Chamber President Dr. William “Tojo” Ward spoke at Rotary

January 24, 2017

    Economic Development was the main item of discussion during the address to the Ville Platte Rotary Club given Tuesday at noon by Ville Platte Chamber of Commerce President Dr. William “Tojo” Ward.

    Dr. Ward is also the president of the Evangeline Parish Industrial Development Board and serves as a member of the One Acadiana Economic group.

    The parish Industrial Development Board is a nine member board appointed by the police jury to oversee Pine Prairie Energy. Pine Prairie Energy located in Easton has the largest gas storage facility in the United States with 80 billion cubic feet of natural gas stored in four caverns. Two more caverns are due to go on line soon. Some 25-30 employees work at the facility. The firm has paid some $16 million dollars in sales taxes.

   He reported that Schlumberger which owns Cameron had some job cuts earlier and is planning to re hire personnel. While Union Tank is scheduled to hire additional workers.

   The 100 acre Industrial Park is a certified shovel ready site for additional industry since 2007. One of the disadvantages,  the park has is transportation. The park is 8 miles from I-49. Industry needs to be near a four lane highway.

    He announced that the state will try to increase the gas tax by 16 cents a gallon to raise enough money to improve state highways and interstates.

     The Chamber of Commerce is looking at ways to increase membership and is planning a fall entertainment event as a fund raiser. Dr. Ward was the guest speaker of Rotarian Mitch Fontenot.

     In other rotary news:

--the local club is planning to raise funds to fund the “choices” program in parish schools which encourages students to stay in school and not drop out;

--heard from Ville Platte Mayor Jennifer Vidrine report that city property taxes become delinquent February 1; The mayor also announced that the Health Fitness Challenge with the City of Opelousas officially began Monday and  in early reports, Ville Platte is beating Opelousas.