St. Landry Parish Parish projects continue

There were reports of developments in St. Landry Parish despite the slowdown in the oil and gas industry at a meeting of the St. Landry Parish Economic Industrial Development District Board.
Bill Rodier, executive director, said as oil field activity continues to struggle, natural gas projects are exploding in southwest Louisiana.
The natural gas projects, mostly from export activities, are leading to a push to match former oil field workers to the job opportunities in the Lake Charles area.
Rodier quoted Stephen Waguespack, Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, “If it weren’t for natural gas, people would be really in trouble.”
During Tuesday’s meeting, Rodier noted there will be a ground-breaking ceremony for an 84,500 square foot C&G Containers Scientific production facility in Grand Coteau on April 11.
The facility is one of 18 active projects listed by the economic development organization.
Named “Project Lid,” Rodier said it “will be a big, big deal for Grand Coteau.”
The facility is expected to have 100 jobs initially and a potential to employ 175 people, he said.
Rodier also emphasized that getting education correct is important to St. Landry Parish.
“I think it is scary to all of what the future our colleges and universities are,” he said. “I would be surprised if our four-year colleges and maybe even our community college system doesn’t look different by the end of this year because I don’t know if the dollars will allow it to look the same.”
Rodier continued, “I’ve said it a hundred times before and really truly believe we would be a different place without I-49, without T.H. Harris, without LSUE. Without two colleges in this parish we would be a different place.”
At each meeting a presentation is made to the board and at Tuesday’s meeting it was from Tifanie Lewis, CEO and head of schools at JS Clark Leadership Academy in Opelousas.
The charter school has grades 5 to 8 and 9 to 10 and a total total enrollment of about 300 students, Lewis said. The high school students are on the South Louisiana Community College campus in Opelousas. The other campus is at 1517 Statesman Road, Opelousas.
High school students are provided an opportunity to earn a high school diploma and an associate degree in business, general studies or welding.
Lewis said students arrive at the school usually one to two grades below grade level.
“We are producing students that are college and career ready,” she said.
The school day is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., she said. The day includes a 3 to 5 p.m. that includes homework, chess to music, she said.
The school is state-funded and plans to add an a grade level each year, she said.
In other business, the board:
— Elected Link Savoie, of Sunset, as vice chairman to replace Anthony Baltakis, of Eunice. The St. Landry Parish Council replaced Baltakis on the board with Lena Charles, of Opelousas.
— Approved a three-year lease for up to 83 acres of land adjacent to the Wal-Mart Distribution Center for $36.39 an acre.