Jun 24, 2026 Board of Commerce and Industry

[00:00:03]

ARE WE READY TO GO? IT'S GOOD TO SEE EVERYONE THIS MORNING.

[1. Call to Order – Jerald Jones, Chairman ]

MISS SIMMONS, WOULD YOU CALL ROLL TO ENSURE A QUORUM? STUART MOSS. PRESENT. DAVID TOUPS. DAVID AMOSS.

HERE. JOHN AUSTIN. BARRY MELE. HERE. SCOTT NIEMEYER.

REPRESENTATIVE VINCENT ST. BLANC [INAUDIBLE] HERE.

SENATOR FRANKLIN FOIL.HERE. GERALD JONES. PRESENT. RONALD RAMIREZ. SENATOR [INAUDIBLE] PRICE FOR BETH MIZELL.

I'M SORRY. REPRESENTATIVE. TONY BACALA. HERE.

MICHAEL TANNER AND VILLA. PRESENT. GEORGE NASSAR.

HERE. IRWIN THOMPSON. HERE. HAROLD CALLAIS. HERE.

RIDGE MIGUEZ. WESLEY BLAKE WILLIS. HERE. LETTI ARDOIN.

ROBBIE MILLER. JULIE EMERSON. WE HAVE A QUORUM.

THANK YOU. YOU'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE MINUTES FROM OUR APRIL 22ND, 2026 MEETING.

[3. Approval of Minutes from April 22, 2026 meeting ]

HAVE A MOTION FOR MR. NASSAR, SECOND FOR MR. MELE.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE.

ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES.

OKAY. AT THIS TIME. I'M GOING TO TAKE A BRIEF HIATUS FROM THE AGENDA.

[Additional Item]

GOOD MORNING BOARD THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN JONES, FOR ALLOWING THE PERSONAL PRIVILEGE THAT I HAVE HERE THIS MORNING.

I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF SHARE JUST WITH YOU ALL AND WITH THOSE IN ATTENDANCE AND THOSE WATCHING VIA LIVE STREAM.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, LED IS GOING THROUGH SOME MAJOR RESTRUCTURING.

REORGANIZATION EVER SINCE THE 2024 LEGISLATION WAS PASSED TO APPOINTED POSITIONS WERE ELIMINATED.

THE UNDERSECRETARY EXCUSE ME, WHICH MOST OF YOU KNOW, I SERVED IN PRIOR TO THIS ADMINISTRATION, AS WELL AS THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY POSITION, WERE BOTH ELIMINATED IN THAT LEGISLATION.

SO WITH THAT, THE SECRETARY AND I WERE WORKING THROUGH OUR REORGANIZATION, AND AT THAT TIME WE DECIDED THAT IT WOULD BE BEST TO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, WHICH WOULD BASICALLY TAKE THOSE 2 POSITIONS AND MOVE THEM INTO ONE THAT OVERSEES ALL OF OUR OPERATIONS, WHICH INCLUDES THE PROGRAMS THAT YOU ALL OVERSEE HERE AT BC&I, AS WELL AS OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE ADMINISTER AT LED.

ALONG WITH OUR COMPLIANCE DEPARTMENT AND EVENTUALLY OUR FISCAL STAFF TEAM WORK THAT WE DO THERE.

SO WITH THAT, WE ABOUT A YEAR AGO HIRED CHRISTINA SMITH, WHICH SHE'S GOING TO COME UP TO THE TABLE AND INTRODUCE HERSELF TO YOU AS WELL AS LET, YOU KNOW WHEN SHE WAS HIRED, SHE WORKED EXCLUSIVELY WITH OUR TEAM AND WITH OUR HR DEPARTMENT TO WORK ON RESTRUCTURING OUR OPERATIONS TEAM, WHICH OVERSEES ALL OF OUR INCENTIVES.

SO, CHRISTINA, IF YOU DON'T MIND COMING UP AND LET THE BOARD KNOW WHAT WE HAVE FINALLY FINALIZED, IT TAKES A LITTLE, A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO GET THROUGH REQUIREMENTS THAT'S NEEDED BY OUR CIVIL SERVICE AS WELL AS INTERNALLY PROCESSES THAT WE NEEDED TO DO.

SO WE FINALLY GOT ALL OF THOSE RESOLVED AND WE MADE ANNOUNCEMENTS IN THE PAST 30 DAYS.

AND SO LIKE, CHRISTINA, TO MAKE THOSE ANNOUNCEMENTS WITH YOU BECAUSE IT DOES AFFECT PEOPLE WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY SERVED WITH YOU ON THE, YOU KNOW, SERVING YOU AS THE BOARD. SO, CHRISTINE, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME THIS MORNING. THANK YOU, ANNE, FOR THE FABULOUS INTRODUCTION. IT'S A PLEASURE TODAY TO TALK WITH YOU ALL AND LET YOU KNOW ABOUT THE AMAZING DEVELOPMENTS THAT WE'RE DOING HERE IN INCENTIVES COMPLIANCE UNDERNEATH LED. SO FIRST OFF AS ANNE MENTIONED, I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CHRISTINA SMITH OF OPERATIONS FOR LOUISIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THE INCENTIVES AND COMPLIANCE.

WE'VE REALLY BEEN TAKING A LOOK AT THE STRUCTURE OF COURSE, ANNE HAD MENTIONED ABOUT THE RESTRUCTURE THAT HAD GONE ON FOR LED PROPER.

SO BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT WAS ACTUALLY RESTRUCTURED INTO VERTICALS THAT REALLY HELPED THEM ALIGN WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S NEEDED NOT ONLY FOR LED, BUT TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN REALLY UTILIZE THE ASSETS EFFECTIVELY THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF LOUISIANA TO ENSURE THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS BROUGHT IN HERE TO THE STATE.

[00:05:01]

SO WE CREATED THAT VERTICAL AND WE ALIGNED THAT WITH OUR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TEAMS. SO WE HAVE 3 VERTICALS. THOSE VERTICALS DEAL WITH OUR PRIMARY INCENTIVE PROGRAMS BEING HIGH IMPACT JOBS THE ITEP PROGRAM AND OF COURSE, OUR FILM PROGRAM AS WELL.

SO WHAT WE DID IS WE CREATED THREE DIRECTOR POSITIONS FOR THE HIGH IMPACT JOBS.

OF COURSE, THAT'S NOT PARTICULARLY FOR THE B, C AND I BOARD, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE RUN BY STEVEN HAMNER. AND THEN OF COURSE, WE HAVE OUR ITE PROGRAM, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THIS BOARD.

AND THAT IS ACTUALLY RUN BY MISS [INAUDIBLE] WHO I BELIEVE IS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE HAVE OUR FILM PROGRAM FOR FILM PRODUCTION, AND THAT IS AMANDA HALFORD.

AND SHE HAS BEEN A STAPLE ALONG WITH STEVEN, WHO HAVE HAVE BEEN HERE OVER EIGHT YEARS HERE AT THE LED FACILITIES.

AND THEN OF COURSE, WE DECIDED IT'S GREAT TO HAVE DIRECTORS AND IT'S GREAT TO HAVE THEM WORK ON THESE REALLY LARGE PROJECTS, SUCH AS WORKING ON INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS FOR OUR SALES FORCE.

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE IN FAST LANE NEXT GEN AND IT IS AMAZING SOFTWARE, BUT WE REALLY NEED OUR CRM SOFTWARE TO KIND OF FACILITATE THAT AND LINK IT ALL TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN GIVE YOU THE REPORTING AND THE METRICS NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THESE PROGRAMS AND HOW THEY'RE BEST FACILITATING AND SUITING THE NEEDS OF OUR BUSINESSES HERE IN LOUISIANA. SO WE HAVE CREATED SOME MANAGER POSITIONS AND SOME ADDITIONAL LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, AND THAT ALLOWS THE MANAGEMENT POSITIONS TO REALLY FOCUS ON THE DAY TO DAY, WHILE THE DIRECTORS ARE FOCUSING ON CREATING THOSE REALLY LARGE SCALE PROJECTS, LIKE TYING US INTO CRMS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE YOU REAL TIME METRICS THAT YOU CAN SEE SO THAT YOU'LL KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON WITH OUR PROGRAMS. SO BETWEEN THAT, WE ALSO CREATED A COMPLIANCE DIVISION WHO IS LED UP BY OUR FANTASTIC MISTY SHAW AND MISTY WHILE THAT PROGRAM AND THAT VERTICAL IS CURRENTLY BEING DEVELOPED, WE REALLY DO HOPE TO SEE SOME ADDITIONAL TEAM MEMBERS IN THAT PROGRAM AND REALLY HELP TO PROVIDE THE COMPLIANCE THAT IS SO INTEGRAL AND IMPORTANT TO THIS BOARD TO ENSURE THAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE BEING FACILITATED, RAN, MAINTAINED, AND STABILIZED WITH THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR CONSTITUENTS IN THE STATE, BUT ALSO TO ENSURE THAT WE PROVIDE THE EASE OF DOING BUSINESS FOR OUR COMPANIES AND ALSO TO CONTINUE THE IMPACT OF LOUISIANA.

ANY QUESTIONS THAT I CAN ANSWER? I ACTUALLY HAVE A COUPLE.

YOU MENTIONED ITEP, OBVIOUSLY, WHICH THE BOARDS.

WHAT ABOUT THE LINGERING CONTRACTS THAT WILL STILL BE UNDER QUALITY JOBS, ENTERPRISE ZONE AND RESTORATION.

TAX ABATEMENT. YES, SIR. THOSE FALL. SO THOSE ARE ACTUALLY THEY'RE KIND OF PARCELED OUT BETWEEN ALL THE DIRECTORS.

WE REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT AT ANY GIVEN TIME THAT A DIRECTOR COULD JUMP INTO ANOTHER DIRECTOR BACK UP TO ENSURE FOR A WORK LIFE BALANCE.

SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE CAN ACTUALLY PROVIDE YOU AN ENTIRE ORG CHART LISTING, WHICH WILL ALSO SHOW WHICH OF THOSE PROGRAMS WILL GO UNDER EACH DIRECTOR, BUT SPECIFICALLY FOR ENTERPRISE ZONE. THAT'S GOING TO GO UNDER.

MR. STEVEN HAMNER UNDER THE HIP VERTICAL Q J WILL GO UNDER THE ITEP VERTICAL WITH MISS [INAUDIBLE] BEHIND ME.

AND THEN OF COURSE, SOME OF OUR OTHER SUNSET PROGRAMS WHICH ARE STILL GOING VERY STRONG IN INTEGRAL.

WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ALL OF THAT INFORMATION PROVIDED AVAILABLE TO YOU, ALONG WITH CONTACT INFORMATION, SO YOU CAN REACH OUT DIRECTLY TO THOSE DIRECTORS AT ANY TIME.

PERFECT. GOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HAVE A QUESTION? YES, SIR.

SO YOU WELL DONE ON PUTTING IT ALL INTO A GOOD NARRATIVE.

I GOT A QUESTION. YOU MENTIONED SALESFORCE A COUPLE OF TIMES.

IF I HEARD YOU CORRECTLY. THERE'S NOW A SALESPERSON OR SALES FORCE SPECIFICALLY FOR EACH VERTICAL.

SO HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT SALES WAS HANDLED AND HOW IT WAS HANDLED PRIOR? THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION. I DID NOT EXPLAIN THAT VERY EFFECTIVELY.

SO SALESFORCE IS ACTUALLY A THE CRM SOFTWARE OF LEADS CHOICE.

CURRENTLY. WE ARE VETTING THAT OUT. YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS AN RFP, RFQ THAT WENT OUT WHERE WE ARE ACTUALLY LOOKING FOR A SYSTEM INTEGRATOR TO HELP US ENSURE THAT OUR. THE DESIGN OF OUR SOFTWARE AND AN INTEGRATION TO OUR CURRENT OUR BD UNITS THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, THEY'RE ACTUALLY UTILIZING SALESFORCE AND HAVE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

WE REALIZED THE BENEFIT OF THAT AND WANT TO ENSURE THAT SINCE WE ARE, WE ARE THE SALES OR THE SERVICE SIDE OF,

[00:10:02]

SO WE SEE THAT THAT TOTAL 360 DEGREE VIEW. UNDERSTOOD.

THANK YOU. WE USE THAT AS WELL. IT'S FANTASTIC.

I WILL DEFINITELY BE CONTACTING YOU, SIR. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS I CAN ANSWER? GOOD DEAL. THANK YOU WITH THAT, WE WILL GO BACK TO THE PRINTED AGENDA.

I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MISS ADEGBE. PLEASE WALK US THROUGH THE QUALITY JOBS PROGRAM, PLEASE.

[4. Quality Jobs Program – Michaela Adegbe ]

YES, I KNOW WE DID. BECAUSE IT'S GOT A CHECK MARK BY IT, SO IT MUST HAVE.

GOOD MORNING. THERE ARE 3 NEW APPLICATIONS 2024-0264 FABRICATED STEEL PRODUCTS, INC..

EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH 2023-0402 GLOBAL SEAMLESS TUBE AND PIPES, INC.

DESOTO PARISH 2024-0175 METAL FAB GUYS, LLC, LIVINGSTON PARISH.

RIGHT, WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE APPLICATION.

A MOTION FOR MR. CALLAIS, SECOND FROM MR. MOSS.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE.

ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES THREE RENEWAL APPLICATIONS 2021-0178 CHALMETTE REFINING, LLC. SAINT BERNARD PARISH, 2021-0362 COCA-COLA BOTTLING COMPANY, UNITED GULF COAST, LLC. EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, 2021-0248 SOUTHLAND STEEL FABRICATORS, INC.

TANGIPAHOA PARISH. WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE RENEWALS.

MOTION FOR MR. RAMIREZ, SECOND FROM MR. MELE.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE.

ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE IS NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES.

THIS CONCLUDES QUALITY JOBS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. ADEGBE. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, MISS MONTOYA. I WILL BE PRESENTING FOR TRAVIS TODAY, AND I NEED TO MAKE A CORRECTION TO THE 4TH APPLICATION HERE.

[5. Restoration Tax Abatement Program – Travis Rosenberg ]

GOOD POINT. GOOD CATCH. OKAY. THIS IS UNDER THE RESTORATION TAX.

IT IS. ABATEMENT. THERE ARE 8 NEW APPLICATIONS YES.

CORRECT. OKAY. 2025-0529 3317 NORTH I-10 SERVICE ROAD WEST LLC, JEFFERSON PARISH.

2025-0698 3401 JEFFERSON HIGHWAY LLC. JEFFERSON PARISH.

2026-0049 3401 JEFFERSON HIGHWAY LLC. JEFFERSON PARISH.

2026 0050 3401 JEFFERSON HIGHWAY LLC JEFFERSON PARISH IN 2026 0051 3401 JEFFERSON HIGHWAY, LLC. JEFFERSON PARISH.

2025-00165 JD PROPERTIES OF LAFAYETTE, LLC. LAFAYETTE PARISH.

2026-0035 LISA VALANCE JEFFERSON PARISH. IN 2023 0390 RIVERBEND REVIVAL, LLC.

JEFFERSON PARISH. RIGHT. AS YOU KNOW, THESE RESTORATION TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAMS HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY THE LOCALS AND COME TO US AFTER THAT APPROVAL. MR. NASSAR HAS A MOTION TO APPROVE.

SECOND. SECOND FROM MR. CALLAIS. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE BEING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE.

THE MOTION CARRIES. THAT CONCLUDES RTA. RIGHT.

LET'S GO RIGHT INTO ENTERPRISE ZONE. THEN THERE ARE 4 NEW APPLICATIONS.

[6. Enterprise Zone Program – Joyce Metoyer ]

ASCENSION PARISH 2023-0490 K&B MACHINE WORKS, LLC.

TERREBONNE PARISH 2021-0551 LOUIS DREYFUS COMPANY SERVICES LLC, WEST BATON ROUGE AND 2022-0452 WEYERHAEUSER IN OUR COMPANY, LINCOLN PARISH.

[00:15:03]

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? EXCUSE ME.

HEARING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE BEING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE.

THE MOTION CARRIES. WE HAVE 9 TERMINATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 717.D OF THE ENTERPRISE ZONE RULES.

A BUSINESS MAY SUBMIT A REQUEST TO TERMINATE THEIR ENTERPRISE ZONE CONTRACT.

IF 1. THE CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN IN EFFECT FOR AT LEAST 30 MONTHS.

2. THE BUSINESS HAS MET ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES TIMELY FILING OF ALL PROGRAM FORMS, DOCUMENTS AND APPROPRIATE FEES. THE 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 CONTRACTS.

THE CONTRACTEE UNDERSTANDS BOARD DECISION IS FINAL AND CONTRACTS CANNOT BE REINSTATED OR REACTIVATED.

AND WE HAVE 9. 20210096 ASH INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED, LAFAYETTE PARISH.

THE EXISTING CONTRACT IS 8/11/22 THROUGH 8/10/2027.

THE REQUESTED TERM DATE IS 2/11/2025. 20210035 AVANT ORGANICS, LLC.

RAPIDES PARISH. THE EXISTING CONTRACT IS 2/2/21 THROUGH 2/1/2026 THE REQUESTED TERM DATE IS 12/31/2023. 20151239. EXCEL FABRICATION AND CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED.

ASCENSION PARISH. THE EXISTING CONTRACT IS 9/13/21 TO 9/12/2026.

THE REQUESTED TERM DATE IS 9/13/2024. 20200294 OCHSNER LSU HEALTH SYSTEM, CADDO PARISH THE EXISTING CONTRACT IS 3/13/2022 TO 3/12/2027. THE REQUESTED TERM DATE IS 3/12/2025.

20210190 OPULENCE KRISHNA HOSPITALITY LLC, CALCASIEU PARISH.

THE EXISTING CONTRACT IS 4/13/2021 TO 4/12/2026.

THE REQUESTED TERM DATE IS 12/31/2024. 20210079 TURN SERVICES, LLC, ORLEANS PARISH THE EXISTING CONTRACT IS 1/13/22 TO 1/12/2027. THE REQUESTED TERM DATE IS 1/12/2025.

2021081 I'M SORRY. 20210081 TURN SERVICES, LLC.

ORLEANS PARISH. THE EXISTING CONTRACT IS 12/13/22 TO 7/12/2027.

THE REQUESTED TERM DATE IS 7/12/2025. 2020 0204.

TURNER INDUSTRIES GROUP. TURNER INDUSTRIES GROUP LLC, CALCASIEU PARISH THE EXISTING CONTRACT IS 9/1/2021 THROUGH 8/31/2026. THE REQUESTED TERM DATE IS 12/31/2024 AND 2020 0446.

WILLIS KNIGHTON MEDICAL CENTER INCORPORATED, CADDO PARISH AND THE EXISTING CONTRACT IS 6/13/2022 THROUGH 6/12/2027 AND THE REQUESTED TERM DATE IS 6/12/2025.

ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE CONTRACT TERMINATIONS FOR MR. MELE, SECOND FROM MR. CALAIS? ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE.

THE MOTION CARRIES. THAT CONCLUDES EZ. THANK YOU, MA'AM.

[7. Industrial Tax Exemption – Hud Usie ]

YES. WE HAVE 3 NEW APPLICATIONS FOLLOWING THE 2018 ITEP RULES.

20220110-C GEORGIA PACIFIC, PORT HUDSON LLC, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, 20230224-B. COKE METHANOL. SAINT JAMES, LLC. SAINT JAMES PARISH AND 20230281 WEYERHAEUSER IN OUR COMPANY, WINN PARISH. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE APPLICATIONS, MR. NASSAR? MOVES. MR. MOSS SECONDS. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE ARE NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE.

[00:20:02]

FABRICATED STEEL PRODUCTS, INC., EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, 20240340 GULF ISLAND LLC, TERREBONNE PARISH 20240602 K&B MACHINE WORKS LLC. TERREBONNE PARISH.

20240528-A LACC LLC US. CALCASIEU PARISH 20240274 MARCO LLC, NATCHITOCHES PARISH 20240587.A PHILIP 67 COMPANY, CALCASIEU PARISH. 20240305.A PLACID REFINING COMPANY, LLC, WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH, 20240245.A. SOUTHLAND INDUSTRIAL COATINGS LLC, SAINT LANDRY PARISH AND 20240450 STULLER, INC., LAFAYETTE PARISH. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE APPLICATIONS? MOTION. MR. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL NOTE. MR.. MR..

HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE YOU'VE BEEN HERE? I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW. [LAUGHTER] MR. POLOZOLA, I APOLOGIZE. MR. POLOZOLA RECUSAL FROM PHILIP 66 AND STULLER, INC..

WITH THAT, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE MR. CALLAIS. A SECOND FROM SEN. PRICE. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE IS NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE.

THE MOTION CARRIES. NEXT, WE HAVE 22 NEW PROJECT APPLICATIONS FOLLOWING THE 2025 ITEP RULES.

20260073 AIR LIQUIDE LARGE INDUSTRIES U.S. LP, SAINT JAMES PARISH.

20260052 CASE FARMS PROCESSING, INC., UNION PARISH.

20260076 COCA-COLA BOTTLING COMPANY, UNITED GULF COAST LLC, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

20260123 CUSTOM METAL WORKS, INC., EAST BATON.

ROUGE PARISH. 20260071 DIS-TRAN STEEL, LLC. RAPIDES PARISH.

20260080 GARYVILLE REFINING LOGISTICS, LLC. SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH.

20260101 GULF ISLAND LLC, TERREBONNE PARISH. 20250677 HAYNES INTERNATIONAL, INC., BIENVILLE PARISH. 20260056 INTERNATIONAL MEZZO TECHNOLOGIES, INC., EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

20260008 COKE METHANOL SAINT JAMES, LLC. SAINT JAMES PARISH.

20250672 KOPPERS UTILITY AND INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, INC..

VERNON PARISH. 20260069 LOUISIANA SUGAR REFINING, LLC, SAINT JAMES PARISH.

20260079 MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP. SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH, 20250661 METAL FAB GUYS, LLC. LIVINGSTON PARISH.

20260097 MORTON SALT, INC.. IBERIA PARISH. 20250187 MOSAIC FERTILIZER, LLC.

SAINT JAMES PARISH. 20250192 MOSAIC FERTILIZER, LLC.

SAINT JAMES PARISH. 20260075 NOVA CHEMICALS, INC..

ASCENSION PARISH. 20250572 ORION ENGINEERED CARBONS, LLC.

SAINT MARY PARISH. 20250370 OUACHITA CONTRACT MANUFACTURING, LLC.

OUACHITA PARISH. 20260156 SYRAH TECHNOLOGIES, LLC.

CONCORDIA PARISH IN 20260150 WESTLAKE VINYLS COMPANY LP.

ASCENSION PARISH. GREAT. MOVE. JUST. JUST ONE SECOND.

I'M. I'M GOING TO NEED TO KNOW THE RECUSAL ON 20260073 FOR AIR LIQUIDE LARGE INDUSTRIES, AS WELL AS THE 2 MOSAIC FERTILIZER CASES. 20250187, 20250192.

WE HAVE A MOTION FROM MR. CALLAIS. WE HAVE A SECOND FROM MR. SAINT BLANC. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD?

[00:25:01]

THAT'S WHY I JUMPED ON IT REALLY QUICK. I WAS I WANTED TO GET MY NAME TO BE LIKE.

ABSOLUTELY. YES. ALSO, JUST ONE NOTATION I FORGOT FOR SARAH TECHNOLOGIES LLC.

THEY ARE THE FIRST MEGA PROJECT. THERE'S A NOTATION.

THE LOCAL ITEP COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED THEM AS A MEGA PROJECT WITH 93% EXEMPTION.

RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR NOTING THAT, MR. [INAUDIBLE]. VERY GOOD.

ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION. WE HAVE A SECOND.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE.

THE MOTION CARRIES. KEEP IT COMING. NEXT WE HAVE NON COMPLIANCE CONTRACTS FOR THE 2018 ITEP RULES.

WE HAVE 1 CONTRACT NUMBER 20180370 FOR VALERO REFINING NEW ORLEANS LLC IN SAINT CHARLES PARISH.

THAT IS NON COMPLIANT FOR THE 2024 REPORTING PERIOD.

THE EXHIBIT A FOR THE CONTRACT REQUIRES THE COMPANY CREATE AND MAINTAIN NINE JOBS WITH 1.2 MILLION IN PAYROLL.

OF THE NINE REQUIRED JOBS, UP TO 5 MAY BE BY A QUALIFIED CONTRACTOR.

THE ACTUAL JOBS AND PAYROLL CREATED FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD WAS 0.

THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD AND SHERIFF SUBMITTED A JOINT LETTER STATING, WE STRONGLY URGE THE MEMBERS OF THE LOUISIANA BOARD OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY TO TAKE NO ACTION AND NOT PENALIZE THE COMPANY. DO WE HAVE SOMEONE HERE FROM VALERO REFINING? YEAH. HI.

OKAY. OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A NONCOMPLIANCE ISSUE TO KIND OF TELL US WHAT WHAT HAPPENED HERE AND WHAT LED TO IT.

WELL, THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THAT POPPED UP IN 22 AND 23 AND AND THEN POPPED UP AGAIN IN 24.

I THINK IT'S A COMBINATION OF SEVERAL THINGS.

1 IS THE THE WAY THAT THE CHANGES OR THE WAY THAT YOU HAD TO ADMINISTER THE JOBS JOB'S REQUIREMENT DIDN'T ALLOW US TO ACTUALLY REFLECT THE FACT THAT WE DID CREATE JOBS.

IT'S JUST THE WAY THAT THE SCHEDULE WORKED. IT DIDN'T ALLOW TO THAT TO BE REFLECTED APPROPRIATELY.

WE ALSO CREATED CONTRACTOR JOBS, AND THERE WAS NO REAL WAY TO SHOW THAT.

WE ALSO HAD SOME JOBS THAT WERE IN OUR BASELINE BECAUSE OF CAPITAL PROJECTS BEING ON SITE.

AND WHEN THOSE CAPITAL PROJECTS GOT COMPLETED, PEOPLE EITHER MOVED TO DIFFERENT FACILITIES OR JUST WERE NOT BACKFILLED, BUT THEY WERE THERE FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS AND GOT PICKED UP IN THE BASELINE AND NOT INCLUDED.

WE WOULD NOTE THAT DURING THIS PERIOD, BEGINNING FROM THE BASELINE OF 2018, THROUGH THIS PERIOD, OUR TOTAL PAYROLL IN THE PARISH INCREASED ABOUT 20%.

AND SO FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, AND ALSO FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF OUR ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY, I THINK THAT'S WHY THE PARISH AUTHORITIES CAME BACK WITH SUCH A STRONG WRONG STATEMENT ABOUT WHAT A WHAT OUR PRESENCE HAS MEANT IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE BILLIONS OF INVESTMENT THAT WE HAVE BROUGHT INTO SAINT CHARLES PARISH.

RIGHT. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? ALL RIGHT. MR. MELE MADE IT A POINT TO TALK ABOUT THE 20% INCREASE IN PAYROLL.

IS THAT A 20% INCREASE IN NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES AS WELL? NO, NO. JUST OVERALL PAYROLL IMPACT IN THE PARISH STARTING AT THE BASELINE.

SO REPRESENTATIVE MCCOLLUM. YEAH. THANK YOU. IF YOU'D GET A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE MIC.

I'M HAVING A HARD TIME HEARING I'M SORRY. SO Y'ALL HAVE BEEN OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH REPORTING FOR HOW LONG? SO THE FIRST COMPLIANCE YEAR WAS 2022 AND THEN 2023.

AND LAST YEAR THIS ISSUE POPPED UP, I THINK ALMOST AROUND THE SAME TIME.

AND THE PARISH WEIGHED IN, THE PARISH WEIGHED IN AND, AND SAID, DON'T PENALIZE VALERO.

SO THAT WAS THAT WAS ACTED ON BY THE BOARD LAST YEAR.

AND THIS IS THE FINAL YEAR, I THINK THAT THIS ISSUE WOULD POP UP.

OKAY. SO I GUESS THE BIG QUESTION IS DO YOU EXPECT TO BECOME COMPLIANT IN, IN SOME REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME? OR IS THIS GOING TO BE AN ONGOING. WE OPTED OUT OF THE COMPLIANCE BEGINNING IN 2025 UNDER THE, THE CHANGE IN THE RULES. SO IF WE HAVE ANY CLARIFICATION, MAYBE.

YOU KNOW, PULL IT, PULL IT CLOSER. NOT ON. THERE WE GO.

RHONDA BOATNER DDA CONSULTANTS. EFFECTIVE WITH THE GOVERNOR LANDRY COMING IN OFFICE, HE ALLOWED COMPANIES THAT HAD,

[00:30:08]

AND THAT WAS EFFECTIVE FOR THIS COMPANY FOR THE 2025 REPORTING YEAR.

SO 2024 IS THE LAST YEAR THAT THEY HAD TO PROVIDE COMPLIANCE REPORTS.

OKAY. THANK YOU. AND IT SHOULD BE NOTED, WE THE BOARDS ALREADY DEALT WITH THE 2022 AND 2023 NONCOMPLIANCE ISSUES.

THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY. SO AND SO. AND IT SPEAKS VOLUMES THAT YOU HAVE THE PARISH POLICE JURY, SCHOOL BOARD AND SHERIFF THAT ARE ALL SAYING TAKE NO ACTION.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S THE BIG INDICATOR, YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW THAT THE BOARD TYPICALLY FOLLOWS A LOT OF WHAT THE LOCALS RECOMMEND OR REQUEST.

BUT, YOU KNOW, FROM MY OWN, AND I GUESS FOR THE BOARD'S CLARIFICATION, WOULD YOU MIND HELPING US UNDERSTAND? SO YOU SAID THAT Y'ALL HAVE JOBS AND YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE A TON OF JOBS.

YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE A LOT OF EMPLOYEES. YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY DOING A LOT OF COMMERCE, BUT FOR SOME REASON, HOW WE INTERPRET OR HOW WE EXPECT THAT INFORMATION REPORTED TO US, IT DOESN'T ALIGN WITH THE JOBS YOU'VE ACTUALLY CREATED.

SO I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S A PROBLEM DISCREPANCY IN THAT PROGRAM OR THAT PROCESS.

THAT IS KIND OF A BIGGER QUESTION. AND THAT'S SORT OF LIKE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING, IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE BODY OF MY QUESTION IS IN THAT VEIN. SO THE WAY MARTY EXPLAINED IT, AND THIS HAPPENS TYPICALLY A LOT WITH PROJECTS, YOU KNOW, THEY SEND IN THEIR FOLKS MAYBE FROM THEIR HEADQUARTERS OR FROM A PROJECT GROUP.

AND THOSE FOLKS ARE NOW APPEAR ON THEIR QUARTERLY UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE REPORT.

THAT'S THE ONLY STATE REPORTING THAT WE CAN USE TO PROVE THE NUMBER OF JOBS AT THE SITE.

WELL, ONCE THAT PROJECT. SO THOSE PEOPLE ARE NOW COUNTED ON THEIR BASELINE.

ONCE THOSE PEOPLE LEAVE, ANY NEW JOBS THAT ARE CREATED HAVE TO GO TO FILL THOSE JOBS THAT HAVE BEEN LOST ONCE THE PROJECT IS DONE.

SO YES, THE THE PROJECT ITSELF DID CREATE JOBS AT THE FACILITY, BUT IT WAS THE NEW JOBS WERE USED TO BACKFILL THE PROJECT PEOPLE THAT LEFT.

OKAY. AND OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T HAVE THIS ISSUE ANYMORE UNDER THE NEW RULES.

BUT PERHAPS THE THE THE REAL ISSUE WAS ESTIMATING THOSE JOBS ON THE FRONT END.

YES. AND, AND HOW THOSE JOBS WERE ESTIMATED BECAUSE OF THE KIND OF A THE BACKFILLING OF THE POSITIONS THAT COME IN FROM ELSEWHERE 2 CONTRACT EMPLOYEES, ALL THOSE THINGS HAVE IMPACT ON HOW YOU HOW YOU.

BECAUSE REALLY, WHEN YOU FILE YOUR APPLICATION, WE, THE LED HAS ALWAYS TAKEN THE COMPANY'S APPLICATION THAT THAT SET THE THAT SET THE COMPLIANCE RECORD. AND SO I THINK THAT HAS PROVEN TO BE THE ISSUE.

WE'VE SEEN THIS MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. BUT FORTUNATELY NOW UNDER THE NEW 2025 RULES MOVING FORWARD, THIS TRYING TO, TRYING TO SPARSE OUT HOW THESE EMPLOYEES FIT IN IS NO LONGER AN ISSUE.

SO I'M FRANKLY QUITE GRATEFUL FOR THAT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MR.WHEELIS THE 9 NEW JOBS WOULD HAVE BEEN A $1.2 MILLION SALARY TOTAL.

I MEAN, $1.2 MILLION, IS THAT RIGHT? YEAH, I BELIEVE THAT'S BEEN CREATED.

THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL GOAL. WHAT WAS THE 20% INCREASE IN PAYROLL EQUAL TO? I THINK I'M COMPARING. LET ME SEE IF I CAN GET THIS IN FRONT OF ME.

I THINK OUR OUR 2018 PAYROLL TOTAL WAS SOMETHING LIKE $88.7 MILLION. LET ME MAKE SURE I GET THAT CORRECT.

AND THEN IN 2024, THE PAYROLL WAS OVER 104 MILLION.

SO IT INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY DURING THAT PERIOD.

AND THEN IN 2025, IT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, HIGHER.

SO THERE YOU GO.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? WE HAVE A MOTION, MR. WHEELIS, TO APPROVE WITHOUT PENALTY.

WE HAVE A SECOND FROM MR. CALLAIS. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NO. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE.

THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN THE STATE.

NEXT, WE HAVE 9 TIMELY RENEWAL APPLICATIONS FOLLOWING THE 2017 ITEP RULES.

20170548 BASF CORPORATION, ASCENSION PARISH. 20170550 BASF CORPORATION, ASCENSION PARISH. 20170390 CHAMPION HOME BUILDERS, INC., VERNON PARISH 20180199 CITADEL

[00:35:07]

A. CITADEL COMPLETIONS LLC, CALCASIEU PARISH.

20180199.B. CITADEL COMPLETIONS LLC, CALCASIEU PARISH.

2016 1624. PACKAGING CORPORATION OF AMERICA, BEAUREGARD PARISH.

20170079. PACKAGING CORPORATION OF AMERICA, BEAUREGARD PARISH AND 20180120 RELIANT TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED, WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH. DO WE HAVE TO A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE RENEWAL APPLICATION.

I NEED TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM BASF. ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL NOTE THAT RECUSAL FROM SENATOR PRICE HAVE A MOTION FROM MR. MOSS, SECOND FROM MR. ST BLANC. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE.

THE MOTION CARRIES. NEXT, WE HAVE 19 TIMELY RENEWAL APPLICATIONS FOLLOWING THE 2018 ITEP RULES.

20200051. ASH INDUSTRIES, INC., LAFAYETTE PARISH.

20180323.B. BAGWELL ENERGY SERVICES, INC., IBERIA PARISH.

20170552. BANCROFT BAG, INC., OUACHITA PARISH.

20190322. BOLLINGER HOUMA SHIPYARDS LLC, TERREBONNE PARISH.

20180090 BOLLINGER HOUMA SHIPYARDS, LLC. TERREBONNE PARISH.

20190259 GMEL LLC. TANGIPAHOA PARISH. 20200219 GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, LLC, OUACHITA PARISH. 20200380.

KENNEDY RICE DRYERS LLC, MOREHOUSE PARISH. 20180238 LA LLC, CALCASIEU PARISH.

2018 0296 MARCO LLC, NATCHITOCHES PARISH. 20180301 PACKAGING CORPORATION OF AMERICA, BEAUREGARD PARISH. 20190031 PACKAGING CORPORATION OF AMERICA, BEAUREGARD PARISH.

20190323. PRATT DELTA CONTAINER, INC., TANGIPAHOA PARISH.

20180499.A. PROCTER AND GAMBLE MANUFACTURING, RAPIDES PARISH.

20180499. PROCTER AND GAMBLE MANUFACTURING REPEATS PARISH.

20170072 SUPER INSULATION LLC, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

2018 0370. VALERO REFINING NEW ORLEANS, LLC. SAINT CHARLES PARISH.

20170227. W.R. GRACE AND CO.- CONN DBA, GRACE DAVISON, CALCASIEU PARISH AND 20180053.B.

W.R. GRACE AND CO, SAINT CHARLES PARISH. VERY GOOD.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE RENEWAL APPLICATIONS? I'VE GOT A I'VE GOT A QUESTION REAL QUICK. JUST ONE SECOND.

LET ME GET A MOTION A SECOND. THEN WE'LL GET TO YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS. I HAVE A MOTION FROM SENATOR PRICE, SECOND FROM MR. NASSAR. NOW REPRESENTATIVE ANY, YOU HAVE A QUESTION? YEAH. I'M JUST LOOKING AT 3 OF THESE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN NONCOMPLIANT, YEAR 1 THROUGH 4.

SO HOW DOES THAT I'M NEW HERE. THAT MEANS WE'VE WE'VE HANDLED THOSE IN PRIOR IN THOSE PRIOR YEARS.

THEY'VE BEEN HANDLED. THEY'VE HANDLED THEY'RE NOW COMPLIANT. IT'S JUST A SUMMARY OF THEIR PAST COMPLIANCE REPORTING YEARS.

BUT ANYONE THAT WAS FOUND TO BE NON-COMPLIANT WAS BROUGHT BEFORE THE BOARD AS PART OF THE NONCOMPLIANCE SUMMARY, LIKE VALERO WAS JUST PART OF PRIOR. SO THEY ARE NOW COMPLIANT? NO, THEY WERE ALWAYS NON-COMPLIANT. THEY'RE JUST UP FOR RENEWAL.

AND THIS IS A RECAP OF THEIR INITIAL CONTRACT REPORTING YEARS.

BUT THEIR COMPLIANCE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED BY THE BOARD BEFORE.

BEFORE IT CAME UP FOR RENEWAL. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.

ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE.

THE MOTION CARRIES. NEXT, WE HAVE 2 LATE RENEWAL APPLICATIONS FOLLOWING THE 2018 RULES.

20170498 PACKAGING CORPORATION OF AMERICA, BEAUREGARD PARISH INITIAL CONTRACT EXPIRATION DATE WAS 12/31/2025.

LATE RENEWAL REQUEST DATE JANUARY 20TH, 2026 AND 20190497 PACKAGING CORPORATION OF AMERICA BEAUREGARD PARISH INITIAL CONTRACT EXPIRATION DATE 12/31/2025 LATE RENEWAL REQUEST DATE JANUARY 20TH 2026.

DO WE HAVE ANYONE HERE FROM PACKAGING CORPORATION?

[00:40:05]

RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE JUST IT IS TYPICALLY OUR PRACTICE.

I'D LIKE TO HEAR WHAT HAPPENED, WHY THE RENEWAL APPLICATION WAS FILED LATE.

IT WAS JUST MY OVERSIGHT. I JUST I MISSED THE DEADLINE.

SOMETIMES THAT'S JUST THE ONLY THING THAT HAPPENS.

IT JUST HAPPENS, I GET IT. ALRIGHT. AS AS YOU HAVE PROBABLY BEEN EXPLAINED TO YOU ALREADY UNDER SECTION 5.29, WHEN THERE IS A LATE FILING, THERE IS A PENALTY THAT CAN GO ALONG.

THAT GO IN THIS CASE IS THERE'S THE OPERATIVE WORD IN THE REGULATIONS IS SHALL.

SO IT'S A MANDATORY PENALTY OF 1 YEAR FOR THE 5 OF THE OF THE 5 YEAR RENEWAL PERIOD.

SO WITH THAT, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RENEWAL WITH A 1 YEAR PENALTY.

HAVE THAT MOTION FOR MR. NASSAR. SECOND FROM MR. LEE. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE.

THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVESTMENT IN THE STATE. NEXT, WE HAVE 4 CHANGE IN NAME ONLY REQUESTS. MATHESON TRI-GAS, INC.

20150264 ,20150264.A, 20150264.B AND 20150264.C, CHANGING THE NAME TO NIPPON SANSO MATHESON INC.

IN CALCASIEU PARISH. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS CHANGE IN NAME MOTION FOR MR. MOSS? SECOND FROM MR. WILLIS, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD.

HEARING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE ARE NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE.

THE MOTION CARRIES. NEXT, WE HAVE 8 TRANSFER OF CONTRACT REQUESTS.

HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC., 20151722 AND 20190394 TRANSFERRING TO SOLSTICE ADVANCED MATERIALS U.S. INC. AND EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, AND IT IS NOTED THAT THE FILE TO REQUEST WAS RECEIVED LATE.

THE TRANSFER WAS STATED TO BE EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 1ST, 2025, AND THE REQUEST TO TRANSFER WAS RECEIVED ON APRIL 9TH, 2026. HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC. CONTRACTS 20121215, 20121215.A, 20121215.B, 20151706, 20160760 AND 20180496 ALL IN ASCENSION PARISH ARE BEING TRANSFERRED TO NEW OWNER SOLSTICE ADVANCED MATERIALS US, INC.

AND THESE TRANSFERS WERE STATED TO BE EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 1ST, 2025, BUT THE REQUESTS WERE NOT RECEIVED UNTIL APRIL 11TH, 2026. DO WE HAVE SOMEONE HERE FROM SOLSTICE? RIGHT. IF YOU JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR POSITION WITH THE COMPANY, PLEASE.

RYAN VORNADO, VICE PRESIDENT OF MANUFACTURING [INAUDIBLE] SOLSTICE.

OKAY. PHYLLIS SIMS, LAW FIRM OF KEAN MILLER, REPRESENTING BOTH HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL AND SOLSTICE ADVANCED MATERIALS.

OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE A SITUATION HERE WHERE THESE TRANSFER OF CONTRACTS ARE TO BE FILED WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF THE DATE OF TRANSFER. AND OBVIOUSLY WE MISSED THAT DEADLINE.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US WHAT HAPPENED HERE? SO GIVEN THE LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES OF SPENDING TO A SEPARATE, PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANY WITH 4000 EMPLOYEES, WE'VE STAGGERED ALL OF OUR WHERE WE TRANSITION DIFFERENT THINGS.

WE'RE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING THINGS OVER SAP LABELING, PACKAGING, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO THE EFFECTIVE SPEND DATE DID OCCUR Q4 LAST YEAR, BUT WE'RE STILL KIND OF GOING THROUGH THAT SEPARATION TRANSITION TO SPEND TO A SEPARATE PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANY. SO, MR. CHAIRMAN, THIS WAS NOT A TRANSFER FROM 1 COMPANY ON 1 DATE, A SALE. THIS WAS A SPIN OFF. A LITTLE BIT CLOSER, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

THIS WAS, AS MR. VARNADO STATED, THIS WAS HONEYWELL SPINNING OFF ITS ADVANCED MATERIALS BUSINESS INTO A NEW SEGMENT.

AND IT STARTED LAST YEAR AND IT'S TRANSITIONING.

WHEN I COMPLETED THE PAPERWORK, THE TECHNICAL HARD SPIN OFF DATE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE NOVEMBER 1ST, BUT THERE'S NO REAL SET DATE. AS MR. VARNADO SAID, THERE'S A LOT OF TRANSITION.

SO WHAT WE DID IS WE STARTED MEETING WITH THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICES TO GIVE THEM A HEADS UP THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING.

AND WE MET WITH THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE FIRST IN OCTOBER TO GIVE THEM A HEADS UP THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A TRANSITION.

[00:45:07]

AND THIS IS HOW THINGS THAT WE'RE MOVING, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS TRANSFERRED OVER AND EVERYTHING IS CLEAN.

MR. CHAIRMAN. MR. KELLY SO THE TRANSFER, EFFECTIVE DATE OF 11/1, WAS THAT BASED ON IS THAT BASED ON THE DATE OF THE SIGNED PURCHASE AGREEMENT, OR IS THAT. I'M JUST WONDERING KIND OF LIKE.

THAT IS BASED ON MONTHS OF BACK AND FORTH. AND THERE WAS LIKE AN INITIAL, WHAT YOU CALL A SOFT SPIN.

YEAH. WE CALL IT A SOFT SPIN DATE WHERE SOLSTICE BECAME A PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANY.

AND THEN THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A HARD SPIN DATE.

BUT THEN YOU TALK ABOUT TRANSFER OF ASSETS. THERE WERE SOME QUITCLAIM DEEDS FILED IN THE 4TH QUARTER.

AND THEN THERE'S BEEN SOME ACTS OF CORRECTION FILED ALONG THE WAY, EVEN AS LATE AS APRIL AND MAY OF OF 2026.

OKAY. I'M SO GO AHEAD. YEAH, NO, I JUST I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, I'M WONDERING WHAT THE DATE WAS THAT WE'RE BASING KIND OF THE TRANSFER DATE ON BECAUSE WITH A TRANSACTION LIKE THIS OF THIS KIND, I KNOW IT'S VERY, VERY COMPLICATED AND I KNOW THAT IT HAPPENS IN SEQUENCES AND PIECES, BUT THERE IS TYPICALLY AN AGREED TO FINAL DATE AGREED TO IN THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN BUYER AND SELLER THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ALL THE INTEGRATIONS FIGURED OUT.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ALL THE TRANSFERS DONE. I'M JUST WONDERING WHY THAT WASN'T KIND OF PICKED AS THE TRANSFER DATE INSTEAD OF LIKE AN ARBITRARY 11/1.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF THE VEIN OF MY QUESTION.

THERE WAS NO BUYER OR SELLER THOUGH, BECAUSE IT WAS SPUN INTO A SEPARATE, PUBLICLY TRADED.

YEAH, THERE'S NO NO BUYER OR SELLER. SO THERE'S A LET ME LET ME START AT THE BEGINNING AND SEE IF I CAN TRY TO RECREATE THIS FOR MY OWN MIND.

SO HONEYWELL HAS A HAS A BUSINESS. IT DECIDES IT'S GOING TO SPIN OFF THIS PARTICULAR.

WHAT DO YOU BUILD? HELP ME, HELP ME. WHAT DO YOU BUILD? SO THIS PORTION WE MAKE REFRIGERANT. I'M SORRY.

REFRIGERANT OKAY, SO YOU'RE GONNA SPIN OFF YOUR REFRIGERANT INTO A INTO A PUBLICLY HELD COMPANY.

OR DID YOU FORM THE PUBLICLY HELD COMPANY? IT JUST SPUN INTO A SEPARATE PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANY.

SO HONEYWELL'S GO AND ACTUALLY SPINNING INTO 3 SEPARATE COMPANIES.

THIS IS JUST ONE PORTION OF THIS. OKAY. SO THIS IS A THIS IS A NEW SUBSIDIARY SUBSIDIARY OF HONEYWELL OR A WHOLE NEW COMPANY.

NO, COMPLETELY SEPARATE, COMPLETELY. NOT A SUBSIDIARY, BUT NO SALE OCCURRED.

SO SO YOU'VE SPUN OUT OF HONEYWELL. YOU'RE NOW A BRAND NEW PUBLICLY HELD COMPANY.

AND THE SOFT SPIN DATE WAS NOVEMBER 1ST OF 2025, BUT I WOULD ASSUME ALL THE OTHER FILINGS ARE HAVE STILL BEEN GOING ON. IS THAT AND IS THAT THE PICTURE I'M IN? YEAH, I'M KIND OF OVER A 6 MONTH PERIOD. AFTER THAT.

WE'RE TRANSITIONING DIFFERENT PORTIONS, SAP THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

WE HAVEN'T EVEN CHANGED OUR UNIFORMS YET, BUT WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH IT. I COULD BE, I COULD BE REAL CADDY AND GO AND LED WASN'T HIGH ENOUGH ON THE LIST TO GET DONE IN TIME, BUT I, I WON'T, I WON'T SAY THAT OUT LOUD.

YEAH. AS FAR AS YEAH. TIMELINESS. IT'S A, IT WAS A MATTER OF WHAT'S THE REAL DATE TO PUT ON THERE? AND THEN JUST WORKING WITH THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE OFFICES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE A TRANSITION.

AND ALL OF THAT HAS BEEN I HAVE TO COMPLIMENT THEM EVERYTHING'S BEEN VERY SMOOTH WITH THEM.

AND THEY KNEW WE'D BE FILING THESE TRANSFERS FOR THE ACTIVE CONTRACT.

BECAUSE, I MEAN, THE ASSESSOR ISSUE IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE END OF THE 4TH QUARTER OF 2025 IS CRITICAL FOR THEIR TAX ROLLS.

SO HOW HAS HAS THE TRANSITION INTO 2026 TAX ROLLS BEEN AFFECTED UNDER SOLSTICE OR UNDER HONEYWELL? THEY ARE WORKING ON THAT. YES. FOR ASCENSION THEY HAVE EVERYTHING DONE.

BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, WE STARTED MEETING WITH THEM LAST OCTOBER AND THEN AGAIN IN JANUARY.

AND THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING. THEY'VE EVEN GOT THE ACTS OF CORRECTION FOR THE QUITCLAIM DEEDS, THE DATES ON THERE, WHICH ARE, YOU KNOW, AS LATE AS, LIKE I SAID, APRIL OF THIS YEAR EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH IS ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THE SAME THING. AND SO FOR 2026, THE ASSETS FOR ONE OF THE FACILITIES, THE ONE AT LUPINE WILL BE REPORTED UNDER SOLSTICE. AND THEN IN ASCENSION, THE GEISMAR FACILITY.

BUT THE 2 UOP FACILITIES REMAIN UNDER HONEYWELL.

SO THOSE WERE NOT IN THE SPIN OFF. RIGHT. BUT BUT THEN MY QUESTION WAS WASN'T WELL STATED, BUT THE SOLSTICE SPIN OFF, ALL THOSE ALL THOSE ASSETS ARE PROPERLY WELL, ARE PROPERLY ON THE TAX ROLLS FOR 2026.

FOR 2026. AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY REMAINED.

AND THAT WAS PART OF THE ISSUE. DID THEY REMAIN UNDER HONEYWELL TOWARDS THE TO TO THE END OF 2025.

[00:50:05]

RIGHT? RIGHT. YEAH. SO YES, THAT LATE IN THE YEAR, I WOULD ASSUME THAT STAYED ON AS HONEYWELL.

THEY THEY DID. BUT THAT WAS STILL A QUESTION TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR, WHICH IS WHY THE TRANSFER WASN'T FILED BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR, BECAUSE WE'RE STILL IN A TRANSITION. OKAY. AT WHAT POINT DID YOU BECOME AWARE THAT THIS CONTRACT WOULD BE INVALID IF IT WASN'T FILED BY A CERTAIN TIME, LIKE YOU WERE WORKING WITH MUNICIPALITIES IN OCTOBER, RIGHT? WE DID. WE STARTED NOTIFYING THEM IN OCTOBER.

YES. YOU WERE AWARE OF THAT PART OF IT. THIS CONTRACT DOES CONTAIN A STATEMENT THAT SAYS IT HAS 3 MONTHS.

RIGHT? SO AT WHAT POINT DID YOU BECOME AWARE THAT YOU WERE GOING TO BE LATE FOR THAT 3 MONTH? I DIDN'T REALIZE WE WERE GOING TO BE LATE BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT THE I DID NOT REALIZE THAT IT WOULD BE LATE, BUT I WANTED TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE, PUTTING THAT 11/1 SPIN OFF DATE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A 6 MONTH TRANSITION. SO WHEN YOU FILED IT, YOU STILL WEREN'T EVEN WE FILED IT.

STILL NOT. YEAH. STILL NOT AWARE, STILL NOT SURE.

AND MAKING SURE THAT EVEN THE EFFECTIVE DATE WE PUT DOWN WAS 12/31 TO MAKE SURE 2025 STAYED UNDER HONEYWELL.

AND 2026 GOES TO SOLSTICE. YEAH. MR. CHAIR, I WOULD MY, MY PERSONAL VIEW IS THAT I THINK THAT THE TRANSFER DIDN'T OCCUR UNTIL THE DEEDS WERE RECEIVED IN THE NEW COMPANY NAME.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S LIKE, THAT'S WHENEVER THEY'VE TAKEN FULL POSSESSION OF THOSE ASSETS.

AND THE TRANSFER, IN MY OPINION, IS FULLY COMPLETED THEN.

AND SO I WOULD ARGUE THAT THAT TRANSFER EFFECTIVE DATE ON HERE IS LISTED MIGHT BE INCORRECT BASED ON THAT INFORMATION, BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE POSSESSION YET. YOU DIDN'T HAVE POSSESSION YET HERE UNTIL YOU HAVE THE DEEDS.

THAT'S WHENEVER YOU TAKE THE FULL POSSESSION. THAT TO ME WOULD SEEM WHEN THE CONTRACT TRIGGER WOULD START. DO YOU WANT TO TRANSLATE THAT OPINION INTO AN EMOTION? YEAH, THAT'S A MOVE. OKAY, SO YOU MOVE TO APPROVE THE TRANSFER WITHOUT PENALTY.

THAT'S RIGHT. BECAUSE I DO WANT TO JUST NOTE FOR THE RECORD, UNDER THE RULES THERE IS THERE ASSUMING THE TRANSFER DATE IS 11/1/25, THERE IS A VIOLATION. A VIOLATION DOES NOT NECESSARILY LEAD TO A PENALTY.

SO I MEAN I THINK UNDER THE RULE WE DEFINITELY HAVE A VIOLATION.

BUT THAT DOES NOT NECESSARILY LEAD TO A PENALTY, AS MR. KELLY'S MOTION INDICATES. SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE TRANSFER WITHOUT PENALTY.

DO I HAVE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? MR. CHAIRMAN.

NO. MY RECUSAL ON THESE MATTERS. OKAY. MR.. MR..

I NOW KNOW YOUR NAME. MR. POLOZOLA IS RECUSED.

WE'LL NOTE THAT RECUSAL. DO DO WE HAVE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? MR.. SECOND FOR MR. MELE. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THE ONLY COMMENT, CHAIR, IS THAT I HOPE THAT SOLSTICE CONTINUES TO INVEST IN LOUISIANA.

WELL, YOU WILL SEE US IN OCTOBER WITH 3 NEW APPLICATIONS FOR THE BATON ROUGE FACILITY.

SO ABSOLUTELY. ASCENSION IS ASCENSION IS CLOSE BEHIND, MR. CHAIRMAN BACALA AND SENATOR PRICE. YOU COULD HAVE LED WITH THAT, BUT I'M SORRY.

HINDSIGHT IS 2020. I SHOULD HAVE LED WITH THAT.

I SHOULD HAVE LED WITH THAT. YEAH. SO YOU'LL SEE US IN OCTOBER WITH 3 NEW INVESTMENT ITEP APPLICATIONS.

ALL RIGHT. THAT'S GOOD. THAT'S THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS BOARD IS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE.

ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVESTMENT. NEXT, WE HAVE ONE CANCELLATION OF CONTRACT REQUEST.

EXXON MOBIL CORPORATION 20230072. COMPANY REQUEST CANCELLATION.

AND IT IS IN WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH. MOTION TO APPROVE THIS CANCELLATION FROM SENATOR PRICE.

SECOND FROM. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND FROM MISS EMERSON.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE.

ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE IS NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES.

NEXT, WE HAVE 5 OPT OUT JOBS. PAYROLL AND COMPLIANCE COMPONENTS.

EXHIBIT A AMENDMENT REQUEST. ASH INDUSTRIES INC 20220056.C GREAT SOUTHERN WOOD.

LA INC. CONTRACTS 20220076 AND 20220447. INTERNATIONAL MEZZO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

CONTRACT 20240044 AND LOUISIANA LNG INFRASTRUCTURE LLC CONTRACT 20161566.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE OPT OUTS?

[00:55:01]

RHONDA BOATNER DID A CONSULTANTS AND REALLY THIS COMMENT IS FOR REPRESENTATIVE BACALA.

THIS IS WHERE THE OPT OUT IS THAT GOVERNOR LANDRY ALLOWED FOR.

SO VALERO TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THIS AT A PRIOR MEETING AND HAD BEEN ALLOWED TO OPT OUT OF JOBS GOING FORWARD.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MISS BOATNER.

ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES. AND THE LAST ITEM? WE HAVE 1 SPECIAL REQUEST. IT IS FOR CF INDUSTRIES NITROGEN, LLC CONTRACT 20230392.

CF INDUSTRIES NITROGEN, LLC IS REQUESTING TO AMEND THEIR EXISTING EXHIBIT A AGREEMENT TO ACCOUNT FOR 1 PHASE APPLICATION THAT WAS UNACCOUNTED FOR IN THEIR ORIGINAL APPLICATION SUBMISSION. AND IT IS FOR ASSETS PLACED IN SERVICE IN THE 2025 CALENDAR YEAR.

DO WE HAVE SOMEONE HERE FROM CF INDUSTRIES? IF YOU WOULD STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR POSITION WITH THE COMPANY, PLEASE.

GOOD MORNING. I'M EUGENE BRITTAIN, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL SERVICES FOR CF INDUSTRIES DONALDSONVILLE FACILITY.

OKAY. MISS BOATNER, DO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND PUT YOUR NAME ON? RHONDA BOATNER DDA CONSULTANTS. ALL RIGHT. TELL US WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHAT'S HAPPENED IN A 2023.

WE APPLIED FOR ITEP BENEFIT FOR A PROJECT TO INCREASE DF DIESEL EXHAUST FLUID AND MERCHANT NITRIC ACID PRODUCTION. OUR DONALDSONVILLE SITE. WE ANTICIPATED COMPLETING THAT PROJECT IN 2025 BECAUSE OF A NUMBER OF REASONS THE CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE WAS DELAYED. A PORTION OF THOSE ASSETS WENT INTO SERVICE, WERE COMPLETED, WENT INTO SERVICE IN 2025. THE REMAINDER HAVE EITHER BEEN PUT IN SERVICE OR BEING PUT IN SERVICE IN 2026.

I GUESS THE REASON FOR MY QUESTION IS, CAN YOU BE A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFIC AS TO WHAT HAPPENED? WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WAS THE REASON FOR THE DELAY? AWAY. SO. SO SOME OF THE DELAYS FOR THE PARTICULARLY FOR A SYSTEM IN THE DF PROJECT WAS A WAS A ENGINEERING MISS I'LL CALL IT. AND I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR ENGINEERING.

SO I'LL TAKE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT JUST WITH THE CIVIL DESIGN OF, OF A TANK YES. OKAY. AND THE OTHER, THE OTHER PORTION THAT AFFECTS THE THE MERCHANT NITRIC ACID EXPANSION, THAT PROJECT IS PRIMARILY BEING INSTALLED TO SUPPLY A CUSTOMER THAT'S VIA PIPELINE IN GEISMAR.

THE THE CUSTOMER'S PROJECT IS BEHIND SCHEDULE IS BEHIND SCHEDULE BY OVER 6 MONTHS.

SO, SO IN SOME AREAS, WE HAD TO SLOW DOWN BECAUSE THE PIPELINE WAS ALSO DELAYED.

IN SOME AREAS, WE ACTUALLY CHOSE TO SLOW DOWN JUST TO BETTER UTILIZE OUR CAPITAL.

SO SOME OF THAT EQUIPMENT WORK PUSHED INTO 2026 FROM 2025.

OKAY. SO I THINK THE REASON, THE REASON FOR THIS RULE IS THAT WE, WHEN WE AWARD THESE CONTRACTS, WE WANT TO SEE I DON'T WANT TO USE THE WORD EXPEDITIOUS, BUT AT LEAST CONSCIENTIOUS PURSUIT OF THE CONTRACT.

WE DON'T WANT COMPANIES TAKING, GETTING A CONTRACT AND THEN SITTING AND WAITING UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE.

IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU GUYS WENT INTO THE PROJECT YOU DEVELOPED.

THE PROJECT HAD AN ENGINEERING ERROR. IT HAPPENS.

YOU HAD DOWNSTREAM CUSTOMERS WHO DELAYED THEIR PROJECTS, WHICH DELAYED YOUR ABILITY TO PURSUE THAT.

THE PORTIONS OF THE PROJECT THAT ARE LATE HERE.

IS THAT THAT'S CORRECT. I MEAN, WE WERE THESE ARE THESE ARE OPPORTUNITY PROJECTS FOR C.F.

SO WE WERE PURSUING THESE AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS WE COULD.

AS YOU WERE PURSUING THE EXPEDITION, BUT WEREN'T ALLOWED TO. YEAH, I GOT IT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I THINK I UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION, MISS BOATNER, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD? I JUST HAD A QUESTION FOR YOU. OKAY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

ANY. MR. MELE. SO IF I'M UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY, I GUESS I HAVE 2 QUESTIONS.

1 IS FOR THIS ALLOWANCE. DOES IT COST THE STATE ANYTHING? OKAY. THAT'S GOOD. MY SECOND QUESTION, I'M NOT QUITE SURE HOW RELEVANT IT MAY BE, BUT WHEN IN MY WORLD,

[01:00:07]

TYPICALLY IS A FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCE THAT. ANY.

DID THAT OCCUR IN THIS SITUATION? DID YOUR VENDOR WHO POSSIBLY DELAY WORKING ON A PROJECT FOR CF JUST WHY THEY PENALIZED. DID THEY HAVE A DELIVERABLE PENALTY IN PLACE IF THEY DID NOT MEET THE DATE? SO. SO OUR THE DELAY BY OUR CUSTOMER. I'M I'M NOT CERTAIN I CAN GET INTO SPECIFICS ABOUT ABOUT HOW THAT WAS MANAGED, BUT BUT I BELIEVE THAT WAS MANAGED COMMERCIALLY.

BUT THERE WERE PHYSICALLY WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DELIVER PRODUCT.

SO. AND WE DID NOT HAVE A PIPELINE TO CONNECT TO.

SO THAT THAT DELAYED OUR, OUR IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT PORTION OF THIS PROJECT.

YOU CAN'T MAKE A PRODUCT AND HAVE NO PLACE TO, TO OFFLOAD IT ONCE IT'S MADE, NOT, NOT FOR VERY LONG.

SO YOU HAVE TO, YOU HAVE TO DELAY THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE WIDGET MANUFACTURED.

AND THAT IS THAT IS ACTUALLY THE BULK OF THE, THE BULK OF THE DELAY IS, IS IN THAT, THAT BASKET OF ASSETS, IF YOU WILL. GOT IT. GOOD. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS REQUEST TO AMEND THE EXHIBIT A? I HAVE A MOTION FOR MR. MELE. SECOND FOR MR. NASSAR. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE.

THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN THE STATE.

ABSOLUTELY. AND THAT CONCLUDES THAT. MISS VILLA.

[9. Secretary Remarks – Secretary Susan Bourgeois ]

SHE HAD ANOTHER APPOINTMENT, SO COULDN'T JOIN Y'ALL.

SO THIS IS THE SECOND MONTH IN A ROW THAT I GET TO SIT AROUND.

IT'S GREAT TO SEE OUR LEGISLATORS BACK IN ACTION.

AND THAT'S KIND OF HOW I LET OFF MY REPORT. IT'S A LOT HAS TRANSPIRED SINCE WE LAST MET IN APRIL, BUT EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION CONCLUDED, AND THERE WAS ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT WAS PROVIDED FOR SOME KEY INITIATIVES THAT LED.

HAS GOVERNOR LANDRY IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE PROVIDED UP TO 125 MILLION THAT CAN BE USED TO SUPPORT THE HIGH IMPACT JOBS PROGRAM THAT CHRISTINA MENTIONED EARLIER. AS YOU KNOW, WITH TAX REFORM, THERE WAS ELIMINATION OF OF A LOT OF OUR STATUTORY PROGRAMS, AND WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE TO COME UP WITH A NEW POLICY AROUND A JOB CREATION PROGRAM.

AND THAT PROGRAM WAS FUNDED THIS YEAR. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THAT.

AND ALSO, WE IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAD FUNDING THAT SUPPORTS CURRENTLY OUR PROJECTS.

THIS FUNDING WILL CURRENTLY SUPPORT OUR PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE IN THE PROGRAM PIPELINE, AS WELL AS PROVIDE ROOM TO GROW.

SO NOW WITH THIS FUNDING IN PLACE, WE HAVE SECURED A VERY IMPORTANT COMPETITIVE TOOL TO SUPPORT OUR BUSINESS GROWTH AND TO ATTRACT THE NEW INVESTMENT THAT WE HAVE IN OUR STATE, WHILE ALSO ENCOURAGING A WAGE GROWTH FOR THE PEOPLE OF LOUISIANA.

THAT WAS A KEY COMPONENT THAT WE HAD OF THE HIGH IMPACT JOB PROGRAM IS THAT IT WAS A IT WAS A HIGH WAGE COMPONENT OVER THE AVERAGE IN THE PARISHES.

SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO TRACK THIS PROGRAM PARTICIPATION AND INTEREST AND REPORT OUT ACCORDINGLY AND MANAGE OUR FUTURE COMMITMENTS THAT WE HAVE TO THOSE PROJECTS.

ALSO, WE WERE AFFORDED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE LOUISIANA OPPORTUNITY CAMPAIGN, WHICH WAS INITIALLY FUNDED IN FY 26.

WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT WAS PROVIDED FOR FY 27, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT CAMPAIGN ALSO FOR OUR SITES AND INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, WHICH WAS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE GOT LAST YEAR, $150 MILLION.

WE ALSO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL FUNDING OF 50 MILLION.

SO THE POOL FOR THAT IS ABOUT 200 AND $200 MILLION, OF WHICH I BELIEVE EARLIER THIS YEAR YOU SAW THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

WE HAD PROJECTS THAT WERE ANNOUNCED AND FUNDS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO SUPPORT THIS.

BUT WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THIS PARTICULAR FUND, IT'S MORE LIKE A REVOLVING LOAN FUND.

WE ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS AND THERE'S AGREEMENT TO PAY BACK THE STATE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.

SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO INVEST IN IMPORTANT SITES THAT WE HAVE THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

SO ALL OF THIS JUST TO SAY THAT I KNOW SITTING NEXT TO THE CHAIRMAN FOR ALMOST 14.5 YEARS, THERE'S NEVER BEEN A POINT IN LOUISIANA'S HISTORY WHERE WE'VE EVER BEEN ABLE TO SAY THAT SINCE A PERIOD OF 2 AND A HALF YEARS, WE'VE HAD OVER $110 BILLION IN ANNOUNCED INVESTMENTS.

[01:05:03]

AS WE SAID FROM THE BEGINNING, WE'RE ALIGNING OUR STRATEGY, WE'RE STRENGTHENING OUR PARTNERSHIPS, AND WE'RE DELIVERING WITH SPEED AND CERTAINTY.

LOUISIANA IS TURNING THESE OPPORTUNITIES INTO RESULTS ALL ACROSS OUR STATE.

SO WITH THAT, JUST LAST WEEK, WE WERE VERY, VERY HAPPY TO RECEIVE FOR THE 3RD YEAR IN A ROW, WHICH NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE BY AREA DEVELOPMENT, THE GOLD SHOVEL AWARD FOR THE STATE THAT WITH THE 3 TO $5 MILLION 3 TO 5 MILLION POPULATION CATEGORY. SO ONLY 1 STATE IN EACH CATEGORY RECEIVES THE SHOVEL GOLD SHOVEL AWARD.

PREVIOUS TO THE LAST 3 YEARS, WE'VE ONLY RECEIVED THE CIVIL CIVIL SILVER SHOVEL AWARD.

SAY THAT VERY QUICKLY. SO THIS IS OUR THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR THAT WE'VE WON THAT.

AND IT JUST IS A TESTAMENT THAT THE OUTSIDE PARTIES ARE RECOGNIZING ALL OF THE GREAT WORK THAT WE'RE DOING HERE IN OUR STATE.

AND I THINK THAT NONE OF THIS GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT WITHOUT ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM, THIS WHOLE OF LOUISIANA APPROACH, THIS WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT STRATEGY THAT WE HAVE IS REALLY, YOU KNOW, SHOWING GREAT RESULTS THAT WE'RE HAVING THROUGHOUT OUR STATE.

AND I CONTINUE TO SAY THAT BECAUSE IT'S EVERY EVERY PART OF OUR STATE IS WINNING.

SO AS THE SECRETARY WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, WE GET TO BE THE ONES UP FRONT ANNOUNCING THE PROJECTS, BUT THERE'S SO MUCH WORK THAT GOES BEHIND THESE PROJECTS.

WE KIND OF, WE TALKED ABOUT THE SERVICE SIDE OF LED.

WE'VE GOT THE FRONT OF HOUSE, BACK OF HOUSE, I SAY, AND IT'S ALL OF US ALL PULLING ON THAT ROPE TOGETHER EVERY DAY.

SO I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THE TEAM THAT SITS HERE THAT SUPPORTS THE WORK THAT WE DO, FROM OUR FISCAL SERVICES TO OUR LEGAL SERVICES, TO OUR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TEAM, TO OUR INCENTIVES TEAM.

YOU KNOW, WE WE'RE A SMALL GROUP. THERE'S, YOU KNOW, 200 OF US.

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT WE DO. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR SUPPORTING IT LEGISLATIVELY WITH THE FUNDING THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MOVE LOUISIANA IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

SO I'LL GO ON TO KIND OF TELL YOU WHAT'S HAPPENED.

SINCE THEN WE'VE HAD LIKE SOME PRIVATE SECTOR ENGAGEMENTS.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE HAVE THE NEW ENGAGEMENT SECTOR WITHIN LED.

AND SO WE HAVE THE STORYTELLER INITIATIVE THAT WE'VE BEEN PROMOTING SINCE WASHINGTON MARDI GRAS, AND WE HAVE MORE THAN 1250. 1258 OFFICIAL STORYTELLER PARTICIPANTS REGISTERED YOU KNOW, REGISTRANTS THAT GO IN THERE AND ARE REGISTERED AS A STORYTELLER. AND THEN WE'VE HAD OVER 1405 SPECIFIC STAKEHOLDER INTERACTIONS, AND JUST 1000 OF THOSE CAME FROM THE SELECT USA BOOTH. AND I KNOW THAT CHAIRMAN JONES WAS THERE AS WELL.

SO THOSE ARE ALL GREAT THINGS TO ANNOUNCE ON THAT FRONT FROM A COMMUNICATIONS STANDPOINT, WE'VE HAD A TOTAL OF 21 INTERVIEWS IN THE MONTH OF MAY.

WE HAD MEDIA MENTIONS OF 83, AND WE HAD A POTENTIAL REACH OF 1.2 BILLION.

AND THAT REPRESENTS ABOUT A PROMOTIONAL VALUE OF ABOUT $9 MILLION.

AND THEN WE HAD 13 ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT WERE RELEASED IN THE MONTH OF MAY FOR SOURCE LOUISIANA, WHICH THIS GOES BACK. YOU MAY REMEMBER WHENEVER THE SECRETARY BECAME THE SECRETARY, ONE OF THE CONTRACTORS, LARGE COMPANIES THAT WE HAD ANNOUNCED HAD ASKED FOR OUR LOUISIANA DIRECTORY OF SMALL BUSINESSES SO THAT THEY COULD INTERACT WITH THE SMALL BUSINESSES WITHIN LOUISIANA.

AND SO FROM THAT, WE DIDN'T HAVE A DIRECTORY.

AND SO WE CREATED SOURCE LOUISIANA UNDER THE VISION OF HER AND THE GOVERNOR.

AND TO DATE, WE HAVE OVER 2841 LOUISIANA BUSINESSES THAT ARE FULLY REGISTERED ON THAT SITE.

SO ALL OF THE LARGE ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT WE HAVE HAVE A LOCATION THAT THEY CAN GO AND THEY CAN SEARCH.

AND SO FOR THE MONTH OF MAY, WE HAD OVER 12,303 SEARCHES THAT THAT HAPPENED THROUGH THE SOURCE LOUISIANA.

SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF WHAT'S COME OUT OF THAT AS WELL.

WE ALWAYS MENTION WHAT'S IN THE PIPELINE FROM BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT.

AND SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE OVER 209 ACTIVE PROJECTS THAT REPRESENT OVER $280 BILLION IN POTENTIAL CAPITAL EXPENDITURES, WHICH ACCOUNT TO ABOUT 60,500 POTENTIAL NEW JOBS TO BE CREATED.

A VERY IMPORTANT WORK THAT WE DO IN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IS ALSO OUR BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION.

AND SO FOR THE MONTH OF MAY, WE HAD 69 VISITS.

BUT WE ALSO YEAR TO DATE HAVE HAD OVER 835, WHICH IS THE MOST WE'VE EVER HAD IN A GIVEN YEAR.

SO WE'RE DOING A LOT OF WORK FROM A BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT AS WELL.

SO AS WE ALL KNOW, WE'RE CELEBRATING OUR COUNTRY'S 250TH YEAR.

AND WITH THAT, YOU MAY KNOW AND MAY HAVE HEARD OF THE GREAT AMERICAN FAIR THAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON, D.C. IT ACTUALLY STARTS, I BELIEVE, TOMORROW AND CONTINUES FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

[01:10:02]

AND SO WE ARE HAVING, WE HAVE A PAVILION THAT'S BEEN OUTFITTED AND WE BASICALLY SHOW HOW WE HAVE HAD 250 YEARS OF INFLUENCE.

LOUISIANA HAS HELPED SHAPE THE AMERICAN STORY THROUGH THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE, THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER THROUGH ENERGY PRODUCTION, AGRICULTURE, MUSIC, FOOD, AND GLOBAL TRADE. SO IT'S VERY SIMPLE.

LOUISIANA IS NOT ONLY HISTORIC, BUT IT'S CURRENT COMPETITIVE AND CONSEQUENTIAL.

SO THIS PAVILION THAT WE'VE CREATED, WE'RE GOING TO DEMONSTRATE KIND OF OUR PAST, OUR PRESENT AND FUTURE.

THAT'S ALL IN ONE. SO WE CONTINUE WITH OUR LOUISIANA NOW.

IT'S A STATEWIDE STORY OF MOMENTUM, BUSINESS INVESTMENT, JOB CREATION, INFRASTRUCTURE, CULTURE, AND OUR OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE MOVING OUR NARRATIVE FORWARD.

SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. AND WE ALSO HAVE A SEGMENT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT 250 YEARS START START NOW HERE.

SO WE'RE PARTNERING, LIKE I SAID WITH OUR PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

AND SO EVERY DAY THERE IS GOING TO BE A THEME AROUND DIFFERENT LIKE AGRICULTURE OR MILITARY.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE 2 CONSECUTIVE WEEKS. SO A LOT OF EXCITEMENT.

SO I'M SURE YOU'LL SEE ALL THIS ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDS IN THE NEXT COMING WEEKS.

SO WE'RE EXCITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT. WITH THAT, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ANNOUNCEMENT, LIKE I SAID, BUT ONE OF THE KIND OF ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT I THINK WAS VERY HISTORIC.

AND, BUT FOR, YOU KNOW, THE RESTRUCTURE THAT WE'VE DONE WITHIN LED WITH, YOU KNOW, THE SECRETARY AND THE GOVERNOR, WE HAVE OUR INNOVATION VERTICAL. AND SO ON MAY 27TH, LOUISIANA LAUNCHED THE RURAL TECH CATALYST FUND TO ADVANCE RURAL HEALTHCARE INNOVATION.

AND SO WE DID THAT AS A WHOLE, A WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT APPROACH.

AND WE WERE WORKING WITH LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO STRENGTHEN OUR RURAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS AND EXPAND ACCESS TO QUALITY CARE AND ACCELERATED HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY DEPLOYMENT ACROSS LOUISIANA'S RURAL COMMUNITIES.

SO THE RURAL HEALTH TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM IS $1 BILLION FEDERAL INVESTMENT OVER 5 YEARS.

OF THAT, WE LED THROUGH OUR INNOVATION VERTICAL IS GOING TO HAVE A $20 MILLION A YEAR.

I'M SORRY. YES, A $20 MILLION A YEAR PROGRAM TO HELP WITH FUNDING THOSE INNOVATIVE CARE MODELS TO BE DEPLOYED AND WORKING THROUGHOUT OUR STATE ON THAT. SO THAT WAS A REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT, I DON'T THINK. BUT FOR US HAVING THAT INNOVATION VERTICAL AND ALL THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IN THE LAST 2 AND A HALF YEARS IN THIS SPACE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT. ANOTHER NOTABLE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT CAME OUT OF LSU LAST WEEK IS WITH THE HYUNDAI PROJECT.

AS YOU KNOW, OUR SENATOR AND OUR REPRESENTATIVE HERE IN ASCENSION PARISH, LSU, ANNOUNCED A MASTER RESEARCH AGREEMENT WITH HYUNDAI.

AND SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT, ABOUT WHAT OUTCOMES THAT THEY CAN COME UP TOGETHER.

AND SO THAT WAS ANNOUNCED AT LSU LAST WEEK AS WELL.

SO AS WE ANNOUNCED THESE BIG PROJECTS THAT HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE STATE, IT'S NOT JUST WHAT HAPPENS IN THAT ANNOUNCEMENT WITH THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND WITH THE JOB CREATION. IT'S ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS, AS YOU MAY WANT TO SAY DOWNSTREAM OR THINGS THAT COME FROM THAT.

SO VERY EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO SERVE, YOU KNOW, AT THE PLEASURE OF THE SECRETARY AND THE GOVERNOR AND WHAT WE DO IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, I THINK THAT IN NO, NO POINT IN TIME THAT WE'VE EVER BEEN IN A BETTER POSITION STRUCTURALLY AT LED TO REALLY MOVE OUR STATE FORWARD.

SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE TIME TO KIND OF GIVE THAT LITTLE REPORT, AND ALSO TO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO SERVE WITH YOU ON THE BOARD.

THANK YOU, MISS VILLA. I, I WANT TO ASK A QUESTION AND I HOPE MY INTERPRETATION IS CORRECT.

[8. Other Business ]

YES. OKAY. THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE. YEAH. THAT JUST JUST I WANT I WANT TO PUT AN EXCLAMATION POINT ON THAT.

I'VE BEEN SERVING ON THIS BOARD THROUGH 3 DIFFERENT GOVERNORS AND HISTORICALLY ANY PROJECT THAT GOT ANNOUNCED GOT INCLUDED IN THE BIG NUMBER. BUT SELDOM WERE THOSE F HAD THOSE REACHED FID AND THOSE FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE IN PROJECT WORLD FINAL INVESTMENT DECISION MEANS, ALL RIGHT, MONEY'S COMMITTED.

WE'RE GOING TO BREAK GROUND. WE'RE GOING TO BUILD A PROJECT. IF WE'VE GOT 110 BILLION IN FID PROJECTS.

THAT IS INCREDIBLE. THAT'S UNPRECEDENTED. IT'S JUST NOT BEEN DONE BEFORE.

AND SO CONGRATULATIONS TO LED. ALL OF US. I THINK I THINK IT'S JUST A CONFLUENCE OF A LOT OF REALLY NEAT THINGS HAPPENING IN THE

[01:15:04]

YOU APPROVE EVERYTHING. WELL, THE ONLY REASON IT'S DONE THAT WAY IS BECAUSE THE STAFF HAS DONE ALL THEIR WORK LEADING UP TO THIS MEETING.

AND, AND THE STAKEHOLDERS DID THEIR WORK LEADING UP TO THIS MEETING.

AND WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT ALL THE I'S ARE DOTTED AND THE T'S ARE CROSSED.

AND BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S DOING THEIR JOB, THAT MAKES THIS MEETING GO RATHER SMOOTHLY.

AND I HOPE IT CONTINUES THAT WAY. AGAIN, THANK YOU, MISS VILLA.

THANK YOU. SEND OUR CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SECRETARY AND MISS EMERSON TO THE GOVERNOR FOR ALL THE SUPPORT THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM THE GREAT FACILITATOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, LOUISIANA STATE GOVERNMENT.

ANY, ANYTHING? BEFORE WE GO ANY OTHER BUSINESS, SPEAK.

NOW, I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE RURAL HEALTH CARE INITIATIVE.

SO, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING TO WHAT YOU WERE JUST SAYING.

SO I KNOW THAT LED IS A PARTICIPANT IN THAT PROGRAM, BUT LDH IS ACTUALLY THE ONE DRIVING IT.

CORRECT. AND SO, AND THAT I ALSO KNOW THAT LOUISIANA IS 1 OF 6 STATES, I BELIEVE TOTAL THAT IS GETTING THESE FUNDS.

SO LOUISIANA HAS A VERY UNIQUE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE HERE.

AND AND LEDLAIO PARTNERED WITH LDH AND THEN BROUGHT TOGETHER ROUNDTABLE GROUPS OF ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS THE STATE TO DESIGN THE PROGRAM RULES AHEAD OF TIME. I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE IN A COUPLE OF THOSE MEETINGS.

SO I JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST REITERATING WHAT WHAT OUR CHAIRMAN IS SAYING AND THAT LIKE THAT PROGRAM IS JUST LIKE, IT'S JUST ONE OF ALL THESE OTHER THINGS. IT'S JUST ONE TINY PIECE OF THE BIG PILE, YOU KNOW? THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT BECAUSE THAT'S TRUE. VERY GOOD.

ANYTHING ELSE WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

MOVED. MOTION SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE.

THANK YOU. WE'LL SEE Y'ALL IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.