Fortier Community Outreach

We believe that good corporate citizenship entails actively contributing to making these communities better places to live and work.  Consequently, we support a variety of educational and mentoring programs, contribute time and money to a range of Greater New Orleans area charities, sponsor community events, and conduct outreach programs to foster the understanding that exists between good neighbors.

An important aspect of Cytec’s community relations is its Community Advisory Panel (CYCAP), which consists of 15 to 20 members from a cross-section of the surrounding communities and four Cytec representatives.  Meetings, which are coordinated by a third party facilitator, are held every two months in order to open and maintain a dialog with neighbors and local citizens about plant operations and to answer any concerns centering around the plant's impact on the local environment.

Educational programs, especially science education programs, are important to Fortier for many reasons.  Today's children are our employees of the future, and to be viable, productive employees they will need a sound scientific foundation.  We as an industry and members of the community have many environmental challenges and issues confronting us, and we recognize that everyone will need a sound working understanding of scientific principals to make rational, scientific based decisions.  Fortier has sponsored and/or supplied volunteers for the following programs:

Fun Science for Families Day is a cooperative partnership between Cytec, the Jefferson Parish Public School System, and Oakwood Center.  For over 15 years, Fun Science has brought together local scientists and teachers to present hands on science demonstrations for children and their parents.  It is estimated that more than 2,500 people visit Fun Science Day each year.  This number becomes more impressive when one considers that the event is held the same weekend as Jazz Fest and the local golf classic.

Help One Student To Succeed (HOSTS) is a one-on-one mentoring program that Fortier has supported from its beginnings by providing volunteer mentors.  Cytec employees spend one hour per week with elementary and middle school students at two nearby schools.  Cytec has been recognized by the national organization of HOSTS for its contributions and leadership in the local program.  We were one of nine companies nationwide to receive this recognition.  Fortier is also actively involved with its two nearby “Adopt-a-Schools.”

Fortier offers students from nearby Hahnville and Archbishop Shaw high schools the opportunity to participate in a Job Shadowing Day at the site each year.  Sophomores and juniors from the schools pair up with employees in various functions, spending time in the field and learning about various career paths.  Hahnville’s welding classes also visit the plant site in the spring to receive hands-on learning.

Cytec employees have been generous contributors to the United Way for years. In fact, Cytec has been a Centennial Club member (donations over $100,000 per year) for the past decade. The involvement does not stop with the pocket book.  Cytec employees have volunteered to work in the agencies, to serve the board of the local United Way, and to help with a number of projects to repair, beautify, and improve schools, agencies, and houses in nearby communities.

Cytec volunteers cook! Cytec supplies the ingredients and volunteers prepare and serve food for worthy causes.  Events that Fortier volunteers have cooked for include: Multiple Sclerosis Society Tour for Cure, United Way functions, Ochsner Levee Run, and Ozanam Inn meals.  Cytec volunteers have served over 20,000 people in the last decade!