Calcasieu Study Highlighted

Congressman Charles W. Boustany has issued a statement after the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District released a new study measuring the economic impact of the Calcasieu Ship Channel at the local, state and national levels.

The Calcasieu Ship Channel supports job creation and economic growth not just in Southwest Louisiana, but across our entire country,” Boustany said.

This vital artery of commerce is responsible for nearly half of the entire economy of Lake Charles, and supports 50,000 jobs across Louisiana. No one works harder to ensure our ports and waterways like the Calcasieu Ship Channel have the necessary resources to remain competitive. I’ll continue to support a world-class Louisiana water infrastructure driving economic development across our state.”

According to the study:

  • 31 percent of the jobs in the Lake Charles metropolitan area are dependent on the Channel;
  • The maritime industry makes up 46 percent of the economy of Lake Charles, totaling $14.8 billion in economic activity;
  • 50 percent of local tax revenue in the Lake Charles area is supported by the Calcasieu Ship Channel;
  • Over 80 percent of manufacturing jobs in the Lake Charles area are supported by the Calcasieu Ship Channel;
  • $1.3 billion in household income is generated outside of the Lake Charles economy because of the Channel;
  • The Calcasieu Ship Channel supports roughly 50,000 Louisiana jobs, or 2 percent of the entire state’s workforce;
  • The Channel generated $916 million in federal tax revenue in 2014, and will climb to $1.3 billion in federal tax revenue by 2023.

As a member of the Congressional Ports Caucus, Boustany is one of the leading voices in Congress advocating for a thriving American water infrastructure.

Boustany is the author of the Realize America’s Maritime Potential (RAMP) Act, legislation to ensure Congress fully funds dredging and harbor maintenance, and protects these funds from raids by congressional appropriators.

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