Port of Vinton designated as certified site
Published 6:00 am Thursday, January 17, 2019
Heather Regan White / The American Press
VINTON — The Port of Vinton is now home to Southwest Louisiana’s newest certified site.
Commissioners from the Vinton Harbor and Terminal District joined representatives from Louisiana Economic Development, Entergy Louisiana, SWLA Economic Development Alliance, and parish and town officials at Vinton City Hall Wednesday to unveil a conceptual sign designating the site as an official certified site under LED’s Site Certification Program.
The 156-acre piece of land is zoned heavy industrial, and Vinton Harbor and Terminal District Board President Jerry Merchant said it will provide a different venue for business interests looking to locate on a shovel-ready site.
“We believe the Port of Vinton will help sustain the economic activity we are seeing today in Southwest Louisiana,” he said. “Having a certified site will hopefully kickstart that activity and will continue to serve our community well into the future.”
Gus Fontenot, project coordinator for the SWLA Economic Alliance, agreed.
“I believe this certified site is going to be critical to growth in West Calcasieu,” Fontenot said. “And I think West Calcasieu Parish is where the economic opportunity lies in the future.”
The Port of Vinton site is the 10th certified in Southwest Louisiana and the second west of the Calcasieu River.
LED’s Site Certification assures business prospects that a piece of property is “shovel ready.” The certification process entails environmental inspection, elevation surveys, archaeological investigations, wetlands delineation and other analysis and documentation. The program offers to pay land owners as much as 75 percent of the costs associated with due diligence. Landowners or sponsors cover the remaining 25 percent.
The actual sign for the site will be donated to the port by Entergy of Louisiana.
Commissioners from the Vinton Harbor and Terminal District, representatives from Louisiana Economic Development, Entergy Louisiana, SWLA Economic Development Alliance, and parish and town officials were on hand Wednesday for the unveiling of a conceptual sign designating 156 acres at the Vinton Port as an official Certified Site under LED’s Site Certification Program. The sign will be donated by Entergy.
