Over its 15-year history Café Reconcile has dished up great seafood but its real impact on New Orleans has been its success in providing hands-on training for disadvantaged youth hoping to get a start in the restaurant industry. Go behind the scenes with co-founder Craig Cuccia and Executive Chef Joe Smith as they share their experience in helping strengthen the community. View video of Cafe Reconcile.

Hear about the current state of the Gulf Coast beaches from the people who live there. Following the 2010 oil spill, BP undertook a deep-cleaning of affected areas, and residents report that the beaches are clean and ready for guests. View video of "Gulf Commitment: Beaches." 

With 38 years in the US Navy – the past eight as the person responsible for overseeing the safe reactor operations of more than 80 nuclear-powered submarines and 12 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers – Admiral Frank ‘Skip’ Bowman knows a thing or two about keeping people safe.

Bowman, former director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, shares what he learned while overseeing the naval reactors for nuclear submarines and carrier fleets — and how he is applying that safety knowledge as a new member of BP's board of directors.

Read more about Bowman's approach to safety and his work with BP. 

Generations of fishermen have made their livelihoods and their homes on the Gulf Coast. They want you to know that seafood -- shrimp, oysters and all sorts of fish -- from the Gulf of Mexico is the most inspected and most tested in the world. The confidence they have in their catch has never been higher, and they want you to try it for yourself. View video of "Gulf Commitment: The seafood." 

More waterfowl winter in Coastal Louisiana than any other place in North America. It is critical that these birds have wetland habitat in which to break their journey. This is why the work of Ducks Unlimited and the farmers of Southwest Louisiana is so important. Each November, tens of thousands of acres of rice fields are flooded to give millions of birds a point of refuge. This effort is made possible in part through grants from BP's Recovered Oil Fund for Wildlife.

View video of "Restoration Gulf Coast: Louisiana flyway".

New Orleans – Two spectacular college football games are in the books and so is BP’s successful Gulf Coast Seafood & Tourism Bash.

BP created the event in partnership with Gulf Coast tourism planners as a way to celebrate Gulf Coast culture, seafood and tourism – and to maximize exposure for the area during the Allstate Sugar Bowl and BCS National Championship.

Gulf Coast Seafood & Tourism Bash events included celebrity chef appearances by Emeril Lagasse and John Besh who both conducted dozens of national TV interviews to share Gulf seafood recipes and the news that the Gulf is open for business.

“We’re in heaven, the beaches are open and the seafood has never been better,” said Besh to a Chicago reporter.  “It’s all about seafood and tourism for us and the city right now, here in New Orleans – it’s electric.”

Before the BCS National Championship game between LSU and Alabama on January 9, eight top New Orleans chefs prepared a 30-foot “Peacemaker” po’ boy stuffed with Louisiana shrimp and Alabama oysters. On hand for the ceremonial cutting of the po’ boy were Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne, as well as legendary quarterbacks Ken Stabler of Alabama and Bert Jones of LSU.

The message of quality seafood and clean beaches is what tourism planners hope visitors will take away from these events and their stay in New Orleans.

“Seafood and tourism are two of the best things about this unique region,” said Crystal Ashby, BP executive vice president of government and public affairs. “By working closely with the Gulf Coast’s seafood and tourism industries, we’ve been able to deliver a clear message that the Gulf's beaches, restaurants, fishing and attractions provide unsurpassed vacation experiences.”

As part of the festivities around both the Allstate Sugar Bowl and the BCS National Championship, BP gave away free samples of Gulf Seafood.  They also provided a “dine around” experience to VIP’s.  See coverage of the "dine around" from WKRG-TV in Mobile.

And while the football games are over, the Gulf Coast Seafood & Tourism Bash is giving away free vacation packages with a “text to win” sweepstakes until January 13.  Any United States resident who is at least 18 years old can enter.  Simply text GULFCST to 76060 for a chance to win a vacation to one of these four destinations: New Orleans; Biloxi, MS; Gulf Shores/Orange Beach, Alabama; and Pensacola Beach, Florida.

Read complete rules for the text to win sweepstakes.

View video of Gulf Coast Seafood and Tourism Bash.

See photos from the Gulf Coast Seafood & Tourism Bash.

In a speech to the Economic Club of Chicago, CEO Bob Dudley reaffirmed BP's commitment to US energy security. Read BP CEO Bob Dudley's speech. 

HOUMA, LA. – BP announced today it will provide $4 million to Fletcher Technical Community College to construct a new Integrated Production Technologies (IPT) facility. The new facility, which will prepare and train the next generation of offshore oil and gas workers, will be the second facility at Fletcher’s new campus development which is next door to BP’s Houma Operations Learning Center. 

“I am excited to announce this gift of $4 million to the Fletcher Foundation to build a new state-of-the-art classroom and facility to train petrotechnical workers to fill the ever-increasing demand for skilled workers in the industry,”  said James Dupree, regional president for BP’s Gulf of Mexico business.

The proposed new facility will house a 4,000 square foot state of the art training laboratory, classrooms and offices for Fletcher’s Integrated Production Technology Program.

BP has been an industry partner with the College since 2008, from assisting in the development of the new Integrated Production Technology Program to scholarships, and now a building,” said Chancellor Travis Lavigne. “Their generosity goes beyond just a new building for Fletcher, it serves as a commitment to our community and the workforce needs of the oil and gas industry for the Bayou Region.”

The building construction will be managed by the Fletcher Foundation Board. BP will consult with the Foundation Board on the design and construction schedule. Construction is expected to begin later this year and conclude by December 2013. Fletcher will fund all staffing and administration costs related to the operation of the new facility. BP’s $4 million contribution will be earmarked for construction and equipment and furniture for the building.

The building will be situated on the Fletcher campus next door to BP’s 75,000 square-foot Houma Operations Learning Center (HOLC) where BP trains men and women in process safety and operational systems. The HOLC facility is designed to develop and enhance health, safety environmental, technical and leadership skills. It also provides hands-on workshop training for automation, electrical, instrumentation, rigging and lifting and a production control simulator for hands-on training in the area of control room operations.

BP’s US businesses and the BP Foundation have provided substantial investment in recent years toward workforce development and education in Louisiana. In 2010, the BP Foundation made a $2.25 million grant for education, math and workforce development in Louisiana. The grants were distributed to Xavier University, Southern University, Dillard University, Sowela Community College, Delgado Community College and Fletcher Technical Community College.

-- Ends -- 

Editor’s notes:

• Fletcher has received more than $1 million in BP grants over the past three years for education and workforce development.

• BP is actively supports education in Louisiana, contributing more than $750,000 per annum to education activities in Louisiana.

• Most recently, BP committed to become the lead corporate sponsor for the Xavier University Summer Math and Science Camps for three years at a total of $750,000.

• BP is underwriting education programs in Terrebonne and Lafourche Parish Schools, as well as schools in Grand Isle, Louisiana. 

• BP is a corporate supporter of KIPP New Orleans and the Mentorship Academy in Baton Rouge.

• BP is the largest energy investor in the United States
  • BP invests more in the U.S. than in any other country.
  • Our capital investments in the U.S. from 2006 - 2010 totaled more than $50 billion, excluding $10 billion spent on Gulf response in 2010.
  • Over the last five years BP’s reinvestment in the U.S. has substantially exceeded profits earned here.
  • BP is a major contributor to America’s energy security
    • BP is the second largest producer of oil and gas in the U.S. and the number one producer of oil and gas in the Gulf of Mexico.
    • BP produces nearly one million barrels of oil equivalent every day in the U.S. and is America's seventh largest producer of natural gas.
    • BP Alternative Energy (AE), with its low-carbon energy portfolio of wind, solar, and biofuels, has the most diverse alternative energy portfolio among oil and gas companies. 
    • BP is a major source of American jobs
      • Our direct U.S. workforce exceeds 23,000 people, making us the second largest oil and gas employer in America.
      • BP’s business activity supports an additional 210,000 American jobs.

For additional information:

BP Press Office - (281) 366-4463
uspress@bp.com

Fletcher Technical Community College

Elmy W. Savoie
Public Relations Director
985-858-2984 Office Phone
985-860-1220 Cell
elmy.savoie@ftcc.edu

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In 2010, BP donated approximately $22 million to help wildlife recovery and restoration. Known as the Recovered Oil Fund For Wildlife, this fund has not only helped protect endangered sea turtles and thousands of migratory birds, it has provided an opportunity to address long-standing issues in the Gulf ecosystem and help to create a healthier Gulf. Jeff Trandahl, Executive Director of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, which administers the fund, explains its mission and how the fund works.

View video of Recovered Oil Fund for Wildlife.