SOUTHERN RECYCLING TO RELOCATE ITS GREATER NEW ORLEANS OPERATIONS IN ST. CHARLES PARISH
Relocation represents $40 million capital investment, 150 retained and 100 new jobs

KILLONA - Louisiana Economic Development (LED) officials, St. Charles Parish economic

Click here to view the Southern Recycling site map (PDF)

development representatives and company executives today announced that Southern Recycling is relocating to another site in the New Orleans metro area, allowing the company to maintain operations in Louisiana.

The company’s $40 million investment will retain 150 jobs and generate 100 new jobs in the region over the next three years. St. Charles Parish officials also anticipate the project will become a catalyst for additional development.

Due to the closure of the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet (MRGO), Southern Recycling had to select a new location for its shipbreaking and metal recycling operations. The company, one of New Orleans’ oldest businesses, considered six in-state and out-of-state deep-water sites.

Southern Recycling purchased approximately 344 acres of batture land and 117 acres of contiguous dry land in St. Charles Parish. The site’s deep-water access and large, wide batture were critically important to the company’s ability to receive ships being scrapped and to transport recycled materials to customers.

“As a Louisiana company for 108 years, this is the place we want to do business, and we wanted to stay as close to New Orleans as possible,” Southern Recycling CEO Joel Dupré said. “When LED learned we needed to find a new location for our operations, they called on me and said they wanted to help. I wouldn’t have known about the site in St. Charles Parish or how to go about searching for one in Louisiana without their assistance.”

Gov. Bobby Jindal said of the announcement, "Retaining and growing our existing Louisiana businesses is vital to the future economic growth of our state. It is terrific news that Southern Recycling has announced they will maintain their operations in Louisiana and create an additional 100 jobs over the next three years. These are jobs that will help keep our kids here at home instead of having to leave the state to start a great career."

As part of its outreach to Southern Recycling, LED provided site search assistance through a request for proposal process, which was instrumental in identifying the available St. Charles Parish location. LED and St. Charles Parish officials were successful in working together to accommodate the company's current needs and long-term plans.

The site already meets all industrial zoning regulations for its planned use, including buffer area and setback requirements.

“Retention of existing Louisiana businesses is among our highest economic development priorities,” LED Secretary Stephen Moret said. “This is a long-standing Louisiana company, and we are very pleased to be able to retain them within the region and the state. We see this as a strong indication of the company’s commitment to the Greater New Orleans area and Louisiana.”

St. Charles Parish President V.J. St. Pierre Jr. said the project is only a starting point in the parish’s vision of a world-class, deep-water business park offering rail, highway and Mississippi River access.

“We know this project holds so much potential for both New Orleans and the entire state of Louisiana, and we are pleased that Southern Recycling has already made commitments to hiring locally and using local vendors whenever possible,” St. Pierre said. “We’re hoping adjacent land can be acquired in order to provide more opportunities for businesses wishing to take advantage of the transportation options at the site.”

According to Dupré, another key factor in the decision to remain in Louisiana was the support he received from the state’s congressional leaders. As the result of vigorous efforts on the part of Louisiana’s congressional delegation, the company will use federal Water Resources Development Act funds to help offset the cost of the project.

The company also recently announced the return of its headquarters, including 25 corporate jobs, to downtown New Orleans.

“The retention of Southern Recycling is a win for the region,” Michael Hecht, president and CEO of Greater New Orleans Inc. said. “With the closure of MRGO, Southern Recycling was forced to consider locations outside the city of New Orleans and our region is fortunate to have retained their operations and their corporate headquarters, rather than the company moving out of state.”

The mission of St. Charles Parish government is to sustain and ehnahce the quality of life for all residents of St. Charles Parish.

For more information, contact St. Charles Parish Public Information Officer Renee C. Allemand at (985) 783-5000 or rallemand@stcharlesgov.net.