NEW ORLEANS– May 17, 2021– The Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) and Tangipahoa Parish Economic Development today entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work together to grow trade, as well as to support existing and new business relationships for the benefit of the region and state of Louisiana.

Working together cooperatively, the two entities will leverage technical expertise and other resources to drive mutual economic benefits for Tangipahoa Economic Development, parishes in Port NOLA’s jurisdiction, and the region as a whole — particularly through the attraction of value-added manufacturing, product assembly, distribution and logistics centers.

The MOU was signed by Brandy D. Christian, President and CEO of the Port of New Orleans and CEO of the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad, and Ginger Cangelosi, Executive Director of Economic Development for Tangipahoa Parish Government. Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller, Tangipahoa Director of Workforce Development and Tangipahoa Economic Development’s appointee on the South Tangipahoa Parish Port Commission Tina Roper, as well as representatives of the Louisiana Department of Economic Development (LED), the New Orleans Business Alliance, and St. Bernard’s Economic Development Foundation also attended in support of the goal to increase economic impact by leveraging trade and international commerce opportunities.

“This MOU with Tangipahoa Parish shows the vested interest in our state to work together so logistics and distributions centers remain a top priority for economic growth,” said Christian. “We are pleased to partner with Tangipahoa Parish to showcase our region’s advantageous commercial location and unmatched supply chain connectivity by river, rail and road.”

Port NOLA and economic development organizations throughout the region have been strategically working on the addition of distribution centers to promote additional development and business for the Port, and this MOU along with the St. Tammany MOU are successes from those efforts. The parties will work together to identify, attract, and retain those businesses which mutually benefit both parties and foster the overall goal of regional prosperity.

“Because of our logistically advantageous location, Tangipahoa Parish is a natural fit for distribution and warehousing companies, as well as advanced manufacturing facilities,” said Tangipahoa Economic Development Director, Ginger Cangelosi. “Tangipahoa is proud to partner with Port NOLA to join resources and increase efforts to continue attracting these types of investment to this region.”

Tangipahoa Parish Economic Development and Port NOLA also plan to partner with workforce development programs and employment training opportunities within the area that focus on manufacturing, distribution and logistics jobs. Distribution centers represent one of the most significant areas of opportunity for the region and state due to the strength of the area’s multimodal connectivity. In addition to Port NOLA’s deepwater berths and seamless connection to six Class 1 railroads via the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad, transportation options include easy access to a robust interstate highway system to any market and barge access to the industrial Midwest and major population centers like Chicago, Memphis and St. Louis.

“Today’s announced MOU between Tangipahoa Parish and the Port of New Orleans continues to demonstrate the port’s economic partnership across a wide region of our State,” said Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson. “Louisiana’s 32 ports are economic engines, supporting jobs and business activity throughout Louisiana. I applaud the leadership of both parties for recognizing the power of partnerships and using this agreement to leverage the mutual interests of both partners.”

As logistics and supply chain needs evolve, businesses such as Medline and Amazon recognize the benefit of locating distribution facilities in Louisiana.

“We are always excited when partnerships are developed to build our region and for all of Louisiana,” said Parish President Robby Miller. “We have always worked together and this agreement just informs the world we are one Louisiana and always work to make it the best.”

A proposed expansion of the Port NOLA complex with the addition of an international container terminal in St. Bernard Parish opens opportunity for new businesses and industries that will be located throughout the greater New Orleans region, including Tangipahoa Parish.