KEY TAKEAWAYS: Dock repairs completed nearly five years after Hurricane Ida damage Project adds at least six new boat slips for fishing vessels Funded by FEMA, Louisiana capital outlay and Jefferson Parish Improvements support commercial fishing and local economic recovery   The Grand I sle Port Commission has completed repairs to a key section of its commercial dock, restoring capacity lost after Hurricane Ida and expanding access for the region’s commercial fishing industry. The commission announced that work on the West Slip of the Commercial Dock in Grand Isle is now finished, nearly five years after the storm caused significant damage. The project enables the port to lease additional boat slips to commercial fishing vessels, supporting a sector central to the local economy. The repairs included replacing 377 feet of vinyl sheet bulkhead and upgrading walkways, pilings and parking access areas. According to the commission, the improvements created at least six new boat slips, increasing capacity for the area’s fishing fleet. Funding for the project came from multiple sources, including a Federal Emergency Management Agency Public Assistance grant tied to Hurricane Ida recovery, the state’s capital outlay program and Jefferson Parish. “It has been a long and challenging process since Hurricane Ida to secure sufficient funding for this critical project,” said Weldon Danos, the port’s executive director and president of the Ports Association of Louisiana. “We are proud to have overcome those obstacles and are pleased to see the Port return to full operation in support of our local commercial fishing industry.” The commission also credited state lawmakers, including Sen. Pat Connick and Rep. Joe Orgeron, for helping secure supplemental funding. Established in 1996, the Grand Isle Port Commission oversees commerce and vessel traffic on Louisiana’s only inhabited barrier island. The port plays a role in supporting commercial fisheries, as well as the region’s petroleum and tourism industries, making the restoration a step toward broader economic recovery following the storm. ...read more read less