Keep the Saints in New Orleans

saintz08 · 06-19-2004, 04:29 PM

Tanker factory - Yes , Saints -No ???
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Rail car firm makes U-turn to La.
Tanker factory will bring 850 jobs

Friday, June 18, 2004
By Robert Travis Scott
Capital bureau

BATON ROUGE -- Three months after scratching Louisiana off its list, a Chicago company Thursday made the largest heavy-manufacturing job announcement in the state in more than 20 years by pledging to build a $100 million rail car plant employing 850 people at an undetermined site.

Celebrating a rare economic development victory for a state desperately in need of new jobs and a more positive image, Gov. Kathleen Blanco told the Legislature that Union Tank Car Co. has signed a letter of agreement with Louisiana, which is offering an incentive package valued at $65.2 million.

\"I was tired of telling good jobs goodbye,\" Blanco said. \"We\'ve been feeling defeated for such a long time. I think we can look ahead to better times. This shows Louisiana can compete successfully with Texas and other states for those big jobs.\"

Although no specific location was named, economic development officials said the company has passed over the New Orleans and River Parishes areas and is focusing on two sites in central and northern Louisiana. Blanco said the company might announce the site early next week.

After a year or more for construction, the company will employ 700 people for manufacturing and 150 for professional positions to operate a half-mile-long facility turning out 70 tanker rail cars per week. Another estimated 150 jobs would be indirectly created by companies offering services and supplies for the plant.

The annual payroll for the project will be $30 million to $35 million, according to the Department of Economic Development. Though the company would not disclose salary ranges for the proposed positions, the economic development figures translate into average pay scales of up to $42,000.

Company officials did not comment but released a short statement acknowledging an agreement with Louisiana for a \"new state-of-the-art rail car manufacturing facility and professional administrative offices.\"

The statement said the expansion was prompted by increased demand for the company\'s tank cars. Union Tank will not consolidate its other manufacturing facilities as a result of the new plant, it said.

La. gets second look

The company spurned Louisiana during a multistate competition for the plant when it announced March 3 it was entering exclusive talks for 30 days with Texas for the project, which Louisiana officials called \"Project U\" as a code name. When the 30 days were up and the company still had not finalized a deal, Blanco contacted Frank Lester, the head of Union Tank, and followed up with meetings to persuade him to reconsider Louisiana.

On Thursday her persistence paid off.

\"Project U has made a U-turn into Louisiana,\" Blanco said. The state got the deal \"because of our diligence, our determination, our refusal to let this project go.\"

The 110-year-old family-owned company makes and leases railroad tank and covered hopper cars to companies that ship products ranging from corn syrup and beer to petrochemicals and fertilizers. With a fleet of more than 100,000 cars, it is the largest tank car lessor in North America.

Union Tank has plants near Chicago, Houston and Oakville, Ontario. It also has a repair and maintenance facility in Ville Platte, which it has pledged to keep as part of its deal with the state.

Linda Prudhomme, director of business development for the Port of South Louisiana, said the port district aggressively pursued the project for sites in each of the River Parishes. But the company apparently was concerned that the local chemical plants paid employees salaries so high that the tank car plant would not have been competitive drawing jobs.

Prudhomme and Port Director Joseph Accardo said they showed the companies studies demonstrating that the area has 8,000 underemployed people.

Still, she said, \"We\'re happy Louisiana got it no matter where it went.\"

Score one for Blanco

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpa...5632149320.xml

06-19-2004, 04:29 PM	#1
saintz08 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 3,020	Keep the Saints in New Orleans Tanker factory - Yes , Saints -No ??? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rail car firm makes U-turn to La. Tanker factory will bring 850 jobs Friday, June 18, 2004 By Robert Travis Scott Capital bureau BATON ROUGE -- Three months after scratching Louisiana off its list, a Chicago company Thursday made the largest heavy-manufacturing job announcement in the state in more than 20 years by pledging to build a $100 million rail car plant employing 850 people at an undetermined site. Celebrating a rare economic development victory for a state desperately in need of new jobs and a more positive image, Gov. Kathleen Blanco told the Legislature that Union Tank Car Co. has signed a letter of agreement with Louisiana, which is offering an incentive package valued at $65.2 million. \"I was tired of telling good jobs goodbye,\" Blanco said. \"We\'ve been feeling defeated for such a long time. I think we can look ahead to better times. This shows Louisiana can compete successfully with Texas and other states for those big jobs.\" Although no specific location was named, economic development officials said the company has passed over the New Orleans and River Parishes areas and is focusing on two sites in central and northern Louisiana. Blanco said the company might announce the site early next week. After a year or more for construction, the company will employ 700 people for manufacturing and 150 for professional positions to operate a half-mile-long facility turning out 70 tanker rail cars per week. Another estimated 150 jobs would be indirectly created by companies offering services and supplies for the plant. The annual payroll for the project will be $30 million to $35 million, according to the Department of Economic Development. Though the company would not disclose salary ranges for the proposed positions, the economic development figures translate into average pay scales of up to $42,000. Company officials did not comment but released a short statement acknowledging an agreement with Louisiana for a \"new state-of-the-art rail car manufacturing facility and professional administrative offices.\" The statement said the expansion was prompted by increased demand for the company\'s tank cars. Union Tank will not consolidate its other manufacturing facilities as a result of the new plant, it said. La. gets second look The company spurned Louisiana during a multistate competition for the plant when it announced March 3 it was entering exclusive talks for 30 days with Texas for the project, which Louisiana officials called \"Project U\" as a code name. When the 30 days were up and the company still had not finalized a deal, Blanco contacted Frank Lester, the head of Union Tank, and followed up with meetings to persuade him to reconsider Louisiana. On Thursday her persistence paid off. \"Project U has made a U-turn into Louisiana,\" Blanco said. The state got the deal \"because of our diligence, our determination, our refusal to let this project go.\" The 110-year-old family-owned company makes and leases railroad tank and covered hopper cars to companies that ship products ranging from corn syrup and beer to petrochemicals and fertilizers. With a fleet of more than 100,000 cars, it is the largest tank car lessor in North America. Union Tank has plants near Chicago, Houston and Oakville, Ontario. It also has a repair and maintenance facility in Ville Platte, which it has pledged to keep as part of its deal with the state. Linda Prudhomme, director of business development for the Port of South Louisiana, said the port district aggressively pursued the project for sites in each of the River Parishes. But the company apparently was concerned that the local chemical plants paid employees salaries so high that the tank car plant would not have been competitive drawing jobs. Prudhomme and Port Director Joseph Accardo said they showed the companies studies demonstrating that the area has 8,000 underemployed people. Still, she said, \"We\'re happy Louisiana got it no matter where it went.\" Score one for Blanco http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpa...5632149320.xml
saintz08 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 3,020	\"Americans play to win at all times. I wouldn\'t give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed.\" - George S. Patton On another note, I\'ll take a bite of that crow 08. - Saintfan Brooks is a moron!! - Halo