In a special meeting Wednesday, the Evangeline Parish Police Jury approved a financial commitment resolution of $270,000 (a 52% cash match) per Delta Authority Grant requirements, to refurbish the existing rail spur at Industrial park, extend the spur by 102 feet, and build a second rail spur, totaling 785 feet.

According to the grant application, submitted by Secretary-Treasurer Donald Bergeron, the jury is seeking to “improve the Evangeline Parish Police Jury’s rail spur capacity for economic resilience of the Parish Industrial Park and to streamline Cabot Corporations rail storage operations”.

In order to be considered for the grant, the D.R.A is requesting that Cabot agree to use the spur for job retention, and job creation. Bergeron informed the jury that Cabot has no issue with agreeing to job retention, but can’t guarantee job creation.

According to the grant application, “Cabot is the third largest employer for the town of Ville Platte. In coordination with Louisiana Economic Development (LED) Cabot is moving towards expanding their Ville Platte operation which will likely result in the creation of 5 new full-time jobs in 2022.”

The grant application is due Friday, June 29^th, and without Cabot signing to commit to job retention and creation, their only option is to send the application in as is, until Ville Platte Cabot discusses the matter with corporate. Until then, the Police Jury approved a 2^nd motion to commit to job retention, and the hiring of one full-time employee to manage the spur.