COLAB

10/21/2026

Coastal restoration is economic infrastructure for the .

Chevron is partnering with Ducks Unlimited on three marsh terracing projects in Lafourche Parish near Golden Meadow and Port Fourchon. The work is designed to help protect Port Fourchon, the South Lafourche Levee System and LA 1, assets that support energy, maritime and logistics jobs across the Bayou Region.

Public and private partners, including Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and Lafourche Parish Government, are backing this effort. COLAB supports continued investment in coastal protection that keeps our ports, roads and workforce competitive.

🔗 https://www.ducks.org/newsroom/chevron-commits-500000-for-lafourche-parish--wetland-restoration-efforts

10/19/2026

Coastal protection investment is creating contracting opportunities for businesses across the .

The Coastal Connect: Business Matchmaking & Networking Expo, hosted by COLAB's Coastal Technical Assistance Center (CTAC) with CPRA, Louisiana APEX Accelerator, Louisiana Economic Development and the Coastal Center, brings prime contractors and subcontractors in the coastal and water management sector together. Open networking and structured matchmaking meetings help local firms build the partnerships that win work and grow the Bayou Region economy.

📅 Thursday, Nov. 19, 2026, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Nicholls Coastal Center, 426 NSU Ardoyne Drive, Thibodaux, LA 70301

Register here:
🔗 https://lnkd.in/eGNhKvRk

🌊🤝 Mark your calendars and join us for the Coastal Connect: Business Matchmaking & Networking Expo!

Hosted by the Coastal Technical Assistance Center (CTAC) in collaboration with CPRA, Louisiana APEX Accelerator, Louisiana Economic Development, COLAB, and the Coastal Center, this networking event connects prime contractors and subcontractors working in the coastal and water management sector.

Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in:
🤝 Open Networking - Connect with a variety of industry partners and vendors.
💼 Business Matchmaking - Engage in structured meetings with prime contractors looking for subcontracting partners.

📝 Registration: https://mbmgo.com/event/coastalconnect2026

10/15/2026

Congratulations to our partners at Nicholls State University on strong Niche 2027 rankings.

Nicholls ranks #3 for Best College Campus, #2 for Best College Dorms, #2 for Best College Food and #3 for Safest College Campus in Louisiana.

Quality higher education helps the attract students, build talent and keep skilled workers close to regional employers. As a workforce partner, COLAB sees the value of strong institutions like Nicholls in growing the Bayou Region economy.

10/13/2026

Recently, COLAB President and CEO Christy Zeringue joined ecosystem builders from across Louisiana at the StateChain Summit to discuss what it actually takes to move ideas into real economic activity. The conversation covered how emerging technologies grow into partnerships and investment and ultimately drive economic growth.

The Bayou Region has a role to play in Louisiana’s innovation story. Thank you to the StateChain Summit for organizing and for making sure we were part of the conversation.

10/12/2026

Chevron has been part of the Bayou Region for nearly 100 years, and their commitment to this community runs deep. Since 2023 alone, Chevron's business activities have contributed close to $1 billion to the Bayou Region economy and more than $5 million to local community organizations supporting education, economic development, food security and youth development.

That kind of investment does not just support an industry. It supports families, careers, and the next generation of Bayou Region leaders.

COLAB is proud to call Chevron a partner.

Watch their story here:

Hear as local leaders talk about the benefits of Chevron’s economic...

10/07/2026

The U.S. Department of the Interior plays an important role in the future of offshore oil and gas development in the Gulf of America, and ensuring the Bayou Region has a voice in those discussions is a priority for COLAB.

During COLAB’s recent Washington, D.C. fly-in with Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association (LMOGA) and other Bayou Region organizations, our delegation met with Department of the Interior officials to advocate for policies that strengthen the Gulf of America’s competitiveness and provide the certainty needed for long-term energy investment. During those discussions, DOI emphasized the importance of hearing directly from Bayou Region leaders about the issues affecting our communities and the offshore energy industry.

This week, that dialogue continued in Louisiana as Interior Secretary Doug Burgum met with industry and Bayou Region leaders to hear firsthand about the Gulf of America’s importance to our national security, energy security and regional economy.

The Bayou Region was well represented by COLAB Board Chairman and Port Fourchon Executive Director Chett Chiasson, Lafourche Parish President Mitch Orgeron, State Senator Michael "Big Mike" Fési, and State Representative Joseph A. Orgeron.

Thank you to LMOGA for organizing the meeting and for continuing to be a strong partner with COLAB in advancing the interests of Louisiana’s energy industry and the communities that support it.

This is what COLAB does: bringing people and organizations together to advocate for the industries and opportunities that matter most to the Bayou Region.

10/06/2026

Yesterday, COLAB COO Christian Bergeron visited Al Danos College of Business at Nicholls State University to speak with students at the Classroom to Career Student Conference. He talked about his career path, regional trends, and what it takes to build a career in South Louisiana.

One thing he left with the room: "People want our south Louisiana workforce around the world. We can solve a problem. We are resilient."

We could not agree more. Thank you to Nicholls for the invitation and to the students who showed up ready to learn.

10/02/2026

Last month, our COO Christian Bergeron spoke at the South Central Industrial Association about the Coastal Technical Assistance Center, or CTAC.

CTAC recently reached a major milestone. Customer contracts tied to coastal activity have now passed $1 billion.

CTAC connects Louisiana businesses with work in coastal restoration and protection. That means jobs and contracts for local contractors, engineers, manufacturers and service providers, all while supporting projects that protect the place we call home.

Thank you to SCIA for having us and for helping us share this story.

10/01/2026

Congratulations to Chett Chiasson on a great year as Chairman of the American Association of Port Authorities.

This week, Chett gave his opening address at the AAPA Annual Convention in New Orleans, the most attended convention in the association's history. It was a fitting close to his term leading ports from across the country.

Chett serves as Executive Director of the Greater Lafourche Port Commission and as Chair of the COLAB board. He knows better than anyone what Port Fourchon means to our region and to the nation. The port supports energy production, jobs and industries that reach far beyond the Bayou Region, and it's good to see that story told on a national stage.

Thank you, Chett, for representing Port Fourchon and the Bayou Region so well.

09/30/2026

The Navy just ordered 30 drone ships, and every one of them will be built in Louisiana.

Three shipbuilders will each build 10 medium unmanned surface vessels under the $1.2 billion deal, and two of those three are building right here in the . Galliano Marine Service is based in Houma, and Saronic Technologies is building in Franklin. HII is also working with Halimar Shipyard in Morgan City to build its vessels.

This is not new territory for us. Bayou Region shipyards have built vessels for our nation's defense for generations, and our workforce knows how to do it well. Now, that same skill and work ethic is helping build the next generation of the Navy's fleet.

We're proud to see our region leading the way. https://news.usni.org/2026/09/29/3-louisiana-shipyards-to-build-30-drone-ships-in-navy-musv-deal?fbclid=IwY2xjawUqBaFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mBWJyaWQRMUJJdmE0NmFoVDlRbkVVYmlzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe26MxGxUePopyNluX083o5AdzQlhC49mX_BkIhDwKprBpYct9Dq5QO_BeaeY_aem_BhkKeBFRdXmuF_q6eQVmxg

Three Louisiana-based shipyards will build unmanned surface vessels for the U.S. Navy following recent at-sea testing, the service announced Tuesday. The three companies – Saronic, HII and Galliano Marine Service – will each build 10 medium unmanned surface vessels, or MUSVs, at about $40 millio...