Dig World will offer opportunities for great fun for any adult or child who has longed to be at the helm of a big piece of construction equipment. The new theme park will give visitors a hands-on experience of actual heavy equipment such as excavators and skid steers. It will be located about two-and-half hours away from Lake Charles near Katy Mills, Texas  and is expected to host 100,000 guests.

In addition to creating memorable family experiences, the park helps youngsters explore the many jobs available in the construction industry. The park will also have a playground, a gem-mining station and a turf field with yard games. Dig World is scheduled to open this fall.

Teachers credit union to merge with CSE

Jeff Davis Teachers Federal Credit Union Board of Directors voted to approach CSE Federal Credit Union with a proposal to merge upon JDT FCU’s CEO Cindy Neal’s retirement. During a special meeting, members voted to pass the proposed merger.

“We are very happy to have the opportunity to bring the JDT FCU members into our credit union, and we look ahead to serving their needs as we move forward together.”

CSE offers a full array of financial products and services, including checking and savings account, loans, mobile and online banking, instant issue card services and more.

For more information about CSE, email Colleen Desselle, Director of Marketing at cdesselle@csefcu.org or call 337.562.3130.

Phillips 66 commits funds to Ducks Unlimited

Phillips 66 stepped up for conservation and committed $650,000 in support of Ducks Unlimited’s (DU) conservation work on public and private lands in Texas, Louisiana and Missouri, and a wetlands education project in Montana.

“Phillips 66 has been one of DU’s strongest conservation partners since 2013, helping to improve wildlife habitat, water quality, natural resources and community resilience across the country,” said DU Director of Development Matt Bunn.

Supported projects in Louisiana include restoration of the nation’s second-largest urban refuge, Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge, in New Orleans. In addition, a project in St. Bernard Parish will restore 1,566 acres of coastal marsh that will sequester as much as 6,246 metric tons of carbon dioxide per acre, per year.

JD Bank part of new lending platform

JD Bank is an inaugural participant in Bridge built by CitiSM, a new lending platform launched by global financial institution Citi to help small-to-medium-sized businesses connect online with various regional, local and community banks for loans up to $10 million.

“JD Bank is honored to have been approached by Citi to participate in the Bridge built by CitiSM platform. The platform will allow JD Bank to broaden our customer base both in our current footprint and beyond,” stated Bruce W. Elder, JD Bank President and CEO. “By partnering with Citi on this initiative, we hope to strengthen our ties to those small businesses that make Louisiana’s communities strong and vibrant.”

For many small-to-medium-sized businesses in the U.S., securing a loan involves manual processes that can be time consuming.  Often, they are limited to banks near their own location. Additionally, local and community banks have limited access to digital tools to reach potential borrowers, which can make it difficult to broaden their customer base.

Bridge built by Citi connects businesses with lenders in their region, enabling borrowers to interact with lenders beyond those that have a physical location nearby, and helps borrowers interact with lenders through a single, quick and easy online request. By connecting borrowers with more lenders, the platform can empower businesses with access, choice and convenience and capital to grow their businesses.