Acadiana Business Today: Louisiana businesses mull new federal vaccine mandate: 'The devil will be in the details'

with Adam Daigle | Business editor

Good morning, Acadiana. Hurricane Ida continues to wreak havoc with the state, and a couple of heave hitters have stepped up to help. Hancock Whitney has pleged $2.5 million to help and Chevron committed $3 million to hurricane relief. Here's what else we have this morning for business news:

Meat processing company plans $3.5 million investment in Eunice facility

Coastal Plains Meat Co. said it will invest $3.5 million in the acquisition and expansion of a meat processing facility in Eunice. Coastal Plains purchased the 19,000-square-foot facility at 1044 La. 91 from Eunice Superette and Slaughterhouse. The company plans to upgrade and expand what is already the largest meat processing operation in the state with equipment that will increase processing capacity from 2.3 million pounds to 6.5 million pounds of meat production annually.

Read the story here.

Pizza Artista, serving up unique pies with a Cajun flair, expands to Baton Rouge

Pizza Artista, where savory Cajun-themed pies are the specialty, opened its Baton Rouge location at 4831 Rouzan Square in March offering some 60 toppings, so everyone can create their own unique pizza. The restaurant also offers a host of signature and chef-inspired pizzas, along with seafood dishes and chicken wings.

Read the story here.

Hurricane Ida threw the barge industry into a tizzy along the Mississippi River

While the Mississippi River is open for commerce, the situation is far from normal, and it's unclear how long it may take to rebuild after Hurricane Ida. Barges sunk and boats landed on roadways while the grain terminals along the Mississippi River were damaged. Each day the Mississippi River is closed to commerce, the estimated economic loss is upward of $295 million, according to a report by the Port of New Orleans.

Read the story here.