Senator urges leaders to begin preparing for something

Although the state office has not confirmed any details about a space exploration company moving south of the Intracoastal Waterway, Sen. Bob Hensgens said parish leaders should start preparing for possible changes.
Sen. Hensgens told Abbeville Rotarians and guests at a weekly meeting that SpaceX or Blue Origin might build a large facility south of Pecan Island, near the Gulf of Mexico.
“We need to start thinking now about how to maximize the possibilities and minimize disruptions,” Hensgens said.
Thus far, parish officials for the school district, police jury or city officials have not come together in one room to discus what would happen a space exploration company does want to build in the parish.
Over the next three years, more than 3,000 construction workers and their family could be working in Vermilion Parish if a space exploration company builds in the parish.
The Senator also added that if an aerospace company chooses Vermilion Parish, the parish should focus on three things: workforce training, building up local suppliers, and getting infrastructure and housing ready.
“We need to make sure the possible company partners with and participates in workforce training, so our people can benefit from those high-paying jobs,” Hensgens said. “We need to make sure we have a strong supplier network so that Vermilion-based companies can get contracts, and of course we need to prepare our infrastructure and housing.”
The Louisiana state government has already passed several laws to support the aerospace industry, including letting parishes exempt these companies from regular property and sales taxes.
Hensgens mentioned the Meta data center in Richland Parish as an example of how big industrial projects can still bring in tax revenue and help public spending, even if the companies get some tax breaks.
Hensgens also talked about worries over how the project could affect nearby communities and the environment.
“A major industrial space complex here would be transformational,” Hensgens said. “We’re talking about the possibility of thousands of high-wage jobs in engineering, manufacturing, construction, operational, and technical skills. These are careers that can raise family incomes well above our current mean.”
The 100,000 plus acres of people are talking about is owned by ExxonMobil and is currently leased for hunting, which is an important tradition in Vermilion Parish. Hensgens said he thinks state leaders will work to protect the area’s natural resources.
Kaplan Mayor Mike Kloesel said Kaplan will be ready for newcomers to hopefully locate in Kaplan. He attended the Rotary Club’s meeting to listen to the Senator.
“There is no question that if SpaceX comes just south of Kaplan, it would have a tremendous impact on our town,” Mayor Kloesel said. “We could be looking at a transformation of our community almost overnight. My job isn’t to decide which project comes to Vermilion Parish. My job is to make sure Kaplan is prepared for the opportunities and challenges that come with something of this magnitude.”
Hensgens said he is not directly involved in talks about the facility, but he trusts Gov. Jeff Landry’s judgment.
“No one I know likes to hunt more than Jeff Landry. He’s one of us. He’s not going to sign off on anything that will hurt our environment.”
The Mayor added, “This is an incredible opportunity for Vermilion Parish. But if we’re not ready—if our communities aren’t clean, attractive, and welcoming—we risk seeing people work south of Kaplan and Abbeville while choosing to live in neighboring parishes that have already made those investments. We have to be ready.”