06/22/2010
Criterion Catalysts & Technologies Holds Ribbon Cutting Ceremony At Expanded Flagship Manufacturing Facility
Port Allen facility now totals 80 direct jobs
after $350 million capital investment
Today, Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret
and representatives from Criterion Catalysts & Technologies
L.P. joined local business leaders and elected officials in Port
Allen, La., to hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for the company's
recently expanded flagship manufacturing facility.
Criterion first purchased the Port Allen site from Southern
Ionics Inc. in 2006. In 2008, LED awarded Criterion a
performance-based infrastructure financial assistance of $1.2
million from the Economic Development Award Program, or EDAP, to
help secure this major expansion. Originally slated to be completed
in late 2009, the project grew when Criterion decided to
concentrate more assets in the Port Allen facility.
Thanks to the recently completed expansion, which totaled more
than $350 million, Criterion's facility now provides 80 direct
jobs, up from 17 jobs. LED estimates that this expansion will
generate $10.7 million in new, state tax revenues and $1.5 million
in new, local tax revenues over the next 10 years, and create
approximately 336 new indirect jobs.
After conducting a global site selection process, Criterion
selected the Port Allen site for a variety of reasons, including
site logistics, workforce quality, the EDAP incentive, and local
and state support. The expansion was in part the result of
Criterion's decision to move existing operations at its Azusa,
Calif. facility to Port Allen, which offered the company better
production capacity and the ability to grow as an industry leader.
Criterion announced late last year that it planned to discontinue
operations at its Azusa facility.
"Today's announcement is yet another example of the success
we've had attracting business investment and jobs to Louisiana from
other states," said Gov. Bobby Jindal. "Indeed, this announcement
is another victory in our mission to attract more jobs into
Louisiana and reverse the decades-long trend of jobs leaving our
state. Since early 2008, leading companies have announced moves of
their headquarters or other significant operations to Louisiana
from a wide variety of states, including California, Colorado,
Georgia, Mississippi, Rhode Island, Virginia, Wisconsin, Illinois,
Oregon and Texas."
"Criterion's project represents yet one more example of
Louisiana's enhanced commitment to retaining and expanding the
companies that already do business in our state. Our state
continues to buck national economic trends," said Moret.
At the site, the company will produce hydroprocessing catalysts
that help refineries break down crude oil and remove heavy metals
for cleaner-burning fuels. The facility enables Criterion to meet
new requirements in catalyst production, while continuing to
provide customers with the most effective and cost-efficient
catalysts and technologies available.
"Sustainable, responsible and cost-efficient energy development
is the fundamental nature of the Criterion products and services,"
said Criterion Catalysts & Technologies Site General Manager
Louay Masarweh. "Here we will produce the catalysts for refiners
wanting to utilize processes that use fewer resources and are less
harmful to the environment."
About Criterion Catalysts &
Technologies L.P.
Headquartered in Houston, Criterion Catalysts & Technologies
is a wholly owned affiliate of CRI/Criterion Inc., which is part of
the Shell group of companies and a major supplier of refining and
petrochemical catalysts and processes. A leading provider of
hydroprocessing, reforming and specialty catalysts, Criterion
supplies total packages of catalysts, services and solutions for
the refining industry.
