Historic Purchase Agreement to Benefit Port Fourchon and Community at Large

Thad Angelloz • February 9, 2023

Photo: GLPC Board President Chuckie Cheramie (center right) is joined by Tom Durel, President of Caillouet Land (center left), Jim Caillouet (left), and GLPC Executive Director Chett Chiasson (right) for the official purchase agreement signing.


CUT OFF, LA - The Greater Lafourche Port Commission, Caillouet Land, LLC, and the Caillouet family announced today they have entered into a purchase agreement which will result in the Port Commission purchasing over 850 acres of land south of Leeville, most notably including all Caillouet-owned industrial property in Port Fourchon.



According to GLPC Executive Director Chett Chiasson, the $36.7 million purchase will bring an immediate $1.4 million annual net benefit when considering yearly rent savings and new rent collections.


“More than anything else, on behalf of the Commissioners and myself, I want to thank the Caillouet family for being so supportive of Port Fourchon through the years,” Chiasson said. “Both parties gave this agreement great thought, and we mutually felt this was the best way forward for Port Fourchon as we embark on an ambitious future of growth and tremendous promise.”


GLPC Board President Chuckie Cheramie added, “This is a great day for the port and this area in general. This will truly be a beneficial deal that will have a positive impact on our area starting today and for many years to come.”


The purchase will include unrestricted access to Fourchon Island, paving the way for construction of a new Fourchon Bridge, and will leave the Port Commission as the exclusive manager of all industrial property situated within Port Fourchon.


The new Fourchon Bridge will connect Port Fourchon with the nearly 1000-acre Fourchon Island project, which will provide more expansive industrial access to the Gulf of Mexico, increasing harbor depths to accommodate larger vessels, rigs, platforms, and a burgeoning offshore wind energy marketplace.


“Due to the financial discipline and keen insight of our Board of Commissioners, the stage was set for this moment in time,” Chiasson said. “We have continued to budget conservatively each year, putting us in the financial position to make this investment in our community. This practice has allowed us to weather difficult times. In addition to accommodating requests for short-term rental adjustments in order to maintain the services offered by our tenants, we have been able to strategically leverage our funds into better grant-matching opportunities and, ultimately, this significant land acquisition which benefits Port Fourchon and our entire region.”


The land being purchased has been owned by the Caillouet Family since 1895. In 1962, the family donated about seven acres of land to improve navigation in Bayou Lafourche. A year later, an additional 160 acres was donated by the family to enable the creation of Port Fourchon.


The sale, which is expected to close within the next several months, will leave the Caillouet family with about 165 acres in the vicinity of Fourchon Beach that are intended to be donated to the State of Louisiana for the creation of a state park. With the construction of the new Fourchon Bridge, the park will provide open space and recreational areas for public enjoyment. The funding mechanism and land acceptance for the proposed Caillouet-Fourchon State Park will be put before the Louisiana Legislature for consideration in its upcoming session, and the parties anticipate finalizing the donation later this year.


“The generosity of the Caillouet family’s planned donation of this land to potentially create Louisiana’s 22nd state park will provide people with additional options for exploring our Louisiana coastline. While the planning process is still underway, this area could prove beneficial to families looking for a fishing excursion or just simply a beautiful place to camp along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser.


Tom Durel, President of Caillouet Land added, “Through these actions the Caillouet Family expresses appreciation to the men and women of lower Lafourche who over the years have helped preserve and make Fourchon into the major economic enterprise it is. The Caillouet-Fourchon State Park will celebrate their side-by-side achievements of conservation and industry."


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By Thad Angelloz July 9, 2025
Greater Lafourche Port Commission Acquires 743-Acre Tract from the State of Louisiana to Support Argent LNG Project Expansion PORT FOURCHON, LA – At its monthly board meeting on July 9, the Greater Lafourche Port Commission announced it approved the payment and acquisition of a 743-acre tract from the State of Louisiana , paving the way for the expansion of Argent LNG’s landmark liquefied natural gas export development in Port Fourchon . With the completion of this deal, Argent LNG has added the additional acres to its project, bringing the project’s total footprint to approximately 900 acres. The expanded site provides the scale and flexibility to optimize facility design, enhance logistics efficiency, and support future phases of growth as global LNG demand accelerates. “This transaction represents a major milestone in our ongoing mission to grow Port Fourchon as the Gulf of America’s hub for energy innovation and logistics excellence,” GLPC Executive Director Chett Chiasson said. “By securing this tract, our Board of Commissioners has not only positioned Argent LNG for long-term success but created the foundation for decades of investment and job creation for Lafourche Parish and our region. Port Fourchon has always been the place where big energy ideas become reality, and this project is no exception.” Argent LNG’s project, which is engineered to deliver up to 25 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of lower-carbon LNG, is designed around a modular execution model that accelerates construction timelines, reduces capital expenditures, and lowers operational costs. With the expanded lease area, Argent LNG will be able to maximize operational efficiency, integrate additional storage and process infrastructure, and build the flexibility to scale production capacity over time. “Location is everything when it comes to developing LNG infrastructure that can compete on cost, schedule, and reliability,” said Jonathan Bass , Chief Executive Officer of Argent LNG. “Port Fourchon offers unmatched deepwater access, proximity to offshore and onshore energy services, and a community of stakeholders who understand how to execute at scale. Adding this acreage to our lease brings our project to approximately 900 acres and gives us the room to fully realize our vision of a world-class facility built faster and smarter—and to deliver reliable, lower-carbon energy to customers worldwide.” The acquisition and lease expansion mark the latest step in a shared commitment between Argent LNG, the Greater Lafourche Port Commission, and the State of Louisiana to add and LNG export component to Fourchon’s economic engine that continues to support local employment and diversification of energy markets. Development of the Argent LNG project will continue with permitting, engineering, and early site work ahead of a formal project launch to the global industry at Gastech 2025 in Milan, Italy. For more information about Argent LNG or the Greater Lafourche Port Commission, please visit: www.portfourchon.com www.argentlng.co m About the Greater Lafourche Port Commission The Greater Lafourche Port Commission is the governing authority for Port Fourchon and South Lafourche Leonard Miller Jr. Airport. As America’s Energy Port, Port Fourchon services 100-percent of deepwater Gulf of America oil and gas activity and is a critical hub for domestic energy production, supply chain operations, and emergency response. About Argent LNG Argent LNG is an independent U.S.-based LNG developer dedicated to delivering cleaner, dependable, affordable energy to nations of shared values and emerging markets. Through modular innovation, operational agility, and a relentless focus on delivery, Argent LNG is committed to enabling global energy security while advancing the world’s decarbonization goals. ###
May 8, 2025
Cut Off, LA – The Greater Lafourche Port Commission and Port Fourchon are celebrating its 65th anniversary with an open house event on May 17 th at the GLPC Administrative Office, 16829 East Main Street. This free event will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and feature food, music, goodie bags (while supplies last) and a first-come, first-served opportunity to board buses for tours of the airport and port. Port Commission President John Melancon, Jr. said, “We are thrilled to celebrate this milestone with everyone. This is a celebration for all those who support us and the amazing things that happen at the GLPC and Port Fourchon every day!” While the previous two events focused on celebrating our tenants and users at both the airport and Port Fourchon , the grand finale will serve to salute the local community and those who support the GLPC and Port Fourchon in other ways. “Covid caused tons of disruptions and heartache for many out there, and we certainly were no different,” GLPC Executive Director Chett Chiasson said. “Fortunately, we get to make good on our 65th anniversary this year. Many individuals have played a pivotal role in helping us reach this important milestone, so this is definitely an event we are looking forward to as we welcome our community to visit us.” The open house is being hosted by the GLPC Board of Commissioners, which include Melancon, Jr. (President, Seat G), Kris Callais (Vice President, Seat I), Harris “Chuckie” Cheramie, Jr. (Secretary, Seat A), Rodney J. Gisclair, Jr. (Treasurer, Seat D), Jimmy “T-Jim” Lafont (Board Member, Seat C),Charles “Mike” Callais (Board Member, Seat H), Reggie Ledet (Board Member, Seat E), Thomas “Tom” Pitre III (Board Member, Seat B), and Chad Callais (Board Member, Seat F). The Greater Lafourche Port Commission, a political subdivision of the state of Louisiana, facilitates the economic growth of the communities in which it operates by maximizing the flow of trade and commerce. We do this to grow our economy and preserve our environment and heritage. The Port Commission exercises jurisdiction over the Tenth Ward of Lafourche Parish, south of the Intracoastal Waterway, including Port Fourchon and the South Lafourche Leonard Miller, Jr. Airport (GAO).
GLPC Elects Board Officers
By Thad Angelloz February 12, 2025
At the February 12, 2025 board meeting, the Greater Lafourche Port Commission (GLPC) board elected its officers. The board elected John “T-John” Melancon, Jr. as President, Kris Callais as Vice President, Harris “Chuckie” Cheramie, Jr. as Secretary, and Rodney Gisclair, Sr. as Treasurer.
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