Agricultural Finance Authority public meetings in 2023
3 substantive meetings from 2023, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Agricultural Finance Authority
The Louisiana Agricultural Finance Authority (LAFA) will meet on October 13, 2023, at Landry Vineyards in West Monroe. The board will consider several items including updates on the Certified Louisiana program and the SLRF Grain Bin Project, as well as new business such as the Bob Odom Loop Paving Project, a Progressive Tractor proposal, a Loup Logistics lease at Lacassine Industrial Park, a Modern Mill presentation, and a Resilient Food Systems & Infrastructure grant. Public comments will be heard.
- Bob Odom Loop Paving Project
- Progressive Tractor Proposal
- Loup Logistics Lease Proposal at Lacassine Industrial Park
- Resilient Food Systems & Infrastructure (RFSI) Program Grant
- Update on Certified Louisiana and SLRF Grain Bin Project
The board approved a paving project at Lacassine Industrial Park and authorized a building expansion for Progressive Tractor Incorporated. The board also approved lease negotiations with Loup Logistics and construction negotiations with Modern Mill.
- Approved Bob Odom Loop paving project and 10% grant match, not to exceed $600,000 total cost (Unanimous)
- Approved building expansion for Progressive Tractor Incorporated via amended lease (Unanimous)
- Approved lease negotiations with Loup Logistics for a short-term staging area (Unanimous)
- Approved construction negotiations with Modern Mill for a facility at Lacassine Industrial Park (Unanimous)
- Approved June 14, 2023, meeting minutes (Unanimous)
- Accepted financial statements (Unanimous)
Agricultural Finance Authority
The Louisiana Agricultural Finance Authority will meet to approve the FY2024 budget and the appointment of Kelly Ransome as Assistant Director. The body will also discuss a rice bin proposal for the South Louisiana Rail Facility and a lease amendment for Jefferson Davis Parish.
- Approval of Kelly Ransome as new LAFA Assistant Director
- FY2024 Budget for LAFA, Lacassine and Indian Creek
- South Louisiana Rail Facility Rice Bin Proposal
- Jefferson Davis Parish Lease Amendment
- Update on Catalyst Recovery Louisiana warehouse renovations
The board approved the FY2024 budgets for LAFA, Lacassine, and Indian Creek. It also authorized a lease amendment and converted a $3 million loan into a line of credit to support the South Louisiana Rail Facility rice bin project.
- Approved minutes from February 6, 2023 meeting (Unanimous)
- Accepted financial statements (Unanimous)
- Appointed Kelly Ransome as Assistant Director of LAFA (Unanimous)
- Accepted FY2024 budgets for LAFA, Lacassine, and Indian Creek (Unanimous)
- Amended $3 million rice bin project loan to a line of credit promissory note (Unanimous; Mr. Petree recused)
- Authorized Commissioner Strain to execute documents for SLRF rice bin project amendment (Unanimous; Mr. Petree recused)
- Authorized amendment of Jefferson Davis Parish Police Jury Lease to expand land for SLRF rice bin project (Unanimous; Mr. Petree recused)
Agricultural Finance Authority
The Louisiana Agricultural Finance Authority will elect a chair and vice-chair, approve minutes from September 2022, review financial statements, and hear the commissioner's report. New business includes approving Nicholas Cole as the new LAFA director, a request by Don Gauthier regarding SLRB loan terms, a presentation on Jefferson Davis Economic Council future endeavors, and a potential acquisition of the grain facility at the Port of Lake Charles. Public comment periods are scheduled.
- Election of chair and vice-chair
- Approval of new LAFA Director Nicholas Cole
- Request by Don Gauthier regarding SLRB loan terms
- Presentation on Jefferson Davis Economic Council future endeavors
- Potential acquisition of the grain facility at the Port of Lake Charles
The board appointed a new director and approved funding for industrial park improvements. It also restructured a $3.5 million loan for the South Louisiana Rail Facility LLC and authorized negotiations for projects involving the Port of Lake Charles and the Jefferson Davis Parish Economic Development Council.
- Elected Mike Strain as board chair and Ronald Petree as vice chair
- Approved minutes from September 8, 2022 meeting (unanimous)
- Accepted financial statements (unanimous)
- Approved up to $250,000 for improvements to LAFA owned buildings at Lacassine Industrial Park (unanimous)
- Appointed Nicholas Cole as Director of LAFA (unanimous)
- Split $3.5 million loan into a $500,000 loan for rice mill completion and a $3 million loan for a grain/rice storage facility (unanimous, 1 recusal)
- Authorized Chairman to negotiate terms for Jefferson Davis Parish Economic Development Council endeavor (unanimous, 1 recusal)
- Authorized Chairman to negotiate terms for potential acquisition of grain facility at Port of Lake Charles (unanimous, 1 recusal)