Group 1 Automotive, Inc., the largest tenant of The Offices at Echo Lane,  is working diligently to assist affected employees and to assess damage to its New Orleans operations in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

The company has established a hotline for its 524 New Orleans employees and an employee relief fund to assist them with temporary housing and other necessities.  Suite 370 at 950 Echo Lane has been transformed into a drop-off/distribution center (dubbed "Le Bohn-tique") to collect and disseminate food, clothing, toys and other items to Group 1 employees and their families.

"Group 1's priorities are to ensure that our employees are safe and to assist them as they recover from this tragic event," said Earl J. Hesterberg, Group 1's president and chief executive officer. "Our operations in New Orleans have been suspended until we can enter the city to complete our damage assessment and restore operations."