ST. BERNARD PARISH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Rebecca MartinExecutive Director

100 Port Blvd., Suite 10Chalmette, Louisiana 70043

www.stbernardforward.orgr.martin@stbernardforward.org

Office:  504-277-4009Cell:  504-952-2233Fax:  504-277-4065

ST. BERNARD PARISH IS LOCATED IN THE SOUTHEASTERN PART OF LOUISIANA JUST FOUR MILES FROM DOWNTOWN NEW ORLEANS AND BORDERS ORLEANS AND PLAQUEMINES PARISHES. LARGELY SURROUNDED BY WATER AND MARSHLAND, ST. BERNARD INCLUDES 465 SQUARE MILES OF LAND AND BOASTS ONE OF THE LARGEST AND RICHEST WETLAND ECOSYSTEMS IN NORTH AMERICA. WILDLIFE, FISHERIES, AND AGRICULTURE HAVE ALWAYS INFLUENCED THE CULTURE OF OUR REGION, AND WITH THE GROWTH AND EXPANSION OF NEW ORLEANS, ST. BERNARD HAS COME TO DEVELOP A MAJOR INDUSTRIAL AND PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY, AS WELL AS INCREASED PORT, COMMERCIAL, AND RETAIL BUSINESSES. ST. BERNARD PARISH’S POPULATION IS CURRENTLY ESTIMATED AT 36,000 AND INCLUDES THE COMMUNITIES OF ARABI, CHALMETTE, MERAUX, VIOLET, CAERNARVON, CONTRERAS, DELACROIX ISLAND, HOPEDALE, KENILWORTH, POYDRAS, REGGIO, SEBASTOPOL, SHELL BEACH, TOCA, VERRET, AND YSCLOSKEY.

OVERVIEW

PROFILE SUMMARY

Demographic Estimates* U.S. Census Bureau, **2005-2009 American Community Survey

Population (2010 Estimate)* 35,897

Persons 18 years and over, 2009** 73.9%

Persons 65 years and older, 2009** 11.1%

Male Persons, 2009** 48.7%

Female Persons, 2009** 51.3%

St. Bernard Parish turned in the strongest rate of growth statewide from mid-2008 to mid-2009. Its mid-2009 estimate of 40,655 residents marks a boost of nearly 3,000 people since mid-2008, an 8 percent increase.

PROFILE SUMMARY

Housing Characteristics* U.S. Census Bureau, **2005-2009 American Community Survey

Total Housing Units* 17,220

Owner-Occupied Housing Units** 8,368

Renter-Occupied Housing Units** 4,625

Median Household Income (2008)* $39,106

Racial CompositionU.S. Census Bureau, 2010

Caucasian 79.3%

African American 15.7%

Latino 8.6%

Asian 2.1%

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.9%

2010 Census -- St. Bernard population fell by 47% from 2000 (due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005)

St. Bernard Parish School Superintendent, Doris Voitier, 2007 recipient of the JFK Profiles In Courage Award, received at the JFK Presidential Library

Universal 4-Year Old Program

11 Primary & Secondary Schools

Full Cultural Arts and Athletic Programs at Each School

All 2nd Graders Learn to Swim

21st Century Technology in Every Classroom

Maumus Center--under design—Katrina Museum, Planetarium, Interactive Science Exhibits focusing on study of storm surge, wetlands, and hurricanes

Full Districts Accreditation with Southern Association of Colleges & Schools (SACS)

3 Private Schools

 

PUBLIC EDUCATION

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION

St. Bernard Parish Public Schools experienced outstanding academic growth since Hurricane Katrina. St. Bernard was the only school district in Louisiana to see all of its schools meet their state required growth targets. The district was also 1st in the increase of the percentage of schools scoring a performance score of 100 or more and experienced the 3rd highest academic growth rate among all state public school districts.

% Increase in District Performance Scores from 2009 to 2010 – Surrounding Parishes

St. Bernard (3rd highest in state)

6.1 points

St. Tammany 0.1 points

St. Charles 0.6 points

St. John 4.7 points

CHALMETTE HIGH SCHOOL

9th Grade Academy – achieving a 95% graduation rate

School Based Health Care Center—named among best in state

Nationally Recognized Pre-Engineering Program

Comprehensive Cultural Arts and Athletic Programs

Honors Classes/Advanced Placement Courses and Dual Enrollment with Nunez Community College (approx 500 students per semester)

2010—Approximately 50% of Graduates Received TOPS Scholarships and Received over $4 million in Academic Scholarships

Industry Based Certifications including Pharmacy Tech

High School Program aimed at restoring wetlands, storm surge protection

CHALMETTE HIGH SCHOOLIn 2009 & 2010 U.S. News and World Report CHS was named one of America’s best high schools based on test scores and other factors. CHS earned a bronze medal as one of 39 schools in Louisiana to make the list, and one of only 4 in the state's largest football classification, 5A.

State-of-the-Art Physical Fitness Equipment and Programs –synthetic turf installed on playing field

350 Seat Cultural Arts Center Theater

2 Libraries—Chalmette High School and Parish Public Library

NUNEZ COMMUNITY COLLEGE1 of 7 in the stateApprox 2000 students per semester

Dual Enrollments with Chalmette High (approx 500 students per semester)

Articulation agreements & concurrent enrollment with area four-year institutions

NUNEZ COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Industrial Tech Program (PTECH) first of its kind accredited by Association of Technical Management & Applied Engineering (ATMAE—formerly NAIT)

Conoco Philips—750 applicants—150 interviewed—10 of 15 hired were Nunez PTEC H Graduates

State –of-the-Art Labs—Nursing, Biology, Welding, HVAC, Electrical, and Culinary Arts

Joint Program with Tulane University—Distillation Towers (PTECH)

• Medical Services• Public Safety• Housing • Recreation• Tourism and Culture

QUALITY OF LIFE

MEDICAL SERVICES

St. Bernard Parish Hospital Services District

40 Bed Hospital and 40,000 sq ft Medical Office Complex (completion early 2012)

All funds secured by State & Federal Grants

PUBLIC SAFETY

St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s OfficeSt. Bernard Parish boast the safest, low crime, community in the State of Louisiana (according to Neighborhood Scout a national Realtor relocation advisor)

St. Bernard Parish Fire Department State of the Art Fire Stations – All stations rebuilt since Hurricane Katrina

HOUSINGSt. Bernard provides housing opportunities from moderate to upscale development.

St. Bernard boasts the most affordable home market in Metropolitan New Orleans

Average house cost St. Bernard is $102,000 (1300-1500 sq ft 50’ X 100’ lot)

Average Cost of 2500-

3500 sq ft $250,000

RECREATIONVal-Riess ParkAll new facilities—bike trails along levees, State of the Art Tournament Fields for soccer, football, baseball

Summer Activities for non sport participating children available

TOURISM AND CULTURE• We are 15 minutes from downtown New Orleans!• Chalmette Battlefield & National Cemetery • St. Bernard State Park – fishing, hiking,

swimming, camping• Batture over looking the Mississippi River • Redfish Cup• Los Islenos – Original Settlement of St. Bernard

Parish• New Farmer’s Market located in Historic Arabi• New Tourism Office and Tourist Center

ST. BERNARD PARISH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

ST. BERNARD PORT – HOME OF ACRES OF POTENTIAL INDUSTRIAL ACCESS TO MISSISSIPPI RIVER, RAIL & TRUCK.

INDUSTRIAL : MURPHY OF USA , CHALMETTE REFINING, LLC, AMSTAR SUGAR REFINERY