News & Events

Dr. Orgeron earned his medical degree at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport. He completed his residency at the LSU New Orleans Adult Psychiatry Program. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux where he graduated Summa Cum Laude.

As a Psychiatrist, Dr. Orgeron provides treatment for depression, anxiety, emotional effects of a medical illness or life change and addictive disorders just to name a few.

Dr. Orgeron joins Dr. Michael Blanchard at Ochsner St. Anne Hospital. He is now accepting new patients. To learn more about Ochsner, please visit www.ochsner.org/info. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment, please visit Ochsner.org/schedule or call 985-537-2666.

Danos Announces Field and Staff Employees of the Year

U.S. Coast Guard Awards Four More Fast Response Cutters to Bollinger Shipyards

Thibodaux Regional Welcomes Dr. Katie Flower, Urologist, to the Medical Staff

FLETCHER NAMED A “2020 GREAT COLLEGE TO WORK FOR”

Ochsner St. Anne Welcomes Katherine Ayo-Rayburn, MD, OB/GYN to Medical Staff

RACELAND – Ochsner St. Anne announced Katherine Ayo-Rayburn, MD, OB/GYN has joined the hospital’s medical staff.

Dr. Ayo-Rayburn earned her medical degree at the American University of the Caribbean in Cupecoy, St. Maarten, and completed her residency at the Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology in Indianapolis. She holds a bachelor’s degree in basic sciences from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

As an OB/GYN, Dr. Ayo-Rayburn cares for conditions such as pregnancy, endometriosis, incontinence, ovarian cysts and menopause, just to name a few. She also specializes in gynecological surgery, including abdominal surgery, minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery, and hysterectomy.

Dr. Ayo-Rayburn is a member of the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists and the American Medical Association.

Dr. Ayo-Rayburn will practice at multiple locations including St. Charles Parish Hospital in Luling, Ochsner Women’s Health Center in Raceland, and Ochsner Specialty Health Center in Cut Off, Louisiana. She is now accepting new patients. To learn more about Ochsner, please visit www.ochsner.org/info. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment, please visit Ochsner.org/schedule or call 985-537-3211.

Gov. Edwards Outlines COVID-19 Restrictions as Louisiana Moves Cautiously into Phase 3 Until October 9

$135 Million Federal Transportation Grant to be Awarded for LA 1 Improvement Project

COVID-19 Response:

On March 6, President Trump signed the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act into law. The bill provided $8.3 billion in emergency supplemental appropriations for federal, state, and local responses to the Coronavirus.
H.R. 6201 – the second Coronavirus bill – was signed into law by President Trump on March 18th. This bill requires free access to coronavirus testing, ensuring there are no cost barriers to these tests. It also included $1.2 billion to help cover the costs of testing, including $142 million to directly help our servicemembers and veterans.
The CARES Act – the third Coronavirus bill – was signed into law by President Trump on March 27th. This package will provide further assistance to our economy, including direct relief payments to most American taxpayers.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) How to prepare and protect yourself. What to do if you think you are sick.
Visit the Louisiana Department of Health website for Louisiana COVID-19 information.
SBA Loan Applications Are Now Open Statewide: APPLY NOW. You may also visit the SBA’s Coronavirus website for additional small business guidance and loan resources.
Please visit the Louisiana Workforce Commission website for COVID-19 updates and unemployment information.
Visit the IRS website for information on Coronavirus Tax Relief.
Get Coronavirus Resources for Business from LABI, the Louisiana Association of Business & Industry.
From the Office of the Governor of Louisiana, CLICK HERE for more information and updates on the Coronavirus.
Visit the Lafourche Parish Government website for COVID-19 Updates.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2020
kevin.roig@mail.house.gov

Graves Urges Small Businesses to Fill Out a Paycheck Protection Program Application NOW

Small businesses can apply for and receive loans starting April 3rd.

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Garret Graves (South Louisiana) announced today that small businesses can now fill out an application to the Paycheck Protection Program for a forgivable loan to pay their employees during the COVID-19 crisis. Small businesses and sole proprietorships can apply for and receive loans to cover their payroll and other certain expenses through existing SBA lenders beginning on April 3, 2020. Graves urges borrowers to apply as soon as possible because the program is subject to a funding cap.

For an overview of the program CLICK HERE
If you’re a lender, more information can be found HERE
If you’re a borrower, more information can be found HERE
The application for borrowers can be found HERE

“I commend Sec. Mnuchin and the SBA for taking quick action to implement this program and get information out to the public – this is the kind of performance that people deserve and should expect from their government during a crisis. Louisiana small businesses, independent contractors, self-employed and non-profits need to also act quickly to review and evaluate the program and, if it could benefit them and their workforce, get to preparing their applications,” said Graves. “Louisiana is no stranger to disasters, and know how to pull together in times of crisis. We will pull through this together, and the assistance from the CARES Act will help us emerge stronger.”

About the program. The Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), created through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, authorizes up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses to pay their employees during the COVID-19 crisis. All loan terms will be the same for everyone.

The loan amounts will be forgiven as long as:

The loan proceeds are used to cover payroll costs, and most mortgage interest, rent, and utility costs over the 8 week period after the loan is made; and
Employee and compensation levels are maintained.

Payroll costs are capped at $100,000 on an annualized basis for each employee. Due to likely high subscription, it is anticipated that not more than 25% of the forgiven amount may be for non-payroll costs.

Loan payments will be deferred for 6 months.

When can I apply?

Starting April 3, 2020, small businesses and sole proprietorships can apply for and receive loans to cover their payroll and other certain expenses through existing SBA lenders.
Starting April 10, 2020, independent contractors and self-employed individuals can apply for and receive loans to cover their payroll and other certain expenses through existing SBA lenders.
Other regulated lenders will be available to make these loans as soon as they are approved and enrolled in the program.

Where can I apply? You can apply through any existing SBA lender or through any federally insured depository institution, federally insured credit union, and Farm Credit System institution that is participating. Other regulated lenders will be available to make these loans once they are approved and enrolled in the program. You should consult with your local lender as to whether it is participating. Visit www.sba.gov for a list of SBA lenders.

The Paycheck Protection Program is implemented by the Small Business Administration with support from the Department of the Treasury.

Also today: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) published more guidance to provide information to employees and employers about how each will be able to take advantage of the protections and relief offered by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) when it goes into effect on April 1, 2020. Learn more HERE.

Louisianans can start or reopen a claim for unemployment insurance HERE or by calling 1-866-783-5567.

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Gov. Edwards Issues Statewide Stay at Home Order to Further Fight the Spread of COVID-19 in Louisiana

OTHER ORDERS FROM THE GOVERNOR:

Gov. Edwards has issued a number of orders designed to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in Louisiana and flatten the curve. They are:

March 11: Original declaration of Public Health Emergency, restrictions
March 13: Transportation, health care, administrative
March 14: Restrictions on establishments, closures, legal deadlines
March 19: Education, health care, administrative

In addition, Gov. Edwards issued a proclamation on March 13 moving Louisiana’s elections, which can be found here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 19, 2020

As originally reported by the Office of the Governor:

GOV. EDWARDS: ALL LOUISIANA PARISHES ELIGIBLE FOR COVID-19 BUSINESS AID

SBA loans of up to $2 million will aid Louisiana’s more than 440,000 small businesses

BATON ROUGE, LA — Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced that small businesses in all 64 Louisiana parishes will have access to federal Small Business Administration disaster aid in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza confirmed that Louisiana’s more than 440,000 small business are eligible to apply for low-interest federal disaster loans, which will be made available to eligible firms suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus.

“COVID-19 is a unique crisis affecting all walks of life, and that means Louisiana’s small business community will continue to be heavily impacted by disruptions to their operations,” Gov. Edwards said. “We are pleased to work with SBA and the federal government in providing this critical working capital to our small business owners who are suffering from the necessary measures installed due to the Coronavirus. Our hope is that these SBA disaster loans will be an important part of sustaining their businesses and providing support to their employees who make up over half of Louisiana’s private-sector workforce.”

Impacted small businesses may apply for up to $2 million in working capital to pay for fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the COVID-19 disaster. Loan terms (3.75 percent interest rate for small businesses; 2.75 percent for nonprofits) may be extended up to 30 years to keep payments affordable.

To get started immediately, visit SBA.gov/Disaster. SBA offers a three-step process for disaster loans explained here.
Louisiana Economic Development also is offering COVID-19: Business Resources, an online guide to assistance available for impacted businesses. Look for updates to the guide at OpportunityLouisiana.com.

“LED continues to monitor business conditions throughout Louisiana and we are identifying every possible avenue of support for our businesses, large and small, so that we can help them navigate the unique challenges of COVID-19,” LED Secretary Don Pierson said. “We are grateful to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza and Gov. Edwards for securing this critical SBA disaster assistance as an important part of our recovery and sustainability efforts.”

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GREATER LAFOURCHE PORT COMMISSION

State of the Port Newsletter

The Greater Lafourche Port Commission is excited to launch our latest venture, an informative quarterly newsletter, that features a State of the Port address, a Commissioner Spotlight, and a Feature Story showcasing a current GLPC project.

We welcome you to open the newsletters linked below to read more about who we are and what we do each and every day.

2020 Q1, Volume 01 – State of the Port

GeauxPass

A Parishwide Comprehensive Resiliency Plan

The Comprehensive Resiliency Plan was adopted by Lafourche Parish Council on April 8, 2014.

The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014

CLICK HERE to review of copy of the Amendment.

lafourchechamber.com

Event Calendar

UPCOMING EVENTS