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Story Archives: Official claims port to receive $1.2 million grant


Official claims port to receive $1.2 million grant
by Michael DeVault - posted Wednesday, September 10th, 2008 @ 10:16 pmE-mail Story E-mail Story | Print Story Print Story 
Greater Ouachita Port manager Paul Trichel said the port would receive a $1.2 million federal grant to improve rail service at the West Monroe facility, but Congressman Rodney Alexander said the status of the grant was still pending.

Alexander said he was optimistic the port would receive the grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's economic development administration. Alexander also said he needed to speak with Louisiana Economic Development Corp. officials before discussing any federal funding that Trichel claimed the port would receive.

In the meantime, Trichel said Greater Ouachita Port continues to draw the attention of business and industry around the world.

At least two major industrial prospects have expressed interest in locating in Ouachita Parish because of the presence of the port, Trichel said.

"Suffice it to say, they are not interested without that port in our region," said Trichel, who manages the port for Ouachita Terminals, Inc.

"It's that critical to what they do," Trichel said. "Without it, it's a non-start."

Trichel made those comments Wednesday at the regular meeting of the Greater Ouachita Port Commission.

Trichel also said Worldwide Terminals Inc., an international shipping company, has expressed interest in establishing operations at the West Monroe port facility.

Operations at the port have been hampered recently by the unavailability of shipping containers, Trichel told the commission.

"The availability of equipment, containment and cars, on the lack of imports, it's tied up," Trichel said. "It doesn't matter how much you have to ship. If you can't get the containers you can't get it in and out."

However, Trichel said the availability of containers is beginning to improve.

Port Commission chairman Rick Guillot said a prospect expressed interest in locating near the port.

"They were very specific, 120 to 150 acres," Guillot said. "That's big."

"They were excited that our port was an intermodal facility," Guillot said. "They were aware of I-20 running near by but were not aware of the rail, and were excited about that as well."
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