Letlow touts $100-million investment in NELA
U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow says she has secured more than $100 million in federal funding for northeastern Louisiana since fiscal year 2022.
On Monday, Letlow served as the keynote speaker at a luncheon hosted by the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, where she participated in a “fireside chat” and answered questions concerning her legislative priorities and experience serving on the House of Representatives’ Committee on Appropriations.
During the fireside chat, Letlow claimed she was able to help funnel more than $100 million to the state’s 5th Congressional District because of her position on the Appropriations Committee.
“I am proud to report that we have been able to send back just to my district alone—this is not just Louisiana but to the 5th District, which is awesome because I represent this district—over $100 million directly back to you,” Letlow said.
In remarks to The Ouachita Citizen, Letlow explained the $100-million figure encompassed Community Project Funding she requested and received as a member of the Appropriations Committee in fiscal years 2022, 2023 and 2024.
“As the only member of Louisiana’s House delegation on the Appropriations Committee, I’m committed to securing federal investments in north Louisiana’s long-term growth through Community Project Funding,” Letlow said. “These dollars support worthy community services like highways and public safety, and I work closely with our local officials to identify and support projects that will provide a clear benefit to the parishes I represent.”
Through Community Project Funding, members of the Congress submit requests to federal agencies on behalf of constituents or constituent organizations, as when a city requests federal funding for pedestrian safety improvements and the lawmaker presents that request on their behalf. Each member of the Congress is permitted no more than 15 Community Project Funding requests each year.
According to Letlow, some $14.9 million was secured for the state’s 5th Congressional District in fiscal year 2022, some $46.5 million in fiscal year 2023 and some $37.3 million in fiscal year 2024.
“She entered the arena with a mission, with a vision and with a love,” said Roy Heatherly, president of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce. “She did it because she had a passion for all of us. She did it because she knew she could make a difference.”
Letlow’s office provided a detailed list of projects funded for the 5th District in fiscal year 2024. No list was provided for the fiscal years 2022 and 2023 but The Ouachita Citizen located those projects in documents through the U.S. House of Representatives.
FY ‘24 funding for 5th District
• $9 million for the Alexandria International Airport for runway extension and related airport improvements.
• $5 million for the Columbia Port Commission for dock improvements and electrification.
• $4 million for the Citizens Medical Center, located in Columbia, for emergency room expansion.
• $3.6 million for the state of Louisiana and the city of West Monroe for improvements to the Downing Pines and Mane Street commercial park roundabout.
• $3.5 million for Louisiana Tech University, located in Ruston, for domestic semiconductor technology research and workforce development.
• $3 million for the city of Ruston for improvements to the South Farmerville Street Multimodal Corridor.
• $2.5 million for the town of Pollock for improvements to their wastewater system.
• $1.1 million for the North Delta Law Enforcement Planning District for new police cruisers for the sheriff’s offices in Caldwell, East Carroll, Franklin, Jackson, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas, Union and West Carroll Parishes.
• $1 million for the University of Louisiana Monroe and the city of Monroe for an entrepreneurial expansion and business incubator building.
• $1 million for the LSU Ag Center for precision agriculture initiatives and equipment in St. Joseph, Winnsboro, Hammond, Clinton and Alexandria.
• $976,000 for the Central Louisiana Regional Port, located in Alexandria, for multimodal loading equipment and improvements to the commodity unloading site.
• $921,000 for the Washington Parish Government to replace a 911 data communications and telephone services tower.
• $825,000 for Our Lady of the Angels Hospital, located in Bogalusa, for a helipad to conduct emergency airlifts of patients.
• $569,000 for the Pointe Coupee Sheriff’s Office, for a new 911 computer-aided dispatch system and record management system for jail records and incident reports.
• $400,000 for the town of Tullos for improvements to their wastewater system.
FY ‘23 funding for 5th District
• $5 million to the city of West Monroe to improve pedestrian safety along the Trenton Street corridor.
• $4 million for the city of Monroe to upgrade the Calypso Street pump station.
• $4 million for the city of Alexandria to enhance the city’s utility system’s water infrastructure.
• $4 million for the city of Ruston to complete the design of a new Interstate 20 interchange.
• $3.5 million for construction on the John Bennett Johnston waterway in Vicksburg.
• $2.5 million for Grambling State University to establish a cybersecurity initiative.
• $2 million for the University of Louisiana Monroe to purchase equipment to support the installation of 100 mesonet sites across the state of Louisiana.
• $2 million for St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe to replace two generators.
• $2 million for Jackson Parish Hospital to expand and renovate the hospital’s emergency department.
• $1.6 million for Louisiana Delta Community College in Monroe to create a streamlined education program to address workforce shortages in healthcare and education.
• $1.1 million for LaSalle General Hospital to renovate and expand the hospital’s therapies and home health building.
• $990,000 for Louisiana State University-Alexandria to establish the Center for the Advancement of Regional Educators (CARE) initiative.
• $775,000 for CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria to establish an alternative portable water supply for the hospital.
• $706,000 for the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office to purchase a rapid DNA instrument and supplemental tools and support to help bolster law enforcement efficiency.
• $462,000 for the Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office to purchase a rapid DNA instrument and supplemental tools and support to help bolster law enforcement efficiency.
FY ‘22 funding for 5th District
• $6.4 million for the city of Ruston to complete safety and capacity improvements for East Kentucky Avenue.
• $2.3 million for construction on the John Bennett Johnston waterway in Vicksburg.
• $2 million for the city of Monroe to rehabilitate the sewer main between the high service lift stations at Texas Street and Standifer Avenue.
• $1.3 million for the Lake Providence Harbor for operation and maintenance purposes.
• $276,000 for the city of Alexandira to upgrade body cameras for front line police officers.