Economic development director explains new ITEP committee process and potential local expansion

Evan Boudreaux, director of St. Mary economic development, told the school board Feb. 5 that an executive order changed how industrial tax exemption program (ITEP) applications are handled: rather than each independent local government acting separately, applications now go to a local committee composed of representatives from parish government, the sheriff, the school board and municipalities.

Boudreaux said the committee’s recommendation now applies broadly: “So if the board this local ITEP committee approves ITEP exemption, the exemption applies to the school board as well as whoever else approves it,” and cautioned that the governor can override a local committee denial and still approve an application at the state level.

He said the local committee has met once under the new rules and approved an ITEP application for an Orion carbon black (referred to in materials as Orion/carbon black). He described an acquisition of a local manufacturer and that the new ownership is planning “a pretty substantial expansion for both facilities in St. Mary and in Iberia Parish,” though he did not provide a detailed project plan.

Board members asked about the status of a Graviatt/Graville Aluminum Boats account and a reported federal contract; Boudreaux and another board member referenced an estimated $400,000,000 contract for boat construction but noted they could be mistaken and that details were not fully verified in the meeting.

Boudreaux encouraged coordination between schools and the business community to create workforce development pipelines, and board members asked him to consider outreach that would allow the company to host students for demonstrations or training. The update was presented as informational; no formal action was taken by the board on the ITEP applications at the Feb. 5 meeting.