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December 11, 2012
Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet said Thursday afternoon that one of his biggest hobbies is bragging about Terrebonne Parish.
The local leader admitted he has something new to bring up when fluffing our area to visitors from outside of the Tri-parishes.
Standard Crane & Hoist announced this week the completion of a $1.1 million manufacturing facility in Gray.
With the project’s completion, the facility will provide close to 50 jobs for the area (both direct and indirect) and it will allow the company to construct any type of overhead crane used in Louisiana – something unable to be done in our state prior to this facility’s completion.
Gov. Bobby Jindal attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the project Thursday and applauded the company’s decision to invest in Louisiana, citing it as another example of the state’s continued economic growth, despite a nationwide recession.
“This facility will keep more jobs in our state and it will keep more of this work done in Louisiana,” Jindal said. “This is great news for our economy, because that means these employees will be spending their dollars here in our local restaurants and when they buy their vehicles and when they buy their groceries – those dollars stay here.”
The new facility marks another chapter in the history of Standard Crane, which has been in business for 103 years.
The New Orleans-based company has seven locations scattered across Louisiana.
The need for the facility in Gray arose after the company’s manufacturing building in Destrehan could no longer keep up with sales.
The expansion marks a new era in crane construction throughout Louisiana, as the facility will be able to create cranes that previously were only made outside of the state.
“Prior to this crane manufacturing plant being put into service, 100 percent of all large cranes that are in use in Louisiana today were manufactured out of state,” Standard Crane & Hoist President Mac Hadden said. “Period. There were none made here. As of today, this is no longer the case. … This facility has received orders to send equipment out of state.”
The governor said the 12,600-square-foot facility will provide 19 new direct jobs with an average salary of $41,500 and benefits.
It will also provide 27 indirect jobs.
Standard Crane has been working with Louisiana since May 2010 to get the structure in Gray. They are expected to utilize Louisiana’s Quality Jobs and Industrial Tax Exemption incentive programs now that it is operating.
Jindal said the construction is part of a continued trend of growth throughout the entire Bayou Region.
“Despite the national recession, we’ve announced a number of economic developments in this Bayou Region,” he said. “These projects are creating jobs for our kids. Since 2008, in just the Bayou Region alone, we’ve announced 11 major wins, resulting in over 7,400 jobs.”
A crowd of approximately two dozen people attended the ribbon cutting ceremony. Among the local leaders in attendance were state Rep. Lenar Whitney, Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Jerry Larpenter and Terrebonne Economic Development Authority CEO Steve Vassallo.
Claudet said the project is a major victory for the area – a source of bragging indeed for the parish president.
“I don’t think it can get any better than this,” he said. “What a wonderful day. You heard what (Jindal) said about them being able to locate this anywhere in the Gulf Coast, but they instead chose Louisiana. Even more than that for me is that they chose Terrebonne Parish. … This facility will add many new jobs into Terrebonne Parish.”
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal talks to a crowd gathered to honor Standard Crane & Hoist for the opening of its new facility in Gray. The governor applauded the company for its expansion and said it is another example of economic growth in Louisiana, despite a nationwide recession.
