In recognition of letting the company set up temporary housing at Friendship Park for Chevron workers temporarily displaced by Hurricane Katrina, the company presented the City of Picayune with a token of appreciation.

In a ceremony early Tuesday at the new City Hall Chevron Gulf Coast of Mexico Vice President Melody Meyer presented Mayor Greg Mitchell with a check for $35,000. The donation is to show of their appreciation for the city letting them set up a temporary housing park at Friendship Park. The temporary housing has since been removed. Also at the event Mitchell announced the city will soon have a new city manager.

“We were very happy to accommodate your people at the park,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell expressed his appreciation for Chevron setting up business in the City of Picayune and said he hopes the company decides to utilize the area for more business.

“We know that an airport is vital to a city’s growth,” Mitchell said. “We love Chevron and we want you here and we want more of your operations here in the future if you can.”

Mitchell said he hopes some of the people who stayed in Picayune temporarily will decide to stay permanently.

“Some of them already have,” Meyer said.

In addition to the money donated to the City of Picayune, Chevron has decided to set up the Energy for Learning Program that will donate $18 million to 23 schools districts in Mississippi and Louisiana, Meyer said. Mississippi will receive $6 million for their schools with the Picayune school district included in the bevy of recipients, Meyer said. The three-year program will fund school learning programs such as math and science, buy books and other necessary supplies for libraries and purchase computers but will not be used for building or for salaries, Meyer said.