Avondale Global Gateway (AGG) has been named an inaugural recipient of funding through Louisiana Economic Development's FastSites program, with the investment earmarked for a major expansion of the Jefferson Parish site's rail infrastructure.
The FastSites program is a statewide initiative designed to accelerate site readiness and position Louisiana to attract large-scale industrial projects. AGG is one of 19 sites across 16 parishes selected in the program's inaugural round, which Gov. Jeff Landry described as the largest coordinated site investment effort in state history. The program is backed by a $150 million Site Investment and Infrastructure Fund established under Act 365 of the 2025 Regular Legislative Session and is structured as a revolving capital program — as sites are sold or leased, the state recovers its investment and redeploys the funds into future projects.
AGG, which operates in partnership with the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO), was among those recognized at the program's official launch on March 3 in Baton Rouge, La., where Adam Anderson, CEO of AGG parent company T. Parker Host, spoke alongside state leaders.
The funding breakdown for all the FastSites projects has not been released. "Each one is currently in the [Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA)] process, and we will announce each project with funding amounts and project details once the CEAs are finalized," a Louisiana Economic Development spokesperson told WorkBoat, noting that the CEAs are expected to be finalized within the next six months.
Proposed economic development projects are required to begin construction activities within nine months of CEA execution, according to the Louisiana Economic Development website.
AGG said in a press release that the FastSites investment will finance the expansion of on-site rail capacity, including an enhanced Union Pacific connection and more than 30,000 feet of new track. When complete, the project will more than double annual rail throughput from just over 7,000 cars to more than 16,500, allowing the facility to process upward of 75 rail cars per day, the company said. The expansion is expected to support more than 1,300 jobs across tenants and operations.
Located at mile 108 on the Lower Mississippi River, AGG was once home to the Avondale Shipyard, which built naval and commercial vessels until its closure in 2014. The site has undergone a substantial turnaround since Host, a ship agency and terminal services provider, acquired the property in 2018. The site went from largely idle to now employing more than 600 workers across operations, tenants, and active construction. Four deepwater docks have been restored, infrastructure rebuilt, and environmental remediation completed.
Port of New Orleans Board Chairman Mike Thomas emphasized the broader regional significance of the FastSites investment. "Public investments that improve the readiness of maritime and logistics sites are critical to growing Louisiana's trade economy," he said. "Avondale Global Gateway is an important multimodal logistics hub within Port NOLA's jurisdiction, and infrastructure investments like this in Jefferson Parish strengthen our region's ability to drive economic opportunity."
Jefferson Parish Councilman Deano Bonano said the project advances the parish's standing as a freight hub. He said the expansion "will strengthen our transportation and freight network, attract new business, and create quality jobs for our residents while reinforcing the parish's role as a key gateway for global trade."
JEDCO President and CEO Jerry Bologna highlighted the site's competitive potential. "Avondale Global Gateway is one of the most valuable physical assets in the region, serving as a significant link to the rest of the world," Bologna said. "This work will enhance the site's competitiveness and support new private investment and job creation in Jefferson Parish."
Anderson pointed to the site's growing tenant base as the driving force behind the expansion. "Avondale's transformation proves that when infrastructure is ready, investment follows. The real story here is the caliber and diversity of businesses choosing to call Avondale home," he said. "This FastSites investment is the infrastructure catching up to that demand."
