By KEVIN CHIRI

Publisher

LAPLACE — The effects of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita hit the DuPont facilities on the Gulf Coast hard.

LaPlace DuPont Plant Manager Guy Tenini said there were major problems at several DuPont sites from Southwest Louisiana to near Gulfport, Miss.

But even with those problems hitting the company financially in 2005, it didn’t stop DuPont from continuing its strong community support, as a luncheon on Monday ended with $135,000 in checks donated to local organizations in need.

DuPont had initially donated $1 million to hurricane affected areas from its corporate headquarters, but wanted to go a step further and began the DuPont Hurricane Katrina Fund. The company solicited donations from its employees worldwide, then matched those funds.

On Monday, Tenini presided over a meeting where he gave out substantial checks to six local organizations.

– The St. John the Baptist Public School system received $48,800 to provide additional instructional materials and equipment, as well as money for facility repairs.

– Louisiana Technical College received $21,000 for three Process Technology scholarships, and funds for additional instructional facilities.

– The LaPlace Volunteer Fire Department received $35,000 for a new air compressor to refill SCBA equipment.

-The Reserve Volunteer Fire Department received $12,600 for new SCBA equipment.

-The NOAH youth recreation organization received $14,000 to repair damaged playing fields.

-The St. John United Way received $4,500 for new computer equipment to be used in an educational role.

Tenini said the company was especially interested in helping organizations involved with children’s services, education, social services, safety and the environment.

&#8220Education, in particular, is now such an important component here with the job situation following these storms,” he noted.

&#8220And we’re just proud of our employees, and our company, for the way they have stepped forward to help.”

One of the DuPont plants near Gulfport, Miss. just got back in business after having to handle repairs from 20 feet of water at their plant, while a Pascagoula, Miss. facility took nearly three months to get back completely on line.

The DuPont facility here in LaPlace has been in operation since 1984, and employs 250 people.