By CALEB FREY

Staff Reporter 

LAPLACE – Inching ever closer to what is hoped by many to be an international business catalyst, the Louisiana Airport Authority at their monthly meeting met with partners from the Canadian Commercial Corporation  to discuss in detail the steps that need to be taken to make their proposed airport/dock/rail/truck facility near Donaldsonville a reality.

LAA Chairman Glen Smith announced officially July 11 the signing of the cooperative endeavor agreement between LAA and the CCC, a wholly owned crown corporation of the Government of Canada.

The proposed 25,000-acre transportation center to be located just outside of Donaldsonville would involve four separate modes of travel including: roads, rail, water and air.

The Louisiana Transportation Center project is now officially moving into it analyses portion of the project to determine feasibility.

As stated in the cooperative agreement, &#8220The objective of the Scope of Services is to determine the viability of the LTC.

This information will assist in the forecasting of relevant airport specific economic benefits, including airport related job creation for the State to determine the full economic impact on an implemented LTC project.”

The LAA and CCC will have to conduct environmental and investment analyses on the project to determine its viability. LAA Executive Director Glenda Jeansonne said final reports on both analyses are due by February of 2007.

Smith is very excited that the project is moving along as he feels confident that the rewards reaped from LTC will be well worth the effort.

&#8220What better path to recovery and rebuilding than moving forward with this well thought out vision,” Smith said. &#8220The LTC will serve as an economic engine for the region, creating a magnet for economic development within Louisiana, attracting new businesses to the state and creating a new pool of jobs and sustainable employment.”

The LAA will hold their next meeting August 17 in the LAA office on Airline Highway.