News

‘Empowerment’ the buzzword at River Region Chamber panel discussion on women in leadership roles  Women shouldn’t let fear deter them from pursuing career opportunities and taking leadership roles.  That was the takeaway from panel discussion on Women in Leadership held Sept. 13 at Belle Terre Country Club in LaPlace.  Panelists included Raj Pannu, CEO of Pannu Enterprises, which operates ...read more

For Immediate ReleaseContact Baileigh Rebowe Helm985-652-9569 or communications@stjohn-la.gov.  Over $800,000 invested in Parish's 2018 Road Improvement Program    Wednesday, August 15, 2018  St. John the Baptist Parish - Under Robottom's Administration, more than $15 million has been invested in the Parish's Road Improvement Program, with over 100 roads being repaired ...read more

Congressman Garret Graves Announces Full Funding to Complete Comite River Diversion, West Shore and Other Priority Flood Protection Projects   $1.4 BILLION IN NEW FUNDING More than $600 million for Comite& EBR Flood Projects; Up to $2.0 billion available for Capital Region flood protection; $760 million for West Shore Hurricane Protection      Washington, DC – Congressman Garret Graves ...read more

RIVER REGION, LCTCS RESERVE CAMPUS AWARDED COUNTRY MUSIC TELEVISION (CMT) “EMPOWERING EDUCATION” CONCERT TOUR FEATURING COUNTRY MUSIC STAR COURTNEY COLE   Country Music Television (CMT) in collaboration with Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) and Louisiana Calling, announced in the late summer of 2017 that they were seeking applications from LCTCS campuses from around the ...read more

Laplace, September 21, 2017 –  "The single biggest way to impact an organization is to focus on leadership development. There is almost no limit to the potential of an organization that recruits good people, raises them up as leaders and continually develops them." — John C Maxwell: The 17th Irrefutable Laws of Teamwork (2001, 185)Class of 2018Aaron Toldi, Occidental Chemical CorporationAllen ...read more

August 22, 2017   The undersigned are writing to urge you to use the Congressional Review Act to rebuke the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) anti-arbitration rule, S.J. Res. 47.   On July 10th, the CFPB promulgated an anti-arbitration rule that degrades consumer protection, while giving a gift to trial attorneys. Even though this regulation is directed at financial firms, the ...read more

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  May 2, 2017   RRCC joins educators, businesses, government leaders, in collaborative regional workforce development agreement    LaPlace, La. — A landmark event took place on Tuesday, May 2, as educational institutions including K-12 superintendents and the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, along with parish presidents, government and business leaders, ...read more

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 22, 2017   Contact: Chassity McComack Exec. Director 986-359-9777   RRCC endorses proposed mill renewals in St. Charles parish    LAPLACE—The River Region Chamber of Commerce’s Public Policy Committee voted in favor of supporting two proposed millage renewals for the St. Charles Parish Public School system.   The General Funds Maintenance and Operations ...read more

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 21, 2017    Contact: Chassity McComack Exec. Director  986-359-9777   RRCC endorses proposed mill renewals for St. James parish     LAPLACE, La. —The River Region Chamber of Commerce’s Public Policy Committee voted in favor of supporting three proposed service tax renewals for the St. James Parish government.  The proposed renewals of 4.97 mills for road and bridge maintenance, 4.97 mills for public building maintenance, and 4.61 mills for the Gramercy Recreation District. All three taxes renewals are for a ten-year period. No new taxes are being proposed.   “The Chamber supports the renewals of these taxes, which provide support for vital services in St. James parish,” said Henry Friloux, public policy chair, River Region Chamber of Commerce.  RRCC supports the initiatives made by our local governments to act responsibly to ensure business sustainability and a high quality of life for its residents as they use efficient operations to make proactive progress. The River Region Chamber is a nonprofit organization with a mission to “Grow, Strengthen and Unify Businesses in the River Region.” The St. James parish renewals will be voted on in the upcoming April 29 election.  Visit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 22, 2017   Contact: Chassity McComack Exec. Director 986-359-9777   RRCC Workforce development summit addresses local needs, collaborates efforts between agencies   LAPLACE, La.—A major milestone was reached on Monday as leaders of the River Region Chamber of Commerce met with parish government representatives, school leaders, the workforce investment ...read more

Press ReleaseFOR RELEASE – March 14, 2017Contact: Alexandra “Alex” Hernándezahernandez@portsl.com985-652-9278    If you are having trouble seeing this e-mail, go to https://goo.gl/REUETp   PORT OF SOUTH LOUISIANA WINS JOB CREATION PROJECT OF THE YEAR AWARD AT GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE LEADERSHIP FORUM IN MONTREAL  Aucoin Took Home Award for His Efforts to Deepen the Mississippi ...read more

 For Immediate Release Contact Communications Department 985-652-9569 or communications@stjohn-la.gov.    Leaders Against Litter Kicks off Spring Beautification Efforts   Friday, March 10, 2017   St. John the Baptist Parish - St. John the Baptist Parish President Natalie Robottom and her Administrative staff joined Judge Sterling Snowdy, Keep St. John Beautiful Committee Chairman Greg ...read more

A small street in the small south Louisiana town of Lutcher showed up on the big screen at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, transformed into a post-World War II setting for the film "Mudbound," which premiered to high praise on Jan. 21. Land behind two neighboring St. James Parish plantations — Felicite and St. Joseph — provided the rural setting for the film directed by Dee Rees ...read more

PORT OF SOUTH LOUISIANA ENCOURAGED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP’S PRIORITY PROJECT LIST  Deepening the Mississippi River a Priority For Louisiana and the Nation  As an advocate of deepening the Mississippi River, a critical element to unencumbered movement of cargo and the success of Louisiana’s -- and the nation’s -- economy, Port of South Louisiana Executive Director Paul Aucoin traveled to Washington, ...read more

TOWNEPLACE SUITES BY MARRIOTT TO OPEN IN LAPLACE, LOUISIANANew 93-suite hotel opens its doors welcoming guests to the heart of the Greater New Orleans area  LaPlace, LA – November 30, 2016 – Get ready to be real and be you on long stays. Marriott International’s (NASDAQ: MAR) TownePlace Suites by Marriott LaPlace, Louisiana is scheduled to open for business this Monday, December 5, 2016. On ...read more

For Immediate ReleaseContact Communications Department985-652-9569 or communications@stjohn-la.gov.President Obama Signs Water Bill into Law  Bill includes the West Shore Lake Pontchartrain Levee Project for St. John Parish  Monday, December 19, 2016St. John the Baptist Parish -   A statement released from the White House confirmed that President Barack Obama has officially signed the Water ...read more

Press ReleaseFOR RELEASE – December 14, 2016Contact: Alexandra “Alex” Hernández ahernandez@portsl.com  985-652-9278  If you are having trouble seeing this e-mail, go to https://goo.gl/1tThPh   PORT OF SOUTH LOUISIANA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FEATURED AS ONE OF 21 INFLUENTIAL LEADERSALONG THE LOUISIANA INDUSTRIAL CORRIDOR  There are many ways to exert influence in business. Some ...read more