HLS 18RS-137 ENGROSSED 2018 Regular Session HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 36 BY REPRESENTATIVE HUVAL LEGISLATIVE POWERS: Designates the city of St. Martinville as the Louisiana Pepper Capitol of the world 1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION 2To designate the city of St. Martinville as the Louisiana Pepper Capitol of the world. 3 WHEREAS, the city of St. Martinville would like to celebrate and promote one of 4its treasured ecotourist businesses; and 5 WHEREAS, in 1910, the Evangeline pepper was born when Edmond Builliard began 6selling cayenne pepper sauce out of his own kitchen; and 7 WHEREAS, the pepper industry has since existed in St. Martinville for over a 8hundred years and boasts two international pepper factories, Cajun Chef and Peppers 9Unlimited; and 10 WHEREAS, the pepper industry employs over two hundred fifty people in a 11municipality of only six thousand people; and 12 WHEREAS, the pepper industry utilizes over five million pounds of pepper annually 13to produce over twenty-five million gallons of pepper sauces and pepper products; and 14 WHEREAS, the pepper industry ships pepper sauces and pepper products to over one 15hundred countries internationally; and 16 WHEREAS, the city of St. Martinville is the home of the St. Martinville Kiwanis 17Club Annual Pepper Festival; and 18 WHEREAS, the city of St. Martinville has supported the St. Martinville Kiwanis 19Club in hosting the two-day St. Martinville Kiwanis Club Annual Pepper Festival for 20twenty-six years of pepper eating kings and queens; and Page 1 of 2 HLS 18RS-137 ENGROSSED HCR NO. 36 1 WHEREAS, the tourism industry plays a vital role in the economic well-being of the 2city of St. Martinville; and 3 WHEREAS, prior to hurricanes Katrina and Rita, cultural industries and tourism 4were two of four industries in Louisiana that accounted for more than one hundred thousand 5jobs; and 6 WHEREAS, in 2004, tourism in Louisiana accounted for nine billion, four hundred 7million dollars, which makes it the state's second largest industry and helps generate over 8six hundred million dollars in state and local tax dollars; and 9 WHEREAS, the St. Martinville community and its pepper factories attract more than 10three thousand visitors annually; and 11 WHEREAS, a state designation communicates what makes a municipality unique 12and appealing through a combination of visuals and words; and 13 WHEREAS, a strong state designation can help boost economic development and 14tourism and also engender a strong sense of pride in the state; and 15 WHEREAS, the city of St. Martinville has a rich history, including many influential 16businesses that have established themselves within the city, and a pepper industry that is so 17rich and prosperous that it spices up the local economy and continues to add zest to the city's 18agricultural past, present, and future. 19 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 20designate the city of St. Martinville as the Louisiana Pepper Capitol of the World. 21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the 22mayor of the city of St. Martinville and the St. Martinville City Council. DIGEST The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] HCR 36 Engrossed 2018 Regular Session Huval Designates the city of St. Martinville as the La. Pepper Capitol of the World. Page 2 of 2