Sulphur, Louisiana
Southern City Charm
A Community Celebrating Heritage and Embracing Progress
With a rich and storied history dating back to the 1800s, the city of Sulphur is a true gem in the heart of Southwest Louisiana. As a community shaped by sulfur mining and the burgeoning petrochemical industries of the late 1930s and early 1940s, Sulphur has evolved into a friendly and vibrant suburban community.
Mayor Mike Danahay highlights, “Sulphur is a wonderful place to live. We have all the amenities of suburban America, and we’re very proud of that fact. One of our greatest assets is the people themselves, the warmth of the people, the acceptance of the people here, and we’re just very blessed to have that.”
A Community Rooted in Industry and Togetherness
Sulphur’s development is intertwined with its industrial roots. “We’re a very close-knit community,” defines the mayor. “When people first settled here, they were from all over the country. So, they had to find that sense of community amongst themselves. And they did a very good job of doing so.” Generations have since called Sulphur home, contributing to a warm and welcoming atmosphere where neighbors know and support each other.
Parks and Recreation
With its beautifully maintained and extensive parks and recreational facilities, from passive parks and playgrounds to ballparks and aquatics, Sulphur offers a variety of amenities that cater to all ages and interests. The park system, although governed by a separate entity, works closely with the city to maintain and enhance these spaces.
“We are very proud of the park system we have here. It’s very diverse, and they do a very good job of keeping those amenities up to date,” says Danahay. “We attract many different events because of that, whether it be baseball, basketball, or swimming. People see these amenities here and they’re attracted to them, and of course, the park system tries to accommodate them at every turn.”
Laying the Groundwork for the Future
Recognizing deficiencies in the city’s water and wastewater systems, substantial investments have been made to upgrade these facilities. The efforts have paid off, with Sulphur’s water system receiving an A rating from the State Department of Health.
“We’re proud of that fact,” Danahay relays, adding that road improvements are also high on the agenda. A significant project involves the complete overhaul of a major thoroughfare, with an estimated investment of $15 to $20 million. Danahay notes that these infrastructural enhancements are essential for maintaining the city’s appeal and functionality, stating, “We’re going to continue to do these things that add to that quality of life.”
Balancing Industry and Innovation
Mayor Michael Danahay
When it comes to business attraction, Danahay boasts, “Southwest Louisiana is a great community to live in. And, of course, part of that is the amenities that come with that. So, we have to continue to bring those businesses here to Sulphur and encourage them to be prosperous. I tell them, “Your success is our success.”
Although the city faced not only the challenges posed by COVID, but also the impact of back-to-back hurricanes in 2020, Danahay conveys, “We haven’t fully recovered yet, but we’re seeing significant reinvestment back into the community, which is exciting.”
While Sulphur’s economy has long been driven by the petrochemical industry, the city is open for business and ready to attract diverse enterprises. Danahay emphasizes the importance of supporting diversity in industry and businesses, recognizing their collective contribution to the local economy. “The larger industries, the petrochemical industries in particular, have been the economic drivers in our community for generations now. And they continue to be,” he recounts. “But when people move here, they are looking for those small businesses, or the specialty shops, or the quaint restaurants and things of that nature.”
By streamlining bureaucratic processes and offering support, the city aims to create a thriving economic environment. “We are willing to work with them in any way possible, to meet those standards so that they can put their business here,” he stresses. “We will continue to do that because we know it adds to that quality of life for our citizens.”
Downtown Revitalization
Sulphur is on the path to revitalizing its downtown area, recently designated as a Downtown Cultural District. This state-recognized status paves the way for new funding and improvements, thanks to a partnership between the city government and local nonprofits. Although Danahay reports that this initiative is in its early stages, it has already led to enhancements like new trash cans and better signage. “The long-term plan is to create a master plan to be able to look at our downtown areas and bring that to fruition,” he explains.
Part of the enhancements will include streetscape and facade improvements, and the city is drawing inspiration from other cultural districts. “One of the things that we noticed is that they returned a lot of the storefronts to their original state, where they had been altered over some time,” details Danahay.
Sulphur aims to restore its storefronts, collaborating with building owners to achieve a cohesive look. “The nonprofit is made up of many business owners in the downtown areas. And they’re excited about it, they want to see those changes made as well,” he adds.
Moving forward, Downtown Sulphur is also exploring potential opportunities like the Main Street program offered through the state of Louisiana. “Once you create that cultural district, there’s a lot of doors that open to you,” acknowledges Danahay.
“So, we’re going to explore each one of them and Main Street is the first one. We’re working with them, and we’ll continue to work with them to take advantage of all the programs that they offer.”
These downtown revitalization efforts are also supported by partnerships with entities like the Southwest Louisiana and the West Calcasieu Chambers of Commerce. These collaborations ensure the city remains a key player in regional development. “That’s one of the things about being associated with each other, as close as we are, whenever there’s a hint of something that’s being proposed, the city’s involved, the chambers are involved and we work very closely with them to be able to provide anything and everything that they need to attract that business here,” says the mayor.
Workforce Development and Housing
As Sulphur continues to grow, workforce development remains a priority. Collaborations with local institutions such as McNeese State University, Sowela Technical Community College, and The Safety Council of Southwest Louisiana ensure that residents are equipped with the training and skills needed for employment in the city’s key industries, including petrochemical, Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), and gaming. “We’ve got several LNG facilities here, and we have some more on the books right now that are going to be built,” expands Danahay.
“We’re becoming the LNG capital of the world here in Southwest Louisiana. This will set up our energy needs here in the United States for years to come. So, we will encourage that domain.”
On the subject of housing, he points out the constraints on new residential development, due to limited land opportunities within city limits. Despite this, the housing market has experienced a shift with the recent increase in interest rates, slowing down property transactions, and leaving homes on the market for longer periods. “Before this, nothing stayed on the market very long. It flew off the market as fast as it went on the market,” he admits. “There’s still movement, but it’s limited now.”
Danahay explains that the city’s housing dynamics are closely tied to the ebb and flow of the petrochemical sector, where economic activity surges during project phases, attracting temporary residents who often move on post-project completion. “There are times in this area where our economy is driven by those projects, and once they’re completed, then we see that leveling out, as we call it, and it stays that way for a while,” he describes, underscoring that even during the down times, Sulphur still has a very healthy economy.
With this in mind, Danahay remarks, “We feel like especially with the LNG sector, that we’re going to see a surge because the demand is there. We know that that’s going to bring more opportunities to Sulphur. We’re going to capitalize on that every way we can, and housing is part of that.”
Future Priorities
Looking to the future, Mayor Danahay says the focus will remain on infrastructure improvements, and continuing to make Sulphur an attractive place to call home. Beyond addressing fundamental needs like water and wastewater systems, he underscores the significance of visual enhancements such as well-maintained roads and aesthetic improvements that leave a lasting impression on residents and visitors.
Upon reflection, he remarks, “If somebody was looking at this area, they would see that we care about our city and our municipality. We care enough to do these extra things that are appealing, and if they see that, then I think people are more apt to want to settle here. And for us, that’s the goal.”
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AT A GLANCE
Sulphur, Louisiana
What: A progressive industrial community, experiencing residential and commercial growth
Where: Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana
Website: www.sulphur.org
PREFERRED VENDORS
CITGO Petroleum Corporation – https://www.citgo.com/
Legacy and Horizon
The CITGO Lake Charles Refinery’s Eighty Years of Stewardship
In the early 1940s, the U.S. Armed Forces required a facility to produce fuel for their war efforts. In response, Cities Service Oil Company began construction on a facility to refine crude oil into fuel for U.S. bombers.
The success of the facility hinged on several factors: a minimum of 600 acres with expansion potential, the capacity to process 70,000 barrels of crude daily, stable land for unit construction, a substantial ship channel for large crude tankers and affordable natural gas to fuel the refinery. Rose Bluff, a land area just 29 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, met this site selection criteria. At 18 feet above sea level, it’s the highest point on the Calcasieu Ship Channel.
The new refinery’s construction required suitable housing for the incoming employees and their families. The Maplewood community evolved from a workforce housing area into a vibrant community that today remains home to generations of families.
Since 1944, the refinery has been a cornerstone of the Southwest Louisiana community. It has positively impacted the economy and nurtured generations of dedicated workers. Today, the plant, formerly known as Cities Service, still produces aviation fuel, along with gasoline, diesel and other products. CITGO Lake Charles takes pride in its World War II American history and the history yet to be made.
“We’ve reached new production milestones,” says Sterling Neblett, vice president and general manager of the CITGO Lake Charles Refinery. “Innovative changes in operations have made us more efficient than ever before.”
The demand for the oil and gas industry remains high, driven not only by traditional fuel needs but also by the need to produce materials for everyday items such as household goods, cell phones, plastics, tires and more. To meet consumer and industry demands, CITGO Lake Charles is adding over 70 positions to a staff of over 1,100 in safety, operations, maintenance, engineering and other support areas.
A key to the refinery’s success is its community commitment, including robust local education support. Since its 2016 launch, the CITGO STEM Talent Pipeline has enhanced students’ access to science, technology, engineering and math through grants, classroom presentations and hands-on demonstrations.
In Calcasieu Parish, the CITGO Innovation Academy offers a STEM-based curriculum to students in K-12 grade. The hope is that these students will continue their education locally and eventually join the local industry workforce.
CITGO employees foster growth and unity through active volunteerism. For decades, TeamCITGO volunteers have donated thousands of hours to charitable organizations that enhance Southwest Louisiana residents’ lives.
In 2023, Lake Charles Refinery employees pledged nearly $1 million from their own pockets toward the annual giving campaign benefiting United Way of Southwest Louisiana.
“When it comes to caring for our community, our employees take it seriously because we all live here, work here and raise our families here.” Neblett concludes.
West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital – www.wcch.com
West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital, located in Sulphur, Louisiana, opened in 1953 as a 50-bed hospital to serve the West Calcasieu and Cameron parishes of Louisiana. Today, the facility is a cornerstone of the community, thanks to the 107 inpatient beds along with numerous services that improve quality of life for residents.
Meyer & Associates – contact@meyerassociates.com
Meyer & Associates, Inc. (MAI) is a broad-based firm with considerable in-house strength in the port, transportation, water resources, drainage, environmental, site civil, and utility infrastructure fields from complete program/project management services to project engineering and construction management services.
