOT MOVING LOCATIONS.
THEY'RE SIMPLY GETTING MUNICIPAL ADDRESSES, WHAT USED TO BE A LAP LONG ADDRESS IN THE APPLICATION NOW FINALLY HAVE MUNICIPAL ADDRESSES, SO WE'RE PUTTING THOSE IN THE RECORD.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE MOTION FROM SENATOR MAZEL.
SECOND MR. [INAUDIBLE] 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. THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> THIS CONCLUDES QUALITY JOBS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. HAVE A GREAT DAY.
[5. Restoration Tax Abatement Program – Travis Rosenberg]
>> RESTORATION TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM
>> THERE IS ONE FULL TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP TO NEW COMPANY REQUESTS FOR CONTRACT 201-61-6307, FORMER OWNER, MARKET STREET SHREVEPORT, LLC, NEW OWNER SHREVEPORT, REO LLC, AND CADDO PARISH.
>> ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP FROM MR. NASSER, SECOND, FROM MR. ST. BLANC.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE BEING NONE.
ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> AND THAT CONCLUDES THE RTA AGENDA.
>> DON'T WORRY. THERE WILL BE MORE IN FEBRUARY.
GOOD MORNING, MS. [INAUDIBLE]?
[6. Enterprise Zone Program – Joyce Metoyer]
THERE'S ONE ENTERPRISE ZONE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL? 2021-0255, TRIAD ELECTRIC CONTROL INCORPORATED CALCASIEU PARISH.>> DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? WE HAVE A MOTION MR. [INAUDIBLE], DO I HAVE A SECOND? YEAH. MAYOR TOPS.
ANY QUESTION OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE.
ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE OF THE MOTION CARIES.
NEXT. CONTRACT TERMINATIONS. WE HAVE 18.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 717 D OF THE ENTERPRISE ZONE PROGRAM RULES, A BUSINESS MAY SUBMIT A REQUEST TO TERMINATE THEIR ENTERPRISE ZONE CONTRACT, IF ONE; THE CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN IN EFFECT FOR AT LEAST 30 MONTHS.
TWO; THE BUSINESS HAS MET ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES TIMELY FILING OF ALL PROGRAM FORMS, DOCUMENTS, AND APPROPRIATE FEES.
FOLLOWING CONTRACTS WERE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, AND THE CONTRACT HOLDERS LISTED BELOW HAVE SUBMITTED A REQUEST TO TERMINATE THEIR ENTERPRISE ZONE CONTRACT.
THE CONTRACT UNDERSTANDS BUSINESS BOARD DECISION IS FINAL AND CONTRACTS CANNOT BE REINSTATED OR REACTIVATED.
WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO READ THEM ALL OR CAN THEY BE APPROVED IN GLOBO?
>> I MAKE A MOTION WE APPROVE IN GLOBO. SECOND.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
TO AVOID THE READING OF EACH ONE.
THEY ARE INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THEM ALL IN GLOBO.
WE HAVE A SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR OF ACCEPTING ALL IN GLOBO.
ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> THERE ARE TWO CHANGE IN NAME ONLY, 2021-0345 AVENUES RECOVERY IS THE CURRENT NAME.
THE NEW NAME IS AVENUES RECOVERY CENTER OF COVINGTON LLC, ST. TAMMANY PARISH, AND 2021-0340 TG AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, LOUISIANA, LLC.
THE NEW NAME IS CSP INNOVATIONS, LOUISIANA, LLC, AND WEBSTER PARISH.
>> DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? MOTION FOR MR. NASSER, SECOND, MR. [INAUDIBLE].
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? THERE ARE NONE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE IS NONE.
ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> WE HAVE TWO CONTRACTS FOR CANCELLATIONS, 2022-0147, PMG OPCO BROSSARD, LLC, LAFAYETTE PARISH.
THE COMPANY DID NOT MEET THE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.
THE COMPANY REQUESTED CANCELLATION.
AND 2022-0148, PMG OPCO JENNINGS,
[00:10:05]
LLC, JEFFERSON DAVIS PARISH.THE COMPANY DID NOT MEET THE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.
THE COMPANY REQUESTED CANCELLATION.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE CANCELLATIONS, BUT FROM MOTION FROM MAYOR TOPS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? THERE IS NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE BEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE, THE MOTION CARRIES.
THAT CONCLUDES ENTERPRISE ZONE.
>> THANK YOU, MS. [INAUDIBLE].
>> GOOD MORNING, MR. [INAUDIBLE].
[7. Industrial Tax Exemption – Kristin Johnson/Hud Usie]
GOT IT ALL BY YOURSELF TODAY? YES. GREAT.>> WE HAVE TO NEW APPLICATIONS FOLLOWING THE 2024 EMERGENCY RULES, 2024-0429, BHT HOLDINGS, LLC, LAFAYETTE PARISH, IN 202-04-0317, ROGERS MANUFACTURING CORPORATION, OUACHITA PARISH.
>> ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE APPLICATIONS UNDER THE 2024 EMERGENCY RULES FROM MR. NASSER, SECOND FROM SENATOR MAZEL.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE.
ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE.
ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE 11 NEW APPLICATIONS PROJECT APPLICATIONS FOLLOWING THE 2025 RULES, 2025-0469 ALLENDALE FACILITY, LLC, WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH, 2025-0139 ENTERGY LOUISIANA LLC RICHLAND PARISH, 2025-0261, EPIC PIPING LLC LIVINGSTON PARISH, 2025-0546 HEXION INC. ASCENSION PARISH, 2025-0505 INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY, WASHINGTON PARISH, 2025-0508 INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY, WASHINGTON PARISH, 2025-0532, LH HAYWARD N CO LLC JEFFERSON PARISH, 2025-0530 METHANEX USA LLC ASCENSION PARISH, 2025-2770 EG OFFSHORE INC. LAFAYETTE PARISH, 2025-0560 REG GEISMER, LLC ASCENSION PARISH, AND 2025-0566 CRA FRAC SAND, LLC AND BOSSIER PARISH. THANK YOU.
>> AS A REMINDER, THESE HAVE ALL BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE INDUSTRIAL TAX EXEMPTION PROGRAM COMMITTEE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
MOST OF THESE ARE DEEMED ADMITTED, MEANING THE LOCAL COMMITTEE DID NOT RESPOND WITHIN 60 DAYS.
A FEW WERE RECOMMENDED, BUT ALL ARE WITHOUT OPPOSITION.
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, I NEED TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM THE ALLENDALE FACILITY MATTER. PLEASE.
>> GREAT. NOTE THAT RECUSAL FOR THE RECORD.
WE HAVE A MOTION FOR MR. MILLER, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MOTION FROM MR. MILLER.
SECOND, MR. [INAUDIBLE]. ANY OTHER 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.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE TWO TIMELY PRE EXECUTIVE AUDIT RENEWAL APPLICATIONS, 2015-0156-D-PT, LOUISIANA INTEGRATED POLYETHYLENE JV LLC CALCASIEU PARISH IN 2015-0156-2D, SASA USA CORPORATION, CALCASIEU PARISH.
>> I MOVED. MR. CHAIRMAN, I NEED TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM THE SASA MATTER.
>> ALL RIGHT. PLEASE NOTE THAT RECUSAL FOR THE RECORD.
AND I HAD A MOTION FROM MR. MOSS AND A SECOND FROM MR. ST. BLANC.
AND BEFORE WE VOTE, I JUST WANT TO NOTE, IT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING TO ME WHEN WE HAVE HUGE INVESTMENTS IN LOUISIANA.
I'VE BEEN ON THIS BOARD FOR 1,000 YEARS.
AND I REMEMBER THERE WAS A DAY THAT IF WE HAD A $500 MILLION INVESTMENT, THAT WAS A GOOD DAY. IT WAS A BIG DAY.
AND THOSE INVESTMENTS ARE HUGE.
WHEN WE HAVE $100,000 INVESTMENT IN A LOCAL COMMUNITY, THAT'S A BIG DEAL.
BUT WHEN I SEE A SASA WITH A $2.69 BILLION INVESTMENT, THAT'S JUST EYE POPPING.
>> IT'S LESS EYE POPPING THAN IT USED TO BE WITH THE MEDA DEAL, ISN'T IT?
[00:15:03]
>> AND I'M JUST I GUESS GOT TO SAY IT WHILE I'M THINKING ABOUT IT, BECAUSE I GET ANXIOUS WHEN I HAVE AN OPINION UNEXPRESSED.
WHAT'S GOING ON IN LOUISIANA RIGHT NOW IS AMAZING.
AND COMPANIES LIKE SASOL AND SO MANY OF THE LNG FACILITIES AND NOW WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH MEDA, AND MORE ABOUT WHAT SECRETARY BOURGEOIS WILL TELL US ABOUT LATER.
AND I WANT THIS BOARD TO UNDERSTAND WHEN WE SEE THESE KIND OF INVESTMENTS AND THE WORK THAT THE STAFF PUTS IN TO GET TO THIS POINT, WHERE ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS VOTE ON THEM AND NOT FIGHT OVER THEM.
THAT'S A GOOD DAY, TOO. SO JUST NOTE THAT, AND WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD. THERE IS NONE.
ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE BEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE, THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> WELL DONE, TEAM. MR. CHAIRMAN.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, BEING THAT THOSE TWO FROM SASA ARE RIGHT THERE AT HOME FOR ME, HAD A CONVERSATION WITH SOME OF THE SASA GROUP THIS MORNING AND JUST AN IDEA OF WHAT THEY'LL BE GIVING BACK AFTER THE ITEP WHICH SHOULD ROLL OFF, PROBABLY WITH THE NEXT YEAR TO 18 MONTHS, THEY'LL BE PAYING 50 MILLION ANNUALLY IN TAXES.
I'LL GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT'S COMING BACK INTO OUR PARISH. WE'RE VERY PROUD. YEAH.
>> TEN YEAR ABATEMENT DOESN'T LOOK AS BAD TODAY AS IT DID TEN YEARS AGO.
AND THANK YOU FOR THAT, MR. MOSS CAUSE, IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT ASTERIX ON THE ITEP PROGRAM THAT FOR MANY YEARS, IN THIS ROOM, WE'VE HAD TO FIGHT OVER TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS AT THE END OF THE DAY.
THE ITEP PROGRAM IS NOT A JOBS PROGRAM.
IT IS A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO BUILD, PUT CONCRETE IN THE GROUND AND BUILD VALUE IN THE GROUND TO BUILD PROPERTY TAXES FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
AND WE APPRECIATE THOSE WHO ARE MAKING INVESTMENTS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. THANK YOU.
>> SHOULDN'T GO UNNOTICED THAT [INAUDIBLE] ALSO ADDED $2.3 BILLION.
>> AS I SAY, IT'S AMAZING TO ME THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE KIND OF NUMBERS IN INVESTMENT, BUT THANK YOU, ENERGY.
ANYBODY ELSE I'M MISSING IS MAKING THE 2 OR $3 BILLION? YOU KNOW, IF YOU RAISE YOUR HAND, YOU'RE MAKING $2 BILLION INVESTMENT.
GREAT. ALL RIGHT. LET'S MOVE ON. I'M SORRY.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE ONE LATE PRE-EXECUTIVE AUDIT RENEWAL APPLICATION, 2016 0666-B, WESTLAKE VINALS COMPANY, LP AND ASCENSION PARISH, INITIAL CONTRACT EXPIRATION DATE 12/31/2024, LATE RENEWAL REQUESTED DATE MAY 8TH, 2025.
>> JUST AS A REMINDER FOR EVERYONE, BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS SOME CONFUSION ABOUT THIS.
THIS IS AN OLD ITEP PROGRAM, PRE EDWARDS ADMINISTRATION EXECUTIVE ORDER AND UNDER THOSE RULES, THERE WERE NO STATUTORY OR REGULATORY PENALTIES IMPOSED, NO MANDATORY PENALTIES.
UNDER TODAY'S RULES, WE HAVE MANDATORY PENALTIES AND SO THEY HAVE A LATE RENEWAL.
IT'S WHAT FIVE MONTHS LATE, ROUGHLY WESTLAKE MINALS.
WE HAVE THE OPTION OF APPROVING THE RENEWAL WITHOUT THE PENALTY.
APPROVING IT WITH A PENALTY AND DENY IT ALTOGETHER, BUT THAT'S THE REASON YOU HAVE THE OPTION OF APPROVING THE RENEWAL WITHOUT A PENALTY IF THAT'S THE WAY THE BOARD WANTS TO GO.
AS YOU WILL REMEMBER, THE OTHER ITEP PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE, THE OTHER SETS OF RULES THAT ARE SUBSEQUENT TO THE ITEP PROGRAM THIS ONE WAS UNDER.
THERE ARE MANDATORY RULES, AND IT'S USUALLY ONE YEAR FOR EVERY MONTH THAT THEY'RE LATE.
WHAT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD TODAY FOR WESTLAKE MINALS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> CHAIRMAN, IS THERE A REASON THEY WERE FIVE MONTHS LATE OR [INAUDIBLE]
>> I'M SORRY. THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, MR. [INAUDIBLE].
DO WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM WESTLAKE MINALS? PLEASE COME FORWARD. SIT RIGHT HERE WHERE THE MICROPHONE IS, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
IF YOU WILL PULL THE MIC A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO YOU.
STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR POSITION WITH THE COMPANY, PLEASE.
>> MY NAME IS ELIZABETH MALDONADO.
I'M THE INDIRECT TAX SUPERVISOR WITH WESTLAKE.
[00:20:01]
>> GREAT. JUST TELL US WHAT HAPPENED, WHY THE RENEWAL WAS LATE.
>> WE HAD SOME SHIFTING DONE IN THE DEPARTMENT.
WE HAD TO MOVE THINGS AROUND, AND DURING THE CROSS TRAINING, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT ONE APPLICATION, WE HAD TWO RENEWALS THAT YEAR AND ONE OF THE RENEWALS GOT MISSED, AND WE DIDN'T FILE IT.
IT WAS AN OVERSIGHT ON OUR PART.
AS SOON AS WE FOUND OUT, WE DID FILE THE RENEWAL.
>> GREAT. ANY QUESTIONS FOR COMPANY? WHAT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD?
>> WHAT NOTICE IS GIVEN FROM US TO THEM, WHAT'S THE TIME?
>> DO YOU HEAR WHAT HE'S SAYING?
>> HE'S ASKING HOW DO WE NOTIFY DOES THE STAFF NOTIFY THE COMPANIES WHEN THEY'RE LATE?
>> NO. THE RULES ALLOW SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO EXPIRATION TO FILE THEIR RENEWAL TIMELY.
>> NO, IT'S JUST DATES AND FAST LING WHERE YOU CAN SEE WHERE IT EXPIRES, BUT IT'S UP TO THE COMPANY TO FILE IT TIMELY.
>> GOT IT. THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION, MR. WILLIS? GREAT. IF I MAY ASK, IS HOW DID YOU DISCOVER THAT IT DID NOT GET FILED IN A TIMELY MANNER?
>> WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH OUR COMPLIANCE CALENDAR, WE CAUGHT IT, AND WE NOTICED THAT IT HADN'T GONE FILED.
>> YOUR COMPLIANCE CALENDAR DID WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO.
>> GOT IT. PLEASURE OF THE BOARD. FOR APPROVAL.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION FROM CENTER MAZEL TO APPROVE WITHOUT PENALTY WITH A SECOND FROM MR. MOSS.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD? ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE.
ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE RENEWAL WITHOUT PENALTIES. SAY AYE.
>> AN THE OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE.
THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE FOUR TIMELY RENEWALS FOLLOWING THE 2017 RULES, 2016, 1942, LA 3 WEST BATON ROUGE, LLC, WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH, 2017 0443, LA THREE WEST BATON ROUGE LLC, WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH, 2017 0504, LA 3 WEST BATON ROUGE, LLC, WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH, AND 2018 0142 A, TOMO US LOC IBERVILLE PARISH.
>> THESE ARE RENEWAL APPLICATIONS.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION FROM MAYOR TOPS TO APPROVE.
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 IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE SIX TIMELY RENEWAL APPLICATIONS FOLLOWING THE 2018 RULES.
2019 0003, CNC MARINE AND REPAIR LOC PLACEMENS PARISH, 2019 0082 A ETHERIDGE ELECTRIC CO LOC CALCAU PARISH, 2018 0148D A, FLO PAM INC IBERVILLE PARISH, 2018 0087 LASALLE LUMBER COMPANY, LLC LASALLE PARISH, 2018 0283, MA PAT AND SON LIMITED LOC IBERIA PARISH, AND 2019 0153, REAGENT CHEMICAL AND RESEARCH INC ASCENSION PARISH.
>> DO WE HAVE A MOTION FROM MR. ST. BLANC? SECOND FROM MR. WILLIS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD TO APPROVE THESE APPLICATIONS? HEARING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE IS NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSED? THERE IS NONE.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE ONE LATE RENEWAL APPLICATION FOLLOWING THE 2018 RULES, 2019 0082, ETHERIDGE ELECTRIC COMPANY, LLC, CALCAS PARISH, INITIAL CONTRACT EXPIRATION DATE 123-12-0204.
LATE RENEWAL REQUEST DATE 101 OF 2025.
>> WE HAVE A LATE RENEWAL AGAIN, UNDER THE 2018 RULES.
THERE IS MANDATORY PENALTY, OR THE RENEWAL CAN BE DENIED ALTOGETHER.
WHAT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD?
>> THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME.
ANYONE HERE FROM ETHRIDGE ELECTRIC? WE DON'T KNOW WHY IT WAS LATE, MR. MOSS.
[00:25:02]
[LAUGHTER] WHAT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD?>> WE HAVE A MOTION FROM MR. NASSER TO APPROVE THE RENEWAL WITH A ONE YEAR PENALTY.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE, AND COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.
THERE IS NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE, THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE ONE CHANGE IN NAME ONLY, LUBRICATION TECHNOLOGIES INC, CONTRACT 202-02-0118 IN CATO PARISH, CHANGING THEIR NAME TO A SYNTAX INC.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION, MR. MILLER.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? THERE IS NONE, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE IS NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE, THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE FOUR CHANGE IN LOCATION ONLY.
HYDROGEN LLC, 202-02-0171 AND IBERVILLE PARISH, PREVIOUS LOCATION COORDINATE ALONG LA HIGHWAY 75, NUMERICAL ADDRESS NOT YET ASSIGNED IN ST. GABRIEL, LOUISIANA, 70776, NEW LOCATION 40 207 LA HIGHWAY 75, ST. GABRIEL, LOUISIANA 70776.
VENTURE GLOBAL CALCASE PASS, LOC, CONTRACT 201-51-1401 IN CAMERON PARISH, LOCATED ON CALCAS SHIP CHANNEL BETWEEN MILE MARKER ZERO AND TWO, SOUTHEAST OF MONKEY ISLAND, CHANGING THEIR LOCATION TO 671 DAVIS ROAD, CAMERON LOUISIANA 70631.
VENTURE GLOBAL CALCASE PASS, LLC, CONTRACT 201-51-1401 B, PREVIOUS LOCATION 236 DAVIS ROAD, CAMERON, LOUISIANA 70631, CHANGING THE LOCATION TO 671 DAVIS ROAD, CAMERON, LOUISIANA, 70631 IN CAMERON PARISH.
FOR THE LAST ONE, I DO HAVE A CORRECTION.
THE NAME OF THE COMPANY SHOULD BE VENTURE GLOBAL PLACAMENS, LNG LOC, AND THE CONTRACT IS 201-61-5302 IN PLACEMENS PARISH.
PREVIOUS LOCATION 632 ACRE PARCEL LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY RIVER MILE MARKER 55 ON THE WEST BANK OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, NEW LOCATION 20200 HIGHWAY 23, PORT SULFUR, LOUISIANA 70083.
>> HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE CHANGES FROM MAYOR TOOPS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? THERE IS NONE.
ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> AN OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE, THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE TWO CONTRACT TRANSFERS, FOSTER POULTRY FORMS, LOC, CONTRACTS 2017 0088, AND 202-01-0539 IN UNION PARISH, TRANSFERRING TO CASE FORMS PROCESSING INC.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE TRANSFERS.
MOTION FOR MR. NASSER, SECOND FOR MR. CALI.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? THERE IS NONE, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.
THERE IS NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE FIVE CONTRACT CANCELLATIONS, EQUILON ENTERPRISES, LLC, DBA SHELL OIL PRODUCTS US, CONTRACT 202-02-0169 AND ASCENSION PARISH, PROJECT CANCELED COMPANY REQUEST CANCELLATION.
EQUILON ENTERPRISES, LLC DOING BUSINESS AS SHELL OIL PRODUCTS US, CONTRACT 202-02-0170 AND ST. JAMES PARISH, PROJECT CANCELED COMPANY REQUESTING CANCELLATION.
MAGNOLIA RENEWABLE FUELS, LLC, CONTRACT 202-02-0032 AND WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH, LED REQUESTS CANCELLATION UPON NOTICE FROM THE COMPANY AND CONSULTANT OF THE PROJECTS CANCELLATION.
SHELL CHEMICAL LP CONTRACTS 2022-02-0083 AND 202-02-0383 IN ASCENSION PARISH.
PROJECTS CANCELED OR PAUSED, COMPANY REQUESTING CANCELLATION.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION FROM MR. NASSER TO APPROVE ANY SECOND FROM MR. ST. BLANC.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE.
[00:30:02]
THERE IS NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE 42 OPT OUT JOBS PAYROLL AND COMPLIANCE COMPONENTS, EXHIBIT A AMENDMENTS.
>> MAKE A MOTION WE APPROVE OPT OUT IN GLOBO.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION, MR. MILLER TO ADOPT THE OPT OUT AMENDMENTS IN GLOBO, A SECOND FROM MAYOR TOPS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? THERE IS NONE.
THERE IS NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE TWO SPECIAL REQUESTS.
THE FIRST IS FOR BIENVILLE LUMBER COMPANY, LOC, CONTRACT 202-02-0302, BIENVILLE LUMBER COMPANY, LOC IS REQUESTING TO AMEND THEIR EXISTING EXHIBIT A AGREEMENT, SECTIONS 4.02D AND 6.01B1 FOR CONTRACT 2022-0302 TO READ THREE INSTEAD OF TWO YEARS IN ORDER TO EXTEND THE COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND RELATED GRACE PERIOD PROVIDED BY ONE YEAR.
>> DO WE HAVE SOMEONE HERE FROM BIENVILLE LUMBER?
>> GOOD MORNING. YOU STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR POSITION WITH THE COMPANY.
>> I'M GLENN WILLIAMS, I'M A FORMER CFO OF THE COMPANY.
I'M ON A PATH TO RETIREMENT BY THE END OF THE YEAR, SO THEY'VE GOT ME AS A SPECIAL PROJECTS GUY, WHICH BRINGS ME TO Y'ALL.
>> HELP TELL US WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE.
>> AS WE SAID IN THE LETTER TO LED, THIS PROJECT, WHICH IS NOT QUITE IN THE BALLPARK OF INERGY G, BUT IT'S A $270 MILLION PROJECT.
ONE LITTLE PIECE, THE RAILROAD SPUR, ENCOUNTERED DELAYS, AND THE FIRST HURDLE THAT WE HIT WAS THAT KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN MERGED WITH CANADIAN PACIFIC, AND WE HAD THE CONTRACT WITH KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN, ABOUT 95% DONE.
WE HAD TO START ALL OVER WITH CANADIAN PACIFIC PAPER.
THAT WAS JUST ONE OF THE THINGS AND NOT TO DISPARAGE OUR RAILROAD FRIENDS BECAUSE WE APPRECIATE THEM, BUT THEY DON'T MOVE AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT.
THIS PARTICULAR PIECE HAS BEEN DELAYED, AND WE EXPECT TO BE DONE NOW PROBABLY SPRING OR SUMMER OF 2026.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THE MILL HAS BEEN UP AND RUNNING SINCE FEBRUARY OF 2024, AND WE EMPLOY ABOUT 190 NEW JOBS WITH A RELATED PAYROLL IN THE $20 MILLION RANGE.
>> VERY GOOD. JUST NOTE FOR THE RECORD, THEY'RE ASKING FOR THIS PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE CONTRACT, NOT AFTER EXPIRATION OF THE CONTRACT, WHICH CAN BE AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION. SECRETARY BUSCH.
>> I JUST WANT TO ADD A NOTE ON THIS ONE.
I HAPPEN TO BE AT THE FACILITY JUST FOUR OR FIVE WEEKS AGO NOW.
JUST TO SEE THE INVESTMENT THAT WAS MADE IN THE PARISH AND WHAT THEY'RE ALREADY PRODUCING, BOTH FROM A TRADITIONAL SAWMILL PERSPECTIVE, AS WE ALL THINK ABOUT IN LOUISIANA, AND FROM AN INNOVATION PERSPECTIVE, WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH TECHNOLOGY, TO REALLY IMPRESS THE FACILITY AND APPRECIATE YOUR INVESTMENT IN LOUIS.
>> ESSENTIALLY, THIS WILL GIVE YOU ANOTHER YEAR TO FINISH OUT THE REAL PORTION OF THE PROJECT.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION FROM THE BOARD, HAVE A MOTION FROM MR. MEATY.
MOTION SECOND FROM MR. WILLIS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION. SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> THE NEXT SPECIAL OF REQUEST IS FOR WILLIS POND PV1 LOC, CONTRACT 2020 0421, WILLIS POND PV1 LOC IS REQUESTING TO AMEND THEIR EXISTING EXHIBIT A AGREEMENT, SECTIONS 4.02 A, TO SHOW DECEMBER 31ST, 2027 AS THE COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATE, AND TO ADJUST THE TABLE IN SECTION 4.02 B TO BEGIN WITH PROJECT YEAR 2028.
>> DO WE HAVE ANYONE HERE FROM WILLIS POND? PLEASE MOVE FORWARD. GREAT. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR POSITION WITH THE COMPANY, PLEASE.
>> GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN. I'M PETER HUBBARD.
I'M A SENIOR DEVELOPMENT MANAGER WITH ECOPLEXUS.
TELL US WHAT YOU MAKE AND WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.
[00:35:03]
>> ECOPLEXUS IS A SOLAR AND BATTERY STORAGE DEVELOPER.
THE WILLIS POND PV1 LLC PROJECT.
THAT'S A PROJECT THAT'S BEEN IN DEVELOPMENT, IN FACT, ADVANCED DEVELOPMENT NOW FOR SOME TIME.
IT HAS AN EXECUTED INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT WITH ENERGY AND WITH MISO.
THE REASON FOR THIS REQUEST FOR AN EXTENSION IS IT'S DUE TO MARKET FORCES.
WE'VE HAD SOME EQUIPMENT ON ORDER NOW FOR SOME TIME, HIGH VOLTAGE BREAKERS THAT HAVE A 36 MONTH LEAD TIME, GENERATOR STEP UP TRANSFORMERS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
THE REASON FOR THAT DATE OF DECEMBER 31ST, 2027, THAT IS A NEGOTIATED DATE WITH ENERGY, WHERE WE'RE WORKING TO BUILD THE SUBSTATION FOR THE SOLAR PROJECT, WHICH REPRESENTS ABOUT $350 MILLION IN THE EAST FELICIANA PARISH.
>> QUITE A LARGE INVESTMENT FOR THAT AREA.
BUT IT REALLY NEEDS THIS EXTENSION BASICALLY TO BE ABLE TO FINISH THIS PROJECT AND SEE IT THROUGH TO THAT COMMERCIAL OPERATION DATE THAT WE'VE NEGOTIATED INTO THE GENERATOR INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT WITH ENTITY.
THAT'S THE NATURE OF THE REQUEST.
IT'S REALLY JUST DUE TO THE LONG LEAD TIMES.
I WOULD SAY A TURN IN THE MARKET AS WELL.
IT HAS A NEGOTIATED PPA, BUT WE'VE HAD TO RENEGOTIATE THAT BECAUSE OF A TURN IN THE MARKET.
>> IT'S AN ADVANCED DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, BUT JUST NEEDS MORE TIME TO REACH THAT COMMERCIAL OPERATION, DAVID.
>> FORGIVE ME, WHICH PARISH ARE YOU IN?
WE HAVE A MOTION? I HAVE A MOTION FROM MR. NASSER.
TO APPROVE THIS AMENDMENT, GIVING ADDITIONAL TIME, AND THIS IS A STRAIGHT SOLAR FARM, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> IT HAS BECOME KNOWN AS SOLAR FARM.
I KNOW THE INDUSTRY DOESN'T LIKE THAT TERM, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO CALL IT.
>> IT IS, BUT IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO FOLLOW THIS UP WITH ANOTHER INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT FOR AN ENERGY STORAGE FACILITY THERE, WHICH WOULD BASICALLY DOUBLE THE INVESTMENT.
IT WOULD BE ANOTHER FOLLOW ON PROJECT THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY COME A FEW YEARS LATER.
WE'RE STUDYING THAT NOW IN TERMS OF AN INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION FROM MR. NASSER.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND, SECOND FOR MR. CALI.
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, THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> LAST, WE HAVE ONE CONTRACT FOLLOWING THE 2017 ITEP RULES THAT IS NON COMPLIANT FOR A JOBS AND PAYROLL.
2016, 1675 GUIN MACHINE INC AND BIENVILLE PARISH.
THERE ARE SOME ERRORS WITH THE JOBS AND PAYROLL AND DUE DATE AS IT DISPLAYS ON THE AGENDA.
THE WAY I'M GOING TO READ IT IS THE ACCURATE NUMBERS AND DUE DATE.
>> THEY ARE NON COMPLIANT FOR THE 2023 REPORTING PERIOD.
THE EXHIBIT A FOR THE CONTRACT REQUIRES THE COMPANY MAINTAIN 10 JOBS WITH $356,772.28 IN PAYROLL, INCLUDING CREATING AND MAINTAINING ONE JOB WITH A PAYROLL OF 35,000.
THE ACTUAL JOBS AND PAYROLL CREATED AND MAINTAINED WERE 12 JOBS WITH $581,304.89 IN PAYROLL.
THE COMPANY IS NON COMPLIANT FOR THE LATE FILING ONLY.
THE COMPANY FAILED TO SUBMIT ANNUAL COMPLIANCE BY THE DEADLINE OF APRIL 30TH, 2024.
THE COMPLIANCE WAS RECEIVED ON MAY 20TH, 2024, UPON NOTIFICATION BY LED OF THE MISSED DEADLINE, AND THE PARISH, THE SCHOOL BOARD, NOR THE SHERIFF RESPONDED WITH RECOMMENDATIONS.
>> DO WE HAVE SOMEBODY HERE FROM GWEN MACHINE? DID YOU STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR POSITION WITH THE COMPANY PLEA.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN. I'M COLTON GUIN.
I'M A THIRD GENERATION OWNER OF GUIN MACHINE.
BASICALLY, I DON'T KNOW HOW FAMILIAR YOU GUYS ARE WITH SMALL BUSINESSES.
YOU HAVE TO WEAR A LOT OF HATS.
IN THAT, THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAD JOINED TOGETHER WITH OUR CPA TO TAKE CARE OF THIS.
I THINK THIS COME UP, I WANT TO SAY LAST YEAR AT THIS MEETING.
WE HAD TO COME BEFORE YOU GUYS.
OUR CPA DID NOT FILE IT WITHIN THE RIGHT TIME.
AS YOU CAN TELL, WE DID MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PAY ROLL AND THE JOBS.
[00:40:03]
SINCE THEN, THAT CPA IS NO LONGER OUR CPA.WE'VE CORRECTED THAT, AS BEST WE KNOW.
>> ANYWAY, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO.
I THINK WE WERE FIRST NOTIFIED THAT WE HAD A LATE FILING WHEN THE ORIGINAL PROJECT IN 2023.
WELL, THAT WAS AFTER THAT FIVE YEARS HAD ENDED.
OBVIOUSLY, IF I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT NECESSARILY, WHICH I UNDERSTAND THAT'S MY POSITION TO KNOW ABOUT IT.
WE COULDN'T FIX IT. THEN WE STARTED DIGGING INTO IT, WELL, THAT WAS ALREADY AFTER THE '23 WAS FILED LATE AS WELL.
SINCE THEN, WE'VE TRIED TO MAKE THOSE CORRECTIONS TO ENSURE THAT THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
>> THAT'S MY QUESTION. DO YOU HAVE THE SYSTEMS IN PLACE?
>> WE HAVE A NEW CPA. HE UNDERSTANDS OR SHE UNDERSTANDS.
>> ONE OF THE DIFFICULT THINGS ABOUT ADMINISTERING, 12 DIFFERENT ITEP PROGRAMS IT FEELS LIKE IS THAT THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT RULES, AND IT CAN BE CONFUSING FOR US.
IT CAN BE CONFUSING FOR THE INDUSTRY AS WELL.
BUT WE ARE BOUND TO ENFORCE THE REGULATIONS AS WRITTEN.
I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE.
BUT HAVING SAID ALL THAT, OBVIOUSLY, THE COMPANY HAS MET ITS GOALS AS FAR AS BOTH JOBS AND PAYROLL.
THE ONLY DEFICIT IS A LATE FILING.
WHAT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD AS TO WHETHER A PENALTY SHOULD BE APPLIED OR NOT?
>> WE HAVE A MOTION FOR MR. WILLIS TO APPROVE WITHOUT PENALTY. WE HAVE A SECOND.
>> LET ME GET A SECOND. THEN YOU CAN ASK YOUR QUESTION.
A SECOND FOR MR. MOSS, MR. MIGLEY.
>> APPROVING WITHOUT PENALTY, DOES THIS PUT SIDEWAYS WITH ANY PAST RULINGS WHERE WE HAVE [INAUDIBLE]
>> NO. WE HAVE OPTIONS ON THESE AND BECAUSE ON COMPLIANCE, WE HAVE OPTIONS.
>> [INAUDIBLE] THE WORD CHOICES.
WE HAVE A MOTION SECOND TO APPROVE WITHOUT PENALTY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD.
THERE IS NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.
HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE, THE MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU, MR. GUIN, KEEP WORKING HARD.
>> THANK YOU, MR. YOUSEF APPRECIATE YOUR HELP TODAY.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE BOARD TODAY?
[8. Other Business]
>> IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE COULD REQUEST OF LED TO LOOK AT INVESTING IN A SYSTEM THAT NOTIFIES PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF TIME.
SO THAT WAY WE DON'T HAVE THESE DEADLINES BE MISSED BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THAT ALWAYS BECOMES A STICKING POINT, AND IT SEEMS LIKE, IF WE WANT TO BE VERY BUSINESS FRIENDLY.
MAYBE IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE COULD HAVE, CALL IT, THERE'S SYSTEMS OUT THERE, THERE'S SOFTWARE OUT THERE THAT COULD JUST AUTOMATICALLY SEND NOTICES LIKE, HEY, YOU HAVE X NUMBER OF DAYS UNTIL YOU NEED TO REFILE THIS.
THAT WAY WE COULD REDUCE THE NON COMPLIANCE NUMBERS AND THE MISSTEPS.
>> EVEN MY CREDIT CARD COMPANY DOES THAT NOW.
>> I'M JUST WONDERING IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY INVEST IN THAT OR IF THAT'S SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WORKS WITH THE BOARD VERSUS ALL THE MECHANISMS.
>> IN SOME SITUATIONS AND I'M SPEAKING OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, SO YOU'RE GETTING WHAT YOU'RE PAYING FOR, BUT I THINK THE RULES DO NOT PROVIDE FOR THAT THAT MIGHT TAKE A RULE AMENDMENT, BUT WE AMEND RULES ALL THE TIME.
I THINK THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO HANDLE IT AT THIS POINT, SECRETARY BOURGEOIS, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU, IS THAT IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING FOR YOUR STAFF TO TAKE A LOOK AT, WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO GET US TO THAT POINT WHERE SOME AUTOMATIC TICKLER SYSTEM BE IMPLEMENTED FOR FILINGS TO KNOCK DOWN ON BOTH COMPLIANCE ISSUES AND LATE RENEWAL ISSUES.
>> YEAH, AND ACTUALLY, MR. CHAIRMAN,
[9. Secretary Remarks – Secretary Susan Bourgeois]
THAT PROBABLY IS A GOOD SEGUE INTO MY REPORT, BECAUSE I'M HAPPY TO COMMENT ON THAT.PART OF NINE BY 90, WHICH I THINK YOU HAVE ALL HEARD ME TALK ABOUT, WHICH IS OUR VERY AGGRESSIVE 18 MONTH WORK PLAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT FITTING INTO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, THERE'S AN ENTIRE CATEGORY CALLED EASE OF USE.
WE'RE IDENTIFYING SYSTEMS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT,
[00:45:02]
EVERYTHING FROM OUR PHYSICAL LOCATION.I THINK, AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE'VE MOVED WHERE OUR OFFICE ACTUALLY IS, WE'RE NOT IN THIS BUILDING ANYMORE.
TO OUR TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS AND HOW WE JUST CAN CONTINUE TO BETTER THAT CUSTOMER FOCUS AND THAT SERVICE.
THAT'S ALL PART OF WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
SOME OF THESE WILL BE BASED ON RULES, SOME OF THESE WILL BE BASED ON THE INDIVIDUAL INCENTIVE AND HOW THE RULES ARE WRITTEN, BUT ALL THAT IS PART OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AND HOW WE CREATE SYSTEMS THAT JUST MAKE IT EASIER FOR OUR CUSTOMERS, OUR STAKEHOLDERS TO USE OUR SYSTEMS. BUT IF I MIGHT, CONTINUE.
>> GREAT. IT'S A GREAT POINT, AND I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH, AND IT IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO TALK ABOUT THAT NINE BY 90 AND SEVERAL OTHER THINGS.
OUR NINE BY 990 AGAIN WAS AN AGGRESSIVE WORK PLAN FOR US TO ACCOMPLISH BY THE END OF NEXT CALENDAR YEAR.
WHAT I'M HERE TO TELL YOU IF YOU LOOK AT IT, IT'S ALL ON OUR WEBSITE, OF THE ELEMENTS IN THERE, WE'RE ABOUT 65-70%.
WELL THROUGH MANY OF THEM, AND I'LL JUST HIT SOME HIGHLIGHTS ON WHAT THOSE WERE.
PART OF WHAT WE DID, AS YOU'VE ALL HEARD ME SAY AND THE GOVERNOR SAY, IT WAS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO HIM, AND I THINK ACTUALLY THE POSTURE OF THIS BOARD HAS REFLECTED IT FOR TWO YEARS NOW.
THAT WE AS A DEPARTMENT PAY AS MUCH ATTENTION TO AND FOCUS ON OUR EXISTING LOUISIANA BUSINESSES THAT HAVE ALREADY, MADE THEIR INVESTMENT HERE, TAKEN THE BETS HERE, AND THAT WE ARE SERVING THEM AND GIVING THEM SUPPORT JUST AS WE GIVE OUR NEW ATTRACTION PROJECTS.
OUR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SHOP LED BY PAGE CARTER, OBVIOUSLY, WHO'S HERE, SET AN INCREDIBLY AGGRESSIVE GOAL TO VISIT 800 EXISTING LOUISIANA BUSINESSES, WHICH WE'VE IDENTIFIED AS DRIVER COMPANIES.
WITHIN ONE YEAR, AND WE ARE ALREADY BASICALLY 50% OF THE WAY THROUGH 800 VISITS.
I LIKE TO TELL PAGE, I'M DOING MY SHARE BECAUSE I'VE DONE ABOUT 10 OF THEM.
BUT OF THOSE 10, WE DID A TOUR AROUND THE STATE. IT REALLY WAS REMARKABLE.
IT WAS WHY I GOT TO GO VISIT BIENVILLE LUMBER IN FACT, BUT SITTING IN BUSINESSES, JUST LIKE THE ONES MOST OF YOU IN THIS AUDIENCE REPRESENT AND HEARING FIRSTHAND THE DIFFERENCE THAT THEY FEEL, THEY EXPERIENCE, NOT JUST WITH LED, WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION, WITH THIS GOVERNOR, WITH THIS BOARD, WITH THIS LEGISLATURE, AND THE WAY LOUISIANA IS TREATING BUSINESS AND OPPORTUNITY AROUND BUSINESS.
THE FACT THAT I HAVE BEEN IN EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE, AND EVERYONE IS TELLING US THE SAME THING, JUST WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IT MAKES.
TO ME, THERE'S A LOT OF THANKS THAT GO ALONG WITH THAT.
BUT FIRST OF ALL, OBVIOUSLY, I APPRECIATE EVERYONE ON THIS BOARD WHO'S REFLECTING THAT POSTURE.
IT'S CLEARLY AN IMPORTANT FOCUS OF THE GOVERNORS, BUT TO OUR INCENTIVES ADMINISTRATORS AND OUR LEGAL TEAM, AGAIN, INSIDE THE DEPARTMENT, WHO ARE MAKING THIS MORE USER FRIENDLY, I'M INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
BUT IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED TWO PROJECTS BECAUSE OF THE BILLIONS ATTACHED TO, BOTH OF THEM.
WE HAVE HAD ENGAGEMENT CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM.
ENTERGY, OBVIOUSLY, AROUND A LOT OF PROJECTS, META, NOT BEING THE LEAST OF THAT, BUT EVEN SAS HALL AND SOME BOTH CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES THEY HAVE, AND THE WAY THAT THE GOVERNOR HIMSELF AND OUR DEPARTMENT HAVE ENGAGED WITH THESE PROJECTS TO JUST SIMPLY FIND SOLUTIONS.
IT'S BEEN REMARKABLE, AND THE FEEDBACK HAS BEEN EVEN BETTER.
THOSE BILLION DOLLAR ANNOUNCEMENTS HOPEFULLY KEEP COMING.
I WILL SAY, AS IT RELATES TO ENTERGY, I KNOW WE END UP TALKING I FEEL LIKE WE END UP TALKING ABOUT META AT EVERY ONE OF THESE MEETINGS.
BUT ENTERGY THIS PAST MONDAY, DID THEIR GROUNDBREAKING ON THEIR GENERATION FACILITY AT THE FRANKLIN FARM SITE.
NOT THAT MANY OF YOU IN THIS ROOM HAVE THE OCCASION TO BE IN NORTHEAST LOUISIANA REGULARLY, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU IF YOU ARE SOMEBODY WHO CARES ABOUT THE LOUISIANA ECONOMY, THE TRANSFORMATION OF LOUISIANA ECONOMY, AND THE POTENTIAL IN THE LOUISIANA ECONOMY, FIND A REASON TO GO DRIVE THROUGH RICHLAND PARISH, BECAUSE I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT.
I KNOW IT. I LIVE IT, I GET THE PHONE CALLS, I GET THE E MAILS EVERY DAY, AND I CAN'T FATHOM IT UNTIL I SEE IT.
I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO FIND A REASON, IF YOU'RE IN THIS INDUSTRY, AND TO GO LOOK AND SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, TO HAVE A MULTI BILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT HAPPENING IN A REGION OF LOUISIANA, AND JUST SIMPLY WHAT THE FLOW OF THAT MONEY DOES.
IT'S NOT JUST WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE SITE.
THE SITE'S INCREDIBLY IMPRESSIVE.
BUT GO TRY TO GET A HOTEL ROOM IN NORTHEAST LOUISIANA RIGHT NOW.
GO TRY TO GET A FLIGHT IN AND OUT OF THE MONROE AIRPORT RIGHT NOW.
GO TRY TO RENT A CAR IN MONROE RIGHT NOW.
NO CHANCE OF RENTING TOBACCO OR A JOB TRUCK.
DON'T EVEN TRY TO DO THAT, BUT JUST THE UNBELIEVABLE IMPACT ON AN ECONOMY 12 MONTHS NOW.
TWELVE MONTHS TOMORROW, IN FACT, AFTER THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IT IS THE FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE OF WHAT DECISIONS LIKE WE ARE MAKING ARE DOING IN LOUISIANA,
[00:50:04]
AND I CAN'T SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH.EVERYONE SHOULD SEE IT FIRSTHAND.
A COUPLE OF OTHER HIGHLIGHTS THIS MORNING, AND I LOVE THAT REPRESENTATIVE ST. BLANC IS THE ONE HERE TODAY.
THIS MORNING, WE ANNOUNCED A PROJECT IN HIS DISTRICT IN FRANKLIN, SERONIC, IS THE COMPANY.
IT IS A GREAT LOUISIANA STORY BECAUSE THEY ARE TRADITIONAL LOUISIANA INDUSTRY, SHIPBUILDING.
BUT THEY HAVE AN INNOVATION OVERLAY THAT IS REMARKABLE, AND THEY BUILD AUTONOMOUS MARINE VESSELS USED PRIMARILY IN THE DEFENSE SECTOR.
THEY ANNOUNCED THIS MORNING A $300 MILLION EXPANSION IN 01,500 ADDITIONAL JOBS IN FRANKLIN, LOUISIANA.
THE REALLY NEAT PART OF THAT IS WELL, I LOVE THAT WE ANNOUNCED THAT TODAY.
DECEMBER IS GOING TO BE REALLY BUSY FOR LED.
I WOULD TELL YOU TO KEEP WATCHING BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIT A LOT IN BETWEEN NOW AND THE HOLIDAY SEASON, AND YOU'LL SEE A NUMBER OF ANNOUNCEMENTS COMING.
AS IMPORTANTLY TO THAT, YOU WILL SEE THE GOVERNOR TAKING THE LEAD ON WRAPPING THAT UP IN A BOW WITH SOME REALLY SIGNIFICANT FIRST EVER NUMBERS THAT LOUISIANA SIMPLY NEVER SEEN.
STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO ON WHAT'S COMING THERE.
BUT I'M JUST TELLING YOU THE MOMENTUM IS HERE.
IT'S PALPABLE, IT'S HAPPENING, AND IT'S NOT JUST END OF THE YEAR STUFF.
I TELL THE TEAM ALL THE TIME, ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY BECAUSE WE ROLL BACK INTO WHAT WE BELIEVE WILL BE A VERY IMPORTANT JANUARY. MORE TO COME.
I'D LIKE TO GIVE A ALL THE UPDATE ON THE PIPELINE.
EVERY TIME I DO THIS REPORT, I GIVE YOU THE FRESH NUMBER.
S OF TODAY, OUR AB PRIORITY PIPELINE HAS 183 PROJECTS, REPRESENTING 61,000 DIRECT NEW JOBS AND $242 BILLION IN CAP X.
>> THANK YOU, SECRETARY BOURGEOIS, AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING THROUGHOUT THE DATE.
I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT, AGAIN, HAVING WATCHED THIS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, SOUTH LOUISIANA IS ACCUSTOMED TO SEEING DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND THE GULF COAST.
I TOLD A CLIENT ONE TIME THEY HAD A PROJECT.
THEY HAD A PROJECT WHERE THEY HAD $150 MILLION MINI PROJECT WITHIN THEIR BILLION DOLLAR PROJECT, AND THEY SPENT FIVE MINUTES IN A MEETING ON THIS $150 MILLION PROJECT.
I SAID, GUYS, IF YOU WENT TO MONROE, LOUISIANA AND ANNOUNCED $150 MILLION PROJECT TODAY, THEY'D NAME STREETS AFTER YOU.
NOW WE'RE SEEING JUST THAT HAPPENING NORTH OF ALEXANDRIA IN ALEXANDER.
IT'S HAPPENING STATEWIDE, AND THAT'S EXCITING FOR THE ENTIRE STATE.
THANK YOU, SECRETARY BOURGEOIS FOR ALL THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE DOING, AND THE GOVERNOR IS THE BEST CHEERLEADER TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, AND WE APPRECIATE IT VERY, VERY MUCH.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS THIS MORNING? WE HAVE LANE KIFFIN [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU.
ICING ON THE CAKE, SO WE'LL SEE.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP NEXT YEAR. IT'LL BE GREAT.
BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER.
HEARING NONE, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
HAVE A MOTION FROM MR. NASSER.
>> WE'LL SEE YOU. LET ME REAL QUICK. IT'S DECEMBER.
HOPE EVERYONE HAS A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS, A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON. BE SAFE.
ENJOY YOUR FAMILY, HUG THEM, TELL THEM YOU LOVE THEM.
WE'LL SEE Y'ALL IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY. THANK Y'ALL.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.