The Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans approved more than $1.98 million worth of projects and repair work.

The Board awarded a $938,363 contract to Kenner-based Augustino Brothers Inc. for repairing Hurricane Katrina damage to the Port's Henry Clay Avenue and Milan Street Wharf sheds and a truck maintenance facility at 4001 France Road. The majority of the work consists of repairs to roofing, siding and doors and the project is eligible for insurance and FEMA reimbursement. New Orleans-based Hamp's Construction LLC was awarded an $822,700 contract, as well, to repair port-wide fencing and gate components damaged during Hurricane Katrina. Kenner-based Firetrol Protection Systems Inc. was also awarded a $220,000 contract to install a new dry pipe fire suppression system at the Lower Julia-Upper Poydras Street Wharf.

Board members also cleared the way for existing tenants to grow business at Port. A 10-year Foreign Trade Zone Operating Agreement with Halliburton Energy Services at 8000 Jourdan Road was approved at an annual fee of $20,000 to help the oilfield services firm procure new business opportunities. Also, 4.1 acres of Board-owned land at 4500 North Dorgenois Street was declared surplus and will be sold to Better Boxing Company Inc., which previously purchased a port-owned 80,000 square-foot warehouse located on the property. The Board also approved an agreement with Crosby Construction LLC to lease eight acres of land and a 68,000 square-foot building at 5601 France Road. Crosby plans to build modular homes on the site. The five-year agreement contains an option for an additional five-year period.

'The actions taken today reflect our aggressive approach to marketing the Port's facilities,' said Gary LaGrange, the Port's president and CEO. 'I am also encouraged by the fact we were able to hire local companies to perform the majority of the repair work we have awarded.'