A ground breaking ceremony was held Wednesday in the River Parishes, this one announcing a petroleum liquids storage terminal construction project promising 70 new jobs for the area.

The news this week involved Mount Airy and Pin Oak Terminals and served as yet another reminder of what a recruitment tool the Mississippi River and a well run Port of South Louisiana can be when teamed together.

The property Pin Oak is constructing its oil terminal is located within the jurisdiction of the Port of South Louisiana.

Port Executive Director Paul Aucoin said the Port’s jurisdiction is 54 miles of Mississippi River taking in St. Charles, St. John the Baptist and St. James Parishes.

“The Port, along with the state and the Parish played a large role in assisting them choose the location,” Aucoin said. “It’s economic development, and economic development is jobs. That’s what it’s all about.”

Jobs are always what it’s about. Ask any of the people running for parish president across the Rivers Parishes today.

Can this region attract new businesses? Then, can local government provide systems that allow area residents to get those jobs?

It doesn’t do us any good if someone drives in from Hammond, Kenner or Houma to squat on a $70,000-a-year job in St. John Parish, only to drive home when the shift is over and never even buy gas locally.

Aucoin said he is sure Pin Oak officials chose Mount Airy because the site fit their needs. Yet, he did mention the great and “very productive” workforce in Louisiana.

“There is also the Mississippi River, which I consider the greatest natural resource in the state of Louisiana, if not the United States,” he said.

Taking the natural resource and wonderful Port as a given, we need the jobs to stay in local hands.

Pin Oak Terminals is just part of it. Pick a parish and pick a country. From China to Germany, they’ve all announced new projects in the River Parishes.

Making sure the jobs go to River Region residents would be the real news.