Gov. John Bel Edwards and Aggreko Vice President of Operations Terry Dressel announced the company is expanding its New Iberia operations, creating 30 new direct jobs.
The Scotland company will retain 265 existing jobs, as well. Aggreko provides temporary solutions worldwide for power, heating, cooling, and oil-free compressed air.
Through the project, Aggreko will create 30 new direct jobs with an average annual salary of $65,000, plus benefits. In addition, Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in 30 new indirect jobs, for a total of 60 new jobs in Acadiana and surrounding regions.
“Louisiana is winning a strong complement of major new projects that are investing in our state for the first time, but our most important job is to secure the quality jobs and investment we already have in our state,” Edwards said. “By helping an innovative company like Aggreko grow, we are securing the livelihoods of hundreds of families in Louisiana. And we are indirectly helping Aggreko sustain the critical operations of many other industrial and service-sector customers who depend upon them for one-of-a-kind support services. This is a great growth and retention win for New Iberia and for our state.”
While serving as a mainstay throughout industrial and commercial sectors, Aggreko provides temporary power, heating, cooling and compressed-air services to refineries, oil and gas firms, manufacturing sites, major sporting events, and the utilities sector, including nuclear energy plants and wind farms. Strategic projects include providing mobile utility solutions to remote areas and to industrial sites undergoing major scheduled maintenance projects.
“With the New Iberia expansion, Aggreko will be able to better support customer needs both here in North America and globally,” Dressel said. “Part of this expansion will include a state-of-the-art remote operations center where our technical team will monitor fleets across the world. We are also centralizing our inside sales and call centers here in New Iberia to support our entire North American business. The new jobs we are creating will provide new career opportunities for people in the Acadiana area. Programs like the one offered by Louisiana Economic Development help support the health of local economies. The LED FastStart® program will help us build up our workforce to meet local business needs while helping individuals grow their careers and support their families. Workers win. The communities win. Everyone wins.”
“Aggreko’s great success and development speaks volumes,” Iberia Parish President M. Larry Richard said. “What better example of a business in Iberia Parish that is moving this parish forward through expanding its facilities, retaining employees while adding 30 new employees, and increasing the quality of life in our community. This is a great example of a local business, state government, local government and agencies working together to move Iberia Parish Forward.”
LED’s Business Expansion and Retention Group, or BERG, began discussing a potential project with the company in February 2017. To secure the project, LED offered Aggreko a competitive incentive package that includes the comprehensive workforce solutions of LED FastStart, the nation’s top-ranked state workforce development program. Aggreko will receive a performance-based, forgivable loan of $200,000 to offset the costs of building and equipment improvements, and the company is expected to utilize the state’s Quality Jobs Program.
