[ PHOTOS IN STARTUP DISPATCHES FOLDER UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED. ]
DISPATCHES FROM WALKER
INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH
Though what was known as Shaw Sunland Fabricators before the sale to CB&I has been in Walker for decades, Livingston Parish’s second-largest city doesn’t immediately come to mind as an industrial hotspot. But the community has been the site of a handful of expansion and relocation announcements in the past year, thanks to the work of regional and parish economic developers. Last December, Oxlean Manufacturing disclosed that it would spend $2.1 million to expand its steel fabrication site, which will include advanced robotic technology to modernize production. More recently came word that Martin Brower is moving its operations from Port Allen to a new $16 million distribution hub on 22 acres in the Livingston Industrial Park just east of Walker along U.S. 190. The company supplies every item found in more than 14,000 McDonald’s restaurants worldwide—from hamburger patties to napkins. And earlier this summer, RHM Holdings and Propvest bought lots in the nearby Walker Industrial Park from Tower Capital. RHM plans to build a 6,000-square-foot building that will be occupied by Walker-Hill Environmental; Propvest is building an office warehouse for Comfort Control Heating & Air.
GET TO KNOW
Larry Collins
President & CEO, Livingston Economic Development Council
Collins came to Livingston Parish’s economic development agency after a two-year stint with the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, heading up BRAC’s international business development efforts. Prior to that, he headed up international recruitment for the state; under his direction, Louisiana established its trade promotion offices in Mexico, Taipei, Hong Kong and London. He’ll be the point man for development at LEDC’s growing industrial park in Walker.
Ricky Goff
Livingston Parish Councilman
Goff, who grew up in Walker and raised his own family there, is a business development manager for Baton Rouge Coca-Cola. He was elected to the council in 2011 and served one term as its chairman. Prior to that, he served as an alderman for the town for 12 years and was on the board of directors for Fire Protection District 4.
Larry Daigle
General manager, Martin Brower Co.
Martin Brower is investing $16 million to build a food distribution facility on 22 acres in the Livingston Industrial Park in Walker. In addition to retaining 160 existing jobs, Martin Brower will create 30 new direct jobs that will provide an additional $1.3 million in new annual payroll by 2020. Martin Brower has operated a food distribution complex in Port Allen since 1979, but as the company continued to grow, space and rail access limitations required the company to move.
QUICK STATS
2014 ESTIMATED POPULATION
6,126
% CHANGE SINCE 2010
0.7%
MEDIAN AGE
34.4%
BACHELOR’S DEGREE OR HIGHER
18.6%
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME
$53,182
PERSONS BELOW POVERTY LEVEL
15.1%
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
3.8%
MOST COMMON INDUSTRY BY EMPLOYMENT: CONSTRUCTION
24%
MEDIAN HOME PRICE
$158,400
SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau
MEET UP
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LOS SOMBREROS
28050 Old Walker South Road
Don’t let the name fool you. In addition to quesadillas and chimichangas, this Walker favorite that’s regularly packed offers off-menu specials that include finely seasoned steaks and seafood.
[ ILLUSTRATION: iSTOCK 38402150 ]
WHOLLY GROUND
27988 Walker South Road
This trendy coffee house serves up muffalettas, pulled pork, chicken pesto and other specialty sandwiches as well as smoothies. Save room for the homemade desserts, like chocolate overload cake.
[ ILLUSTRATION: iStock 9887498 ]
ALBASHA’S
28600 Walker South Road, Ste. 107
This Capital Region eatery just opened a new location in Walker, with a sizable dining room and plenty of chicken shawarma to go around.
