Jindal touts job creation as priority

Gov. Bobby Jindal said the state’s focus will be on producing new jobs during his talk last week to the South Central Industrial Association in Gray. The governor is conducting a tour of all 64 parishes in Louisiana.

The push for job creation comes after Jindal created initiatives to reform ethics, business taxation and workforce development in the state last year.

“We’re in the worst recession since the Great Depression,” he said. “How do we respond in Louisiana? In Washington, they raise taxes. We can’t print our own money in Louisiana.”

Jindal singled out three construction projects in Houma partly funded with state money that he said would create around 1,800 new jobs in the area: the building of Edison Chouest’s LaShip shipyard at the Port of Terrebonne, producing 1,000 jobs; the expansion of Gulf Island Fabrication in Houma and the creation of a new company subsidiary, 456 jobs; and the expansion of Performance Energy Services at the Port of Terrebonne, 350 jobs.

“LaShip is one of the transformative drivers of our economy,” he said. The project has received $14 million in state investment. Performance Energy is seeking $3.3 million from the state through the Terrebonne Economic Development Authority.

In addition, Southern Business & Development magazine recently recognized Terrebonne Parish for bringing in businesses that have a positive local impact.

Jindal said two area residents, Brent Billiot of Lockport and Derek Bascle of Bourg, benefited from businesses receiving state support.

After suffering an accident, Billiot, who works on engines, lost his former job but was hired by Diesel Tech of Louisiana in Houma. Diesel Tech received a $1.5 million loan guarantee from the state last year to expand operations.

Bascle wanted a career change following eight years as a claims adjustor and was the first person hired by LAShip.

The governor said 32,000 jobs have been created during his administration statewide and listed numerous businesses around Louisiana that have added employees.

He said the state’s image is improving. After repeating former U.S. Rep. Billy Tauzin’s comment that “half of Louisiana is under water and half is under indictment,” Jindal countered with more positive news.

He said equipment manufacturer Gardner Denver Thomas intended to close its operation in Louisiana, with a loss of 75 jobs, and keep its operation in Wisconsin. However, the company changed its mind.

“They said the reality in Louisiana is better than the perception,” Jindal said. “In Wisconsin they’re on defense, (Louisiana’s) on offense.”

As part of his workforce development initiative last year, Jindal modernized the name of the state Department of Labor to the Louisiana Workforce Commis-sion. He said his administration has spent $200 million on technical and community colleges in the state, including money for the expansion of Fletcher Technical Community College in Houma.

Still, 70 percent of companies seeking to relocate to Louisiana say they would need more skilled workers, Jindal said.

“We’re not a poor state, we’re rich,” he said. “We have 30 percent of the nation’s fisheries, five of the nation’s biggest ports. We’ve had poor leadership, but we’re not a poor state. We need to compete based on our people. We need the best skilled workforce in the world.”

Besides helping to create jobs, Jindal said his administration has benefited Terrebonne in other ways. The parish received a $135,714 Community Water Enrichment Fund grant from the state to extend water lines along Grand Caillou Road and two Byrne/JAG grants totaling $168,502 for law enforcement.

The Byrne grants are federal but are administered through the state. The grants will fund technology upgrades at the sheriff’s office and in Terrebonne Parish government.

Jindal also pointed out that during his administration Terrebonne has received $7.8 million for road improvement projects from the state, including work in the southern part of the parish and $2.7 million for resurfacing part of U.S. Highway 90 between La. Highway 311 and the Lafourche Parish line.

Wrapping up the talk, Jindal said the Legislature was able to cut $700 million from the state budget during its tough last session that ended in June.

“We’ll do more with less,” he said. “These are Louisiana solutions, not Democrats or Republicans. The budget challenges won’t go away. We need to eliminate inefficiencies and outsource what can be privatized.”

Jindal said he will consider no strategy that does not involve creating jobs.

Gov. Bobby Jindal addresses members of the South Central Industrial Association in Gray during his 64-parish tour of the state promoting job creation. “We’re in the worst recession since the Great Depression,” he said. “How do we respond in Louisiana?” * Photo by KEYON K. JEFF