New fertilizer plants to increase Pointe Coupee port tonnage sevenfold

It’s not surprising economic development officials in Point Coupee Parish are celebrating the announcement by Florida-based BioNitrogen Corp. that it is planning to build five fertilizer plants near the parish port in Lettsworth. Not only will the plants, which convert agricultural waste into fertilizer, create some 200 jobs, they will increase the port’s annual tonnage more than sevenfold. “This is huge,” says Les Cantrell, economic development director for Pointe Coupee Parish. “This was definitely a game changer, both for that part of the parish and for our port.” In 2012 the Pointe Coupee Port moved about 92,000 tons. When all five plants are operational—in 2015, if all goes as planned—the tonnage is expected to increase to more than 700,000. “We worked very hard to get this deal,” he says. “Now it’s paying off.” BioNitrogen Corp. announced yesterday is has received preliminary approval from the Louisiana Community Development Authority for $1.25 billion in tax-exempt bonds for the acquisition, development and construction of the plants, which will be located on 250 acres near the port. —Stephanie Riegel