Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves two industrial development board pilot agreements after public Q&A
Summary
The Lef Parish Council approved two industrial development board pilot agreements — for Performance Food Group and Triple Sun Holdings — after public comment and extended council Q&A about tax impacts and local benefits. The pilot for PFG passed with one abstention; Triple Sun passed unanimously among present members.
After more than an hour of public comment and council questions, the Lef Parish Council approved two industrial development board (IDB) pilot agreements on April 14, 2026 that will allow lease‑and‑bond arrangements intended to spur local investment and job creation.
The council voted to acknowledge an IDB lease and bond issuance for Performance Food Group (PFG) and a separate lease/bond agreement for Triple Sun Holdings. Item 36 (PFG) passed with seven yays, zero nays, one abstention (Miss Chessel) and one absence (Mr. Adams). Item 37 (Triple Sun Holdings) passed 8 yays, zero nays, one absence.
Why it mattered: supporters, including the IDB chair Chad Shasso and community speakers, framed the pilots as tools to attract and retain businesses and diversify the local economy. Chad Shasso told the council the pilot approach receives support from Louisiana Economic Development and is designed to encourage new construction, investment, and job creation rather than simply transferring existing activity to another parish.
Key council concerns and responses: several council members probed the selection criteria, distribution of payments to taxing districts, and any exemptions. Councilman Perk said he’d done a rough estimate that PFG’s pilot agreement would result in roughly $1 million in payments over nine years (he characterized that as a back‑of‑envelope calculation). Assessor Wendy Tibido clarified that under the pilot the company’s inventory would be taxable (she stated inventory taxes are about $250,000 per year) and that personal property not conveyed with the property would not be exempt; she urged that oversight measures be observed.
Local perspectives: assessor Wendy Tibido and community speakers urged public oversight; Margarit(e) Irwin and others emphasized the need for diversified investment and the potential for jobs and sales tax revenue. Council members said the IDB evaluation and the documents in meeting packets contain the detailed criteria and that the council relies on the IDB’s review in making recommendations.
Next steps: the approved resolutions authorize the parish president to execute the applicable lease and bond documents and proceed with the IDB‑supported pilot arrangements. The council recorded the votes and directed that the packet materials serve as the record of criteria and terms.
