Here are key takeaways from Washington Mardi Gras and how they affect Terrebonne, Lafourche
The Bayou Region scored big wins during Washington Mardi Gras.
Mardi Gras in Washington, D.C., is more than a week of celebrations. It's a week of lobbying as representatives from Louisiana — advocates, business officials, elected officials — meet with officials in Washington to add a face to the voices asking for funding for projects.
According to attendees, Terrebonne and Lafourche scored three major wins: lock gate funding, a major agreement for Port Fourchon, and the first ever Washington, D.C., event focused solely on the South Louisiana area, known as the Bayou Bash, Jan. 22.
'What most may view as a week-long party is actually a marathon of breakfast meetings, luncheons and visit opportunities, sprinkled in with a few cocktail parties,' South Louisiana Economic Council CEO Christy Zeringue said. 'The majority of those who attend during the week fly out by the weekend, leaving the fun for those more involved in the pageantry.'
Formed in 1983, the South Louisiana Economic Council is one of eight economic development offices recognized by the state to help implement its economic policies. SLEC represents Lafourche, Terrebonne, Assumption, and St. Mary parishes. This was the first year one of these gatherings was focused on these regions. The Bayou Bash took place at The City Club of Washington, 555 13th St NW.
'Washington Mardi Gras serves as a premier gathering for business leaders across Louisiana, providing a unique opportunity to engage in high-level discussions about the state's economic future,' Zeringue said. 'The event fosters meaningful dialogue with key decision-makers, allowing regional and statewide priorities to be addressed directly with elected officials.'
Three attendees of the event estimated about 200 people shuffled in and out during the two to three hours it took place. During the gathering, S.L.E.C. announced it will be rebranding itself to the name "COLAB... a name that embodies the spirit of collaboration across Louisiana's Bayou Region."
Asked what this change of name meant for the economic organization, Zeringue said more information would be given at the local announcement during the last week of February. In January, Biz New Orleans reported that SLEC announced a strategic partnership with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana.
Henri Boulet is the head of both the Morganza Action Coalition and the LA 1 Coalition Inc. He has been attending these D.C. gatherings for nearly two decades to advocate for flood protection for Terrebonne and Lafourche. The Morganza Action Coalition had a luncheon the same day as the Bayou Bash.
He said Mardi Gras week gives an opportunity to put a add a human element to the request for funding for projects like floodgates that protect the area. It also grants the ability to get the most current information directly from the sources of these projects, or the place and timeline of the project from the government officials who control them.
'I think the bayou was the buzz of D.C. that day,' Boulet said. 'We had very positive meetings with the Federal delegation… and our stakeholders in D.C.'
According to Boulet, residents in Terrebonne and Lafourche will see direct results of lobbying efforts from Mardi Gras week in the bidding out of two floodgates next year between Sept. 30 and Oct. 1: the West Houma Intracoastal Floodgate and the Larose Intracoastal Floodgate.
Both 225-foot floodgates are in the design phase with the Army Corps of Engineers. According the Corp's website, they feature concrete sector gates, pile foundations, steel sector gates, concrete T-wall tie-ins, electrical controls and other mechanical equipment.
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The liquid natural gas company Argent LNG signed a 30 year lease agreement with Port Fourchon last year for 144 acres for a liquid natural gas export facility. According to Argent LNG's website, they expect to start commercial operations in 2029-30.
The Argent's CEO Jonathan Bass signed a 'Heads of Agreement' with the government of Bangladesh outside of their embassy Jan. 24. The agreement is for Bangladesh to buy the first 5 million metric tons annually from the company.
The Houma Courier reached out to Argent LNG but did not get a response in time for this article.
The deal is a big win for Port Fourchon, Greater Lafourche Port Commission Executive Director Chet Chaisson said. The first phase of Argent LNG's project is a $10-billion investment.
'In terms of private investment in port property, in the first phase you're looking at $10 billion - 10 with a b - investment, and if there's a second phase, it could be double that,' Chaisson said. 'It puts us into the international game. Right now everything that we do is about domestically producing energy, but this is taking American energy and exporting it to places around the world that desperately need it.'
This article originally appeared on The Courier: Three key takeaways from Washington Mardi Gras for Bayou Region
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