|
|
||||||||
ACADIANA OFFICIALS PRAISE STATE SUPPORT OF MAJOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT FOR AREA FROGLAND, USA GAINS GO ZONE BOND FINANCING OKAY
Frogland, USA, a major family entertainment complex development to be located off I-10 in Rayne, is set to go. The State Bond Commission gave initial approval of up to $32 million in Gulf Opportunity Zone Bond financing for the development. The low-interest bond financing enables the economic development effort to proceed. Congress set up the bond program after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to encourage investment in the storm-impacted areas to aid in recovery and to help build the economy of the region. "Hard work does indeed pay off," District 26 State Senator Nick Gautreaux (D-Meaux) said. "All of us involved in this effort - the Acadiana legislative delegation, our delegation in Washington, local officials, members of the State Bond Commission, Governor Blanco and her administration, and the developers - worked long and hard to help make Frogland, USA a reality. It has truly been a cooperative regional and state effort to move forward with this project that will mean so much not only to Rayne, but the entire Acadiana region." District 42 State Representative Gil Pinac (D-Crowley), who worked with Sen. Gautreaux on the project, agrees. "Nick and I have been working together for years to land a project of this magnitude for the Acadiana area. It is indeed gratifying to see our efforts, working with all of the principals involved, pay off," Rep. Pinac said. The 115 acre Frogland, USA family entertainment complex will operate year-round and will include both indoor and outdoor activities with a water park, go-karts, batting cages, miniature golf courses, sporting activities, an amphitheater and more. The main multi-purpose building will be available for conferences and special events. Long-term plans for the development involve the addition of a RV park, hotels, a condo development, restaurants and other ancillary businesses. The development is expected to bring at least 500,000 visitors to the area each year, creating 60 permanent jobs and over 300 part-time positions. For Rayne Mayor James "Jimbo" Petitjean the possibilities growing out of the initial Frogland, USA development are far-reaching and well worth the months of effort to get the state support of the project. "It has been a long four month process to get where we are today. We put a good team together, taking a regional approach to sell this project to state officials and it worked," Mayor Petitjean said. "This will be the largest family entertainment complex in the state that will provide job opportunities and economic benefits to the entire Acadiana region. This kind of project is exactly what the Gulf Opportunity Zone Bond program is all about and it is particularly important to rural Acadiana." The State Bond Commission is expected to finalize action on the Gulf Opportunity Zone Bond financing for Frogland, USA in November. For information on this and any other important issue, citizens can go to http://senate.la.gov/GautreauxN/. -30- |
||||||||
|
|
||||||||
