ST. BERNARD PARISH
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Rebecca Martin
Executive Director
100 Port Blvd., Suite 10
Chalmette, Louisiana 70043
www.stbernardforward.org
r.martin@stbernardforward.org
Office: 504-277-4009
Cell: 504-952-2233
Fax: 504-277-4065
OVERVIEW
ST. BERNARD PARISH IS LOCATED IN THE
SOUTHEASTERN PART OF LOUISIANA JUST FOUR
MILES FROM DOWNTOWN NEW ORLEANS AND
BORDERS
ORLEANS
AND
PLAQUEMINES
PARISHES. LARGELY SURROUNDED BY WATER
AND MARSHLAND, ST. BERNARD INCLUDES 465
SQUARE MILES OF LAND AND BOASTS ONE OF THE
LARGEST AND RICHEST WETLAND ECOSYSTEMS IN
NORTH AMERICA. WILDLIFE, FISHERIES, AND
AGRICULTURE HAVE ALWAYS INFLUENCED THE
CULTURE OF OUR REGION, AND WITH THE
GROWTH AND EXPANSION OF NEW ORLEANS, ST.
BERNARD HAS COME TO DEVELOP A MAJOR
INDUSTRIAL AND PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY, AS
WELL AS INCREASED PORT, COMMERCIAL, AND
RETAIL BUSINESSES.
ST. BERNARD PARISH’S
POPULATION IS CURRENTLY ESTIMATED AT 36,000
AND INCLUDES THE COMMUNITIES OF ARABI,
CHALMETTE, MERAUX, VIOLET, CAERNARVON,
CONTRERAS, DELACROIX ISLAND, HOPEDALE,
KENILWORTH, POYDRAS, REGGIO, SEBASTOPOL,
SHELL BEACH, TOCA, VERRET, AND YSCLOSKEY.
PROFILE SUMMARY
Demographic Estimates
* U.S. Census Bureau, **2005-2009 American Community Survey
Population (2010 Estimate)*
35,897
Persons 18 years and over, 2009**
73.9%
Persons 65 years and older, 2009**
11.1%
Male Persons, 2009**
48.7%
Female Persons, 2009**
51.3%
St. Bernard Parish turned in the strongest rate of growth
statewide from mid-2008 to mid-2009. Its mid-2009 estimate of
40,655 residents marks a boost of nearly 3,000 people since mid2008, an 8 percent increase.
PROFILE SUMMARY
Racial Composition
U.S. Census Bureau, 2010
Caucasian
79.3%
African American
15.7%
Latino
8.6%
Asian
2.1%
American Indian and Alaska Native
0.9%
Housing Characteristics
* U.S. Census Bureau, **2005-2009 American Community Survey
Total Housing Units*
17,220
Owner-Occupied Housing Units**
8,368
Renter-Occupied Housing Units**
4,625
Median Household Income (2008)*
$39,106
2010 Census -- St. Bernard population fell by 47% from 2000 (due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005)
PUBLIC EDUCATION
St. Bernard Parish School Superintendent, Doris Voitier,
2007 recipient of the JFK Profiles In Courage Award,
received at the JFK Presidential Library
Universal 4-Year Old Program
11 Primary & Secondary Schools
Full Cultural Arts and Athletic Programs at Each School
All 2nd Graders Learn to Swim
21st Century Technology in Every Classroom
Maumus Center--under design—Katrina Museum,
Planetarium, Interactive Science Exhibits focusing on
study of storm surge, wetlands, and hurricanes
Full Districts Accreditation with Southern Association of
Colleges & Schools (SACS)
3 Private Schools
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
St. Bernard Parish Public Schools experienced outstanding academic
growth since Hurricane Katrina. St. Bernard was the only school district in
Louisiana to see all of its schools meet their state required growth
targets. The district was also 1st in the increase of the percentage of
schools scoring a performance score of 100 or more and experienced the
3rd highest academic growth rate among all state public school districts.
% Increase in District Performance Scores from 2009 to 2010 – Surrounding
Parishes
St. Bernard (3rd highest in state) 6.1 points
St. Tammany
0.1 points
St. Charles
0.6 points
St. John
4.7 points
CHALMETTE HIGH SCHOOL
9th Grade Academy – achieving a 95% graduation rate
School Based Health Care Center—named among best in state
Nationally Recognized Pre-Engineering Program
Comprehensive Cultural Arts and Athletic Programs
Honors Classes/Advanced Placement Courses and Dual Enrollment with
Nunez Community College (approx 500 students per semester)
2010—Approximately 50% of Graduates Received TOPS Scholarships and
Received over $4 million in Academic Scholarships
Industry Based Certifications including Pharmacy Tech
High School Program aimed at restoring wetlands, storm surge
protection
CHALMETTE HIGH SCHOOL
In 2009 & 2010 U.S. News and World Report CHS was named one of America’s
best high schools based on test scores and other factors. CHS earned a bronze
medal as one of 39 schools in Louisiana to make the list, and one of only 4 in the
state's largest football classification, 5A.
State-of-the-Art Physical Fitness Equipment and Programs –synthetic turf installed
on playing field
350 Seat Cultural Arts Center Theater
2 Libraries—Chalmette High School and Parish Public Library
NUNEZ COMMUNITY COLLEGE
1 of 7 in the state
Approx 2000 students per semester
Dual Enrollments with Chalmette High (approx 500 students per
semester)
Articulation agreements & concurrent enrollment with area four-year
institutions
NUNEZ COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Industrial Tech Program (PTECH) first of its
kind accredited by Association of Technical
Management & Applied Engineering (ATMAE—
formerly NAIT)
Conoco Philips—750 applicants—150
interviewed—10 of 15 hired were Nunez PTEC H
Graduates
State –of-the-Art Labs—Nursing, Biology,
Welding, HVAC, Electrical, and Culinary Arts
Joint Program with Tulane University—
Distillation Towers (PTECH)
QUALITY OF LIFE
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Medical Services
Public Safety
Housing
Recreation
Tourism and Culture
MEDICAL SERVICES
St. Bernard Parish Hospital Services District
40 Bed Hospital and 40,000 sq ft Medical Office Complex
(completion early 2012)
All funds secured by State & Federal Grants
PUBLIC SAFETY
St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office
St. Bernard Parish boast the safest, low crime, community in the State of
Louisiana (according to Neighborhood Scout a national Realtor relocation advisor)
St. Bernard Parish Fire Department
State of the Art Fire Stations – All stations rebuilt since Hurricane
Katrina
HOUSING
St. Bernard provides housing opportunities from moderate to upscale
development.
St. Bernard boasts the most affordable home market in Metropolitan New
Orleans
Average house cost St. Bernard is $102,000 (1300-1500 sq ft 50’ X 100’ lot)
Average Cost of 2500-3500 sq ft
$250,000
RECREATION
Val-Riess Park
All new facilities—bike trails along
levees, State of the Art Tournament
Fields for soccer, football, baseball
Summer Activities for non sport
participating children available
TOURISM AND CULTURE
• We are 15 minutes from downtown New Orleans!
• Chalmette Battlefield & National Cemetery
• St. Bernard State Park – fishing, hiking, swimming,
camping
• Batture over looking the Mississippi River
• Redfish Cup
• Los Islenos – Original Settlement of St. Bernard Parish
• New Farmer’s Market located in Historic Arabi
• New Tourism Office and Tourist Center
ST. BERNARD PARISH
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ST. BERNARD PORT – HOME OF ACRES
OF POTENTIAL INDUSTRIAL ACCESS
TO MISSISSIPPI RIVER, RAIL & TRUCK.
INDUSTRIAL : MURPHY OF USA ,
CHALMETTE REFINING, LLC, AMSTAR
SUGAR REFINERY