Chamber of commerce director touts Hyundai Steel investment in Donaldsonville area

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): An area chamber of commerce director touted the state's investment in the planned Hyundai Steel mill along the Mississippi River in southeast Louisiana.

Juanita Pearley, executive director of the Donaldsonville Area Chamber of Commerce, wrote in a letter that the industrial expansion will bring improvements to infrastructure, including roads, energy and sewer.

She also pointed out the new River Parishes Community College training facility, which has been planned for Donaldsonville.

Several other companies, including CF Industries and Ascension Clean Energy, have announced plans for expansion along the west bank of the river in Ascension Parish.

Pearley wrote in the letter that the projects will bring than more than $17 billion in new investments and thousands of jobs to the Baton Rouge region.

"These jobs are precisely the opportunities that will shape the future of our youth and improve the quality of life for many families," she wrote in the letter.

Officials at all levels - national, state and local - have touted the $5.8 billion steel mill since President Donald Trump announced the project in March.

The project will be part of the RiverPlex MegaPark, a 17,000-acre industrial zone west of Donaldsonville in the Modeste area.

"Hyundai and the other multi-billion-dollar facilities investing in Ascension Parish's River Plex Mega Park are the beginning of an economic revitalization and opportunities for residents in Modeste, Donaldsonville and the entire west bank," she wrote. "We must welcome the investment, opportunity, growth and the progress that will affect our future."

Gov. Jeff Landry visited Donaldsonville to speak during an Aug. 20 luncheon hosted by the Donaldsonville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Baton Rouge Industrial Group.

"When they build that steel mill, that will be the first steel mill in 60 years that was built in this country, and guess where it's going to be built?" Landry asked during the event. "Right here in Louisiana. Right in this parish."

Some have expressed concerns for the industrial expansion, citing health and pollution concerns, as well as the displacement of residents in the area.

Members of two organizations, Rural Roots Louisiana and Louisiana Bucket Brigade, have called on political and business leaders to consider alternative economic development plans for west side of the parish.

Courtesy: www.weeklycitizen.com