U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke to visit Louisiana

WASHINGTON – At the direction of President Obama, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke will travel to Louisiana on Monday, August 16, where he will take a tour of a Gulf seafood processing plant in Lafitte, La, and attend lunch with members of the local seafood and restaurant industry in Metairie, La.  Later, he will hold an economic roundtable with community members and business people impacted by the BP oil spill. 

This will be Lockes third visit to Louisiana since June. Last month, Locke traveled to New Orleans to review the work being done by the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board and discuss supporting the industry in areas impacted by the Deepwater Horizon/BP oil spill. 

WHO: U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke

WHEN: Monday, August 16, 2010

11:15 a.m. CDT - Tour of a local shrimp processing plant; Lafitte’s Frozen Seafood Co., 5165 Caroline St., Lafitte, La.

Media Coverage: This event will be pooled coverage. For more information, contact hchatalas@doc.gov.

1:00 P.M. CDT - Lunch with Gulf fishermen; Drago’s Seafood Restaurant, 3232 N Arnoult Rd., Metairie, La.

Media Coverage: This event will be pooled coverage. For more information, contact hchatalas@doc.gov.

2:30 P.M. CDT - Economic roundtable with local business owners and seafood industry representatives; 2700 N. Arnoult Rd., Metairie, La.

Media Coverage: This event is closed to the press.

3:45 P.M. CDT - Media availability; 2700 N. Arnoult Rd, Metairie, La.

Media Coverage: For additional information on Locke’s visit to the Gulf Coast, please contact Hannah Chatalas at hchatalas@doc.gov  or the Office of Public Affairs at 202-482-4883.

CONTACT: For further questions, contact Shannon Gilson, (202) 482-4883, sgilson@doc.gov