The businessreport.com says new manufacturing facilities and plant expansion projects totaling upwards of $60 billion are planned through 2016 in the Baton Rouge area, requiring an uptick in housing demands. Al Bargas of Associated Builders and Contractors Pelican Chapter says, “The workforce is expected to increase by some 35,000 people, and a lot of those folks will be traveling from different parts of the country and the world. The need will be met first by utilizing existing housing and some sort of ‘man camps’ set up by companies. But as it grows, housing is going to be on the short end.”

Some 54,000 workers will be needed in the Lake Charles area where the South African company, Sasol Ltd., will build an ethane cracker and gas-to-liquids facility near Westlake. Ground was broken last month on $70 million Pelican Lodge, a temporary modular housing development owned by the Port of Lake Charles that could be home to 4,000 workers. Plans include recreational facilities and double-decker buses to transport the workers. The Port will receive a dollar-a-day for worker which will generate $1.46 million a year in revenue. Officials expect private developers will take care of single-family homes and apartments as needed, MHProNews has learned, but additional workforce accommodations to house 20,000 total may be necessary when demand peaks.

(Photo credit: Homark Homes–modular bunkhouses)