Letters: State’s investment will benefit more than Hyundai

A recent guest column published in The Advocate titled “Hyundai incentives would be better spent here at home,” expresses concern over the $600 million investment dedicated to the West Bank of Ascension Parish.
The column suggests that the taxpayer money is being sent to giant corporations to be “sunk into someone else’s pockets,” but the reality is that this investment is doing just what the author calls for — being spent at home. The state of Louisiana will provide about $440 million, while the remaining $160 million will come from Ascension Parish. The majority of these funds are dedicated to improvements to west Ascension’s road and energy infrastructure and a new sewer treatment facility. These upgrades will support projects like Hyundai’s Louisiana Steel Mill and ensure seamless connectivity for residents and businesses alike.
A new River Parishes Community College training facility located in the heart of Donaldsonville will also be built.
Other companies, such as Ascension Clean Energy, also have plans for development. CF Industries will be expanding on the west bank as well. These projects will bring more than $17 billion in new investments and thousands of high-paying jobs.
These jobs are precisely the opportunities that will shape the future of our youth and improve the quality of life for many families.
The new RPCC facility will serve as a critical link, equipping locals with the skills necessary to pursue life-changing job opportunities. Hyundai and the other multi-billion-dollar facilities investing in Ascension Parish’s River Plex Mega Park are the beginning of an economic revitalization and opportunities for residents in Modeste, Donaldsonville and the entire west bank. We must welcome the investment, opportunity, growth and the progress that will affect our future. Thank you, Louisiana and Ascension Parish.