Danos to build headquarters in Terrebonne

Danos & Curole Marine Contractors, which is based in Lafourche Parish, said it will build a new $10 million headquarters in Terrebonne Parish and is evaluating multiple Louisiana ports as potential sites for a $20 million manufacturing and fabrication facility.

The company, now based in Larose, is a construction and services partner for major oil and gas firms. It said the expansions will add 426 new jobs over the next five years. Danos has 1,100 jobs statewide and in the Gulf of Mexico.

The headquarters project in Gray will add a net total of 326 new jobs with an average salary of $75,000, plus benefits. The manufacturing facility will have 100 jobs, with an average annual salary of $65,000, plus benefits.

The Louisiana Economic Development department estimates the projects will create 871 indirect jobs and 200 construction jobs. Construction on the headquarters building will begin by late summer. Around the same time, Danos will select a deepwater port site for the manufacturing and fabrication yard. Construction will begin on that project before the end of the year.

Hiring for positions at the new headquarters will begin later this year, with new manufacturing positions being filled beginning in 2014. The new headquarters and fabrication yard will be completed by the end of 2014.

Danos considered several sites along the Gulf Coast for its new headquarters before choosing Gray.

The company looked at locations in Alabama, Mississippi and Texas.

LED’s Business Expansion and Retention Group offered Danos a customized incentives package that includes a performance-based, $1.5 million Economic Development Award Program grant to provide infrastructure improvements for the new manufacturing location. The state also will provide workforce assistance through LED FastStart. In addition, Danos is expected to use Louisiana’s Quality Jobs and Industrial Tax Exemption programs.

“The Danos family business has deep roots in south Louisiana: The heritage and culture of this area are important to who we are as a company,” Hank Danos, CEO, said in a news release. “We appreciate the commitment of our state’s leadership.”

Danos, which was founded in 1947, is one of the largest oilfield service companies in the Gulf.