THIBODAUX, La. – Koch Methanol St. James (KMSJ) has donated $17,500 to the Nicholls Foundation, aimed at fostering educational opportunities and supporting local small businesses.

KMSJ contributed $11,500 to establish the “Koch Methanol St. James Endowed Scholarship”. This scholarship is designed to benefit a freshman from St. James High School or Lutcher High School who is enrolled full-time at Nicholls State University. The recipient must maintain a 2.5 GPA and be eligible for a Pell Grant. The scholarship will be awarded for eight consecutive semesters, provided all criteria are met.

The scholarship amount is $500 per academic year, with $250 dispersed in the spring and fall semesters. For more information about the specific scholarship criteria, visit nichollsfoundation.org.

Bayou Region Incubator

Along with the scholarship, KMSJ contributed $6,000 to the Bayou Region Incubator (BRI) to cover the cost of four St. James Parish small business memberships for one year. The BRI aims to catapult small businesses into the Bayou and River Region economies by assisting small businesses and entrepreneurs addressing Louisiana’s coastal crisis and strengthening the area’s economic vitality.

The recipients will receive a Commons Membership, granting them 24/7 access to the BRI building, including meeting rooms, internet, a member resource portal, small business roundtables, complimentary workshops, unlimited business printing, and an official business address for public listing and mail services.

“We are always looking for ways to help our community by investing in education and entrepreneurship programs,” Josh Wiggins, Plant Manager of KMSJ, said. “We hope our partnership with Nicholls State University and the Bayou Region Incubator will help support members of our local community and provide meaningful opportunities for them to achieve their full potential.”

For more information, visit bayouregionincubator.org.

(Photo provided by Nicholls State University)