Agricultural Finance Authority public meetings in 2024

Agricultural Finance Authority

The Louisiana Agricultural Finance Authority will tour the Lacassine Industrial Park and consider several lease and use agreements, including for a weigh scale, transloading, and a data warehouse. The board will also review financial statements and hear updates on capital projects.

• Lacassine Industrial Park presentation and tour
• Review of financial statements
• Update on Bob Odom Parkway Project
• Lacassine Weigh Scale Right of Use Agreement
• Riviana Foods Transloading Agreement

The board authorized a loan of up to $1.5 million for the South Louisiana Rail Facility and approved several lease agreements for the Lacassine Industrial Park. The board also awarded a paving contract and amended a warehouse roof repair contract.

• Approved loan up to $1.5 million to South Louisiana Rail Facility for bagging equipment (unanimous)
• Awarded Bob Odom Parkway Paving Project to HD Truck and Tractor for $494,755 (unanimous)
• Amended Napier Sheet Metal contract for warehouse roof repair to a total of $104,140 (unanimous)
• Approved funds for Baton Rouge Headquarters Equipment Canopy construction (unanimous)
• Authorized right of use agreements for Lacassine Industrial Park truck weigh scales (unanimous)
• Authorized lease negotiations with Riviana Foods for a staging area (unanimous)
• Authorized lease negotiations with Edge Energy for a data warehouse (unanimous)
• Approved new lease for Acadiana Workforce Development at $6.51 per square foot (unanimous)

Agricultural Finance Authority

The Louisiana Agricultural Finance Authority will meet to approve June 2024 minutes, review financial statements, and hear the commissioner's report. New business includes authorizing RFSI grant payments, improvement plans for Woodworth Airport, and building construction at Lacassine Property. Old business includes an update on the Bob Odom Loop Project.

• RFSI Grant Payment Authorizations
• Improvement Plans to Woodworth Airport
• Building Construction/Improvements to Lacassine Property
• Update on Bob Odom Loop Project
• Review of Financial Statements

The board approved an increase in purchasing authority for the Bob Odom Loop Paving Project and authorized up to $250,000 for a new building at Lacassine Industrial Park. The board also adopted a resolution to seek DOTD funding for Woodworth Airport improvements.

• Approved June 24, 2024 meeting minutes (unanimous)
• Accepted financial statements (unanimous)
• Increased Commissioner's purchasing authority for Bob Odom Loop Paving Project from $600,000 to $675,000 (unanimous)
• Adopted resolution to apply for DOTD Capital Improvement Program funds for Woodworth Airport (unanimous)
• Authorized expenditure of up to $250,000 for a new building at Lacassine Industrial Park (unanimous)

Agricultural Finance Authority

The Authority will review financial statements and the Commissioner's report. The agenda includes reviewing FY25 budgets and several lease approvals.

• Review and Approval of FY25 Budgets
• Lease approvals for Woodworth Airport, Evonik, Tetrahedra LLC, Civil Service, and LDAF
• Update on SLRF Grain Bin Project
• Update on RFSI Grant
• Update on Waste Management Lease

The board approved the FY25 budgets for LAFA, Lacassine, and Indian Creek. Members authorized several new and renewed lease agreements for the Lacassine Industrial Park, Woodworth Airport, and state agencies. The board also updated purchasing thresholds and loan terms for the South Louisiana Rail Facility.

• Approved FY25 budgets for LAFA, Lacassine, and Indian Creek (Unanimous)
• Authorized lease renewals at Woodworth Airport for four individuals (Unanimous)
• Authorized new lease negotiations with Evonik Corporation and Tetrahedra, LLC for Lacassine Industrial Park (Unanimous)
• Authorized lease renewals with Department of Civil Service and LDAF (Unanimous)
• Adopted resolution allowing Chairman and Director to approve purchases up to $250,000 (Unanimous)
• Amended SLRF $3MM loan agreement to begin interest-only payments July 1, 2024
• Approved Lacassine projects: South Gate rail crossing, Bagasse Building roof repair, Quanta fence, and Workshop concrete busting
• Approved purchase of a manlift based on lowest or best quality quote (Unanimous)

Agricultural Finance Authority

The Louisiana Agricultural Finance Authority will hold a regular meeting to elect a chair and vice-chair, approve prior meeting minutes, and review financial statements. The board will receive updates on several projects, including the Bob Odom Loop Paving Project and the SLRF Grain Bin Project, and discuss new business items such as a lease with Waste Management for Lacassine and a board leasing policy. Public comments will be taken at the start and end of the meeting.

The board elected Commissioner Mike Strain as chair and Ronald Petree as vice chair. Members approved a leasing policy for the chairman and authorized loan amendments for the SLRF project. The board also approved land lease negotiations for Waste Management and Lacassine Operating Company.

• Approved minutes from October 13, 2023, meeting (Unanimous)
• Accepted financial statements (Unanimous)
• Elected Commissioner Mike Strain as chairman (Acclamation)
• Elected Ronald Petree as vice chairman (Acclamation)
• Requested staff seek additional proposals for a new program administrative system (Unanimous)
• Authorized amendment to $3M SLRF loan agreement for reimbursement up to $550,000 (Unanimous)
• Authorized chairman to negotiate land lease with Waste Management at Lacassine Industrial Park (Unanimous)
• Authorized chairman to negotiate lease expansion with Lacassine Operating Company (Unanimous)