Locals gambling on 2011

If the year 2010 offered any lesson it was to expect the unexpected. Residents along the Louisiana coast always knew how a hurricane could interrupt lifestyles and had developed ways of dealing with those disruptions.

This past year no one could have foreseen how expectations for ending the first decade of a new millennium would suddenly change on April 20 when the Deepwater Horizon explosion claimed 11 lives and released 5 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

Then a federal ban was placed on production efforts. That was coupled with an environmental risk to the fishing industry and an adverse impact on the already threatened coastline and its wildlife.

Every plan and expectation suddenly changed for those who made their living either directly or indirectly on the Gulf region’s natural resources.

Still dealing with the economic hardship that started eight months ago, business and government leaders have learned some lessons and are looking ahead with a new set of expectations for the coming year. Some have agreed to offer their predictions and expectations.

Rep. Jeff Landry, R-New Iberia, said that he anticipates 2011 to be a year of positive advancement for the coastal parishes of Louisiana. One point of concern among residents is congressional redistricting, scheduled to begin taking place in March.

“A lot of that is going to depend upon the will of our local state elected officials,” Landry said. “It is imperative that [state legislators] create a congressional district that puts our region and our citizens and our concerns above any of their political interests.”

Landry said he would like to see the formation of a 3rd Congressional District that is made up solely of coastal parishes stretching from one end of the Louisiana coast to the other end.

“I feel pretty confident that a [coastal district] is a good argument. We’ve got the high side of the argument for this district. I don’t know the last time that one congressman represented the entire coast. I would advocate that we should because what we’ve done in the past hasn’t given us the voice we needed,” Landry said.

The freshman congressman said he is an optimist who believes 2011 is going to be pivotal for south Louisiana and the nation as a whole. If the Senate and the House of Representatives do not increase taxes at the end of the year, Landry said he is willing to forecast that 2011 will be good for business.

A primary concern for residents along the Louisiana coast n and nationally n is job availability. The national unemployment rate for November was reported to have been 9.8 percent. In Louisiana that number was 8.1 percent.

Nichols State University Director of Career Services Kristie Tauzin Gates said that more of the same should be expected with a tight job market in 2011. She added that having a strategy with one’s job search would offer an advantage to those getting back to work.

“I think students [coming out of college] are having a harder time right now finding jobs than they have since this economic downturn. The best advice we can give to anyone [seeking employment] is to start early and not give up.”

Gates said that there is work available but that in the coming year job seekers need to call on their transferable skills and not think that because they are trained on one specific area or have had their sights set on one position that there are not other opportunities where their skills could be put to use.

“I get companies calling and there are jobs out there. For a lot of students, even not in the economic situation that we are in right now, there is always a little bit of adjustment from what they believed would be out there right after college and what actually is out there,” she said.

This career expert said that the key for those who will be successful reentering the working world during the coming year will include being realistic, and proving oneself to employers. She also stressed seeking positions that will bring satisfaction as well as a paycheck.

“Find a company that either provides a service or sells a product that you can believe in,” Gates said. “It does make a difference.”

Economic hardship for the Tri-parish area in 2010 was due as much to regional disaster as to the recession. Both issues contain an element of uncertainty as to when things will get better.

Motivatit Seafoods Inc. CEO Mike Voisin said that much of the harm to the fishing industry this past year had been due to public perception and consumer fears.

“I expect [2011] will be a recovery year based on 2010 and the oil spill,” Voisin said. “It will be a major year for rehabilitation for the oyster [business] and also rehabilitation for our [industrial] brand,” Voisin said. “In oysters we will be down 50 percent from where we were in previous average years.”

This seafood processor confirmed that BP had offered $30 million to help sell Gulf seafood products through public relations efforts to the rest of the country, based on the industry providing 30 percent of the seafood consumed by Americans.

“I expect a tremendous amount of work on the rehabilitation of our brand,” Voisin said. “It will take three years to get through full rehabilitation.”

Industry is a common way of life along the working coast of Louisiana. Employment benefits consultant and South Central Industrial Association President Tony Alford said that his organization has made increased efforts to let Congress know how the drilling moratorium and reduced issuing of permits has impact not only oil and gas producers, but support businesses, and even spread to other areas of regional commerce in 2010.

“I think the oilfield is going to be in pretty good shape next year,” Alford said. “I think the forecast from just about every person in the area feels pretty good about next year being a good year. There are companies looking into our community to set up and expand. I hope it’s going to be a great year,” Alford said.

Those asked for their 2011 predictions agreed that the area’s ability to bounce back from adversity will carry them through their most recent challenges. They also will be asked to answer their expectations at the end of the coming year.