GATEWAY NEWS A Publication of the Iberville Chamber of Commerce
AUGUST 2015
Legislators address past session, woes coming in 2016
Shown at the meeting are, from left, Chamber Director Hank Grace, State Rep. Major Thibaut, Senator Rick Ward, State Rep. Karen St. Germain, Senator Troy Brown, State Rep. Ed Price, and Chamber Board Chairman Steve Smith. Iberville Parish’s legislators addressed a packed room at the Chamber’s luncheon on July 27. All of the officials noted that the 2015 Legislative Session was extremely difficult because the state had to eliminate a $1.6 billion budget deficit. Several legislators said they expect the new governor and legislators who will be elected this fall to have more
tough decisions in 2016, as the state budget problems continue, and some fiscal actions that passed in the session in order to balance the budget were short-term fixes. State Rep. Karen St. Germain is the only legislator that is term-limited out at the end of this year. All of the other legislators are seeking re-election. Germain received high accolades and a warm round of applause for her service to Iberville after she addressed the crowd.
NEW MEMBERS Capitol City Family Health Center Plaquemine, LA 225.385.4742 IMTC, Inc. Prairieville, LA 225.385.5195 Crawfish X-Press Plaquemine, LA 225.687.0226
Woodson Incorporated Plaquemine, LA 225.687.9946 Portobello’s Grill Plaquemine, LA 225.238.2316 Ande’s Bridal & Floral Services, LLC Plaquemine, LA 225.687.1500
Cajun Country Café Plaquemine, LA 225.685.0105 D. J. Koolaids Mix Plaquemine, LA 225.776.4243 Brown Eagle Baton Rouge, LA 225-769-1111
Bengal Industries Prairieville, LA 225-677-8890 Access Health, Inc. Bossier City, LA 800-797-9503
From the Executive Director Dear members,
We had a great turnout for the July Chamber membership luncheon at Portebello’s, with a packed house and all of our legislators in attendance. I would like to thank State Senators Rick Ward and Troy Brown, and State Representatives Karen St. Germain, Ed Price and Major Thibaut for taking the time to be with us. They provided some insights into the very difficult 2015 Legislative session, and what lies ahead for the new governor and legislators in 2016. I also want to thank all the Chamber members who attended, and showed our legislators that local business leaders are concerned about the actions taken at the State Capitol. As the 2015-16 school year begins, the Chamber will be ramping up its activities to assist local schools in educating our youth. The Chamber long ago recognized the need for an educated workforce, and has partnered with local schools on workforce development for many years. With the industrial expansion underway, workforce needs for quality jobs is at an all time high. The Chamber wants to do all it can to help our schools prepare our students for these jobs. Finally, excitement is building as the Chamber hosts its first Chamber Dancing with the Stars event on September 26. Tickets are already selling well and our great line-up of dancers (see page 3) are getting very competitive! Get your tickets now - this is sure to be a fun evening with great networking for our Chamber members.
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Need a low interest business loan? The Chamber may be able to help The Iberville Chamber of Commerce has low interest loan money available for businesses to expand operations, make capital improvements or purchase needed equipment! Up to $50,000 can be loaned to businesses through the Iberville Chamber’s Revolving Loan Program. Businesses must be located in Iberville Parish, and meet the guidelines for the program. Primary considerations for awarding loans include a credit check, a net worth determination, cash flow projections, other outstanding obligations and the overall ability to repay the loan. Interest rate charged is 4 percent. For more information contact Jennifer Landry at the Chamber office: 225-687-3560 or
[email protected].
Watch for your new directory! The Chamber’s new 2015-2016 Membership Directory is being mailed out next week! Watch for your directory, which includes contact information on all Chamber members. The directory also includes contact info on many government agencies and officials, along with helpful information about the parish. Special thanks to all our directory advertisers!
Iberville Chamber of Commerce
DANCING WITH THE STARS
Get your tickets no w!
SATURDAY, SEPT. 26 Carl Grant Civic Center Plaquemine, LA
2015 Stars H Bobby Blanchard, Iberville Bank H Stacey Chiasson, The Dow Chemical Company H Chris Daigle, Daigle’s Supermarket, School Board member H Daniel Durand, Allstate Insurance H Mayor Lionel Johnson, City of St. Gabriel H Susan Landry, Individual Chamber Membership H Monty Migliacio, Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Department H Sheriff Brett Stassi, Iberville Parish Sheriff Dance Professionals with dancExpression in Plaquemine: Owner, Kayla LeJeune; Shamira Cummings; Jill Joffrion Edenfield; Dale Mitchell; Brian Watson
$30 Floor admission: hors d’oeurves & cash bar (sold in advance) Doors open 6 pm, Showtime 7:30
$5 Balcony only (can be purchased at door)
Balcony opens 6:30 p.m.
Tickets: Call 225.687.3560 or www.ibervillechamber.com Waltz Sponsors: Daniel Durand Agency The Dow Chemical Company Salsa Sponsors: Essential Federal Credit Union SGS Petroleum Service Corp
Fox Trot Sponsors: Iberville Parish Sheriff Brett Stassi / Ralph Stassi City Councilman Dist. #3 / Iberville Bank / Air Products & Chemicals / A. Wilbert’s Sons, LLC / East Iberville-INC Entertainment Sponsors: dancExpression / D J Koolaids Mix
A portion of proceeds go to ARC-Iberville
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MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS SGS Petroleum Services, Corp.
Woodson, Inc.
For more than 60 years, SGS Petroleum Service Corporation (PSC) has been providing product handling and site logistics services to meet the needs of the refining, chemical, and marine transportation industries. Based in Baton Rouge, the company has more than 2,500 employees working at approximately 80 sites throughout the U.S. and Canada. PSC personnel perform all types of product handling services, including rail car and truck loading/unloading; rail switching and locomotive operations; marine dock operations; and tank farm, terminal, and pipeline operations. The company also trains and provides U.S. Coast Guard-certified tankermen to oversee the safe transfer of cargoes to and from barges. “One of our oldest and longest running product handling operations is at Axiall in Plaquemine,” said CEO Brian Haymon. “We began working at that site in 1970 when the plant was built. Our largest operation is at the Dow complex in Plaquemine. In all, we have more than 350 full-time employees working for us at sites within the parish.” For more information on the company, call 225343-8262 or visit www.petroleumservice.com.
Woodson Incorporated was organized in 1980 and began forestry work in southern Louisiana in 1987. Its owner, Steve Woodson, knew during his first job here in the Atchafalaya Basin that he wanted to make his home here. Work accelerated in this area in 1998 with Entergy and logging on A. Wilbert’s Sons land in the spillway through the help from Ted Verret and his companies.
Representing the interests of the local business community for more than 60 years.
Woodson has worked from the Rio Grande at Laredo, Texas eastward to the Carolinas. The company currently has 120 team members providing professional services and operators for its equipment with 61,000 total horsepower. Woodson has offices in Plaquemine, Monroe, LA, and Little Rock, Arkansas. We love Plaquemine and Iberville Parish! Contact info: www.woodsonincorporated.com; 225687-9946.
RIBBON CUTTING
23520 Eden St., P.O. Box 248 Plaquemine, LA 70765-0248
225.687.3560
www.ibervillechamber.com
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The ribbon-cutting of the new location of Total Care Injury & Pain Center was held on August 5. The clinic has moved to La. Hwy. 1, across from the Iberville-Ochsner Medical Complex. Shown above is the ribbon-cutting.
