Zeringue explains COLAB role in St. Mary economic development

Asked about St. Mary’s greatest advantage and disadvantage in economic development, Christy Zeringue gave the same answer twice.
“It’s the coast and the coast,” said Zeringue, president of the COLAB, the official regional economic development organization that includes St. Mary, Assumption, Lafourche and Terrebonne.
Zeringue spoke Wednesday at a St. Mary Chamber luncheon at the Petroleum Club of Morgan City.
The disadvantage of being on the Gulf is vulnerability to hurricanes and flooding, Zeringue said.
“Here we are in September, keeping our fingers crossed with hurricanes or floods we might have,” she said. “It’s also a little challenging when it comes to insurance in our area.”
The coastal advantage are great waterways and ports throughout the region.
Zeringue picked up a line from Port of Morgan City Executive Director Raymond “Mac” Wade. The local waterways are carrying cargo worth not millions, but billions.
The water figures in at least two economic development victories cited by Zeringue.
They include plans by Argent LNG to create a liquefied natural gas plant at Port Fourchon. The Argent website states it plans to begin operating in early 2030.
Another is the acquisition of the Franklin-area Gulf Craft shipyard earlier this year by Saronic. The Texas-based company plans to build its Marauder autonomous surface vessel there and employ as many as 500 people.
Across the Charenton Canal from the Saronic yard is Metal Shark, a shipbuilder with government work of its own, including ferries for Washington and New York and the recent delivery of coastal patrol boats to the Dominican navy.
Other advantages are a skilled workforce and higher education institutions, Zeringue said.
COLAB was once known as the Southeast Louisiana Economic Council. Zeringue described the mission as working with local economic development officials as well as with Louisiana Economic Development.
The priorities she outlined Wednesday:
—Working with the expansion of existing industries
—Workforce development.
—Developing more certified ready for new or expanding industry.
—Legislative priorities.
COLAB has a website rich in demographic and economic data at bayouregion.com.