FY22 Community Projects
Project Name: Police Body Camera Upgrade Project
Intended Recipient: City of Alexandria, La
Intended Recipient Address: 915 Third Street, Alexandria, LA 71301
Requested Amount: $276,000
Project Description:
The City of Alexandria has requested $276,000 in funding for critical upgrades to body cameras for front line police officers. The cameras currently in use are about to reach the end of their service life and will barely cover a 12-hour shift. New cameras would have two batteries and ensure coverage time for a full 12-hour shift, including up to four hours of additional time when needed. Additionally, this proposal would result in a full complement of cameras, with at least one for every officer. Considering the increased threats to law-enforcement officers, it is essential that the body cameras in use are fully functioning to be able to record the interactions of Alexandria’s Police Officers reliably and accurately.
Project Name: Rehabilitation of the Sewer Main between Texas and Standifer Streets
Intended Recipient: City of Monroe, La
Intended Recipient Address: 400 Lea Joyner Expressway, Monroe, LA 71210
Requested Amount: $2,000,000
Project Description:
The City of Monroe has requested $2,000,000 in funding for the rehabilitation of the Sewer Main between the high service lift stations at Texas Street and Standifer Streets. The funding would be used for improvements that are necessary to eliminate Sanitary Sewer Overflows and to increase the capacity of the collection system to allow for projected growth in the City of Monroe, including the surrounding areas. Portions of the City’s wastewater collection system were constructed a century ago and are now in a severe state of deterioration. In addition to this request for federal funds, the City is working with the State to identify additional funds for the project, compounded by any local funds to be made available. This project is essential to the overall wastewater infrastructure system in the City of Monroe and its residents.
Project Name: East Kentucky Avenue Traffic and Safety Improvement
Intended Recipient: City of Ruston, La
Intended Recipient Address: PO Box 2069, Ruston, LA 71273
Requested Amount: $6,400,000
Project Description:
The City of Ruston has requested $6,400,000 in funding to complete safety and capacity improvements for East Kentucky Avenue in Ruston, Louisiana. This funding would be used to rebuild and revitalize one of the most heavily traveled local roads in the city. The project will add an additional turn lane, construct curb and gutters for subsurface drainage, relocate all overhead utilities underground, remove a timber bridge structure, and add Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant pedestrian facilities. The funding for this project will be critical in decreasing traffic congestion, enhancing safety, and providing economic value to the District.
Project Name: Call Me MISTER Teacher Preparation Program
Intended Recipient: Grambling State University
Intended Recipient Address: 403 Main Street, Grambling, LA 71254
Requested Amount: $2,500,000
Project Description:
Grambling State University has requested $2,500,000 in funding for the Call Me MISTER Teacher Preparation Program. The Call Me MISTER (Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models) program is a teacher leadership program that provides the participants with the tools necessary to succeed as teachers. This funding would be used to establish a targeted program to increase the number of African American male students earning a teaching degree. Nationally, less than two percent of the public school teachers are African American males, while over 50 percent of the public school students are students of color.
Project Name: Post-Secondary Educational Program for Young People with Developmental Disabilities
Intended Recipient: Louisiana State University at Alexandria
Intended Recipient Address: 8100 Highway 71 South, Alexandria, LA 71302
Requested Amount:$120,000
Project Description:
Louisiana State University at Alexandria has requested $120,000 in funding to develop the Special Program for the Enhancement of Recourses and Opportunities for Young People with Developmental Disabilities (SPERO) Program. This program would be open to young people between the ages of 18 and 28 who have an identified developmental disability and are ineligible for regular college admission. Students admitted to the program would take special program classes designed to improve their daily living skills, interpersonal skills, and employment skills. The SPERO program seeks to address the lack of post-secondary educational options for young people with developmental disabilities in Central Louisiana by providing them with resources that will help them lead more independent lives and take up meaningful and rewarding employment in their communities.
Project Name: I-20 Cyber Technology Practice Program
Intended Recipient: Louisiana Tech University
Intended Recipient Address: 1310 West Railroad Ave., Ruston, LA 71272
Requested Amount: $2,000,000
Project Description:
Louisiana Tech University has requested $2,000,000 in funding to create Louisiana Tech’s Cyber Technology Practice Program (CTPP). This program will be the first cyber education and training accelerator program with substantial regional impacts. CTPP will offer curricular learning through cyber practice with regional industry and government partners and provide a qualified, diverse, and scalable workforce to the regional economy. The one-time allocation for this project will allow Louisiana Tech to strengthen and expand industry partnerships, further research industry-grade problems, tailor curriculum to meet industry skill set needs, and grow and strengthen the supply of cyber professionals. This project will provide a strong return on taxpayer investment by equipping participants with relevant certification and help to build a sustainable cyber workforce throughout the region.
Project Name: John Bennett Johnston Waterway Construction
Intended Recipient: U.S. Army of Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District
Intended Recipient Address: 4155 Clay Street, Vicksburg, LA 39183
Requested Amount: $2,250,000
Project Description:
The Red River Valley Association has requested $2,250,000 in funding to construct the Alexandria, Louisiana Front Dike on the John Bennett Johnston Waterway. This funding would be used to construct and reinforce dikes near Alexandria, Louisiana. The stretch of the Red River at Alexandria and Pineville is known to have high velocities. The dikes on the Alexandria side push the water over to an adjacent town, and this additional water flow has led to the bank degradation. The bank has been repaired recently by local authorities but continues to degrade due to wave wash. This issue also impacts navigation in the area. Funding would provide new construction of dikes which would help prevent bank caving and improve navigation.
Project Name: Lake Providence Harbor Operation and Maintenance
Intended Recipient: U.S. Army of Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District
Intended Recipient Address: 4155 Clay Street, Vicksburg, LA 39183
Requested Amount:$1,332,000
Project Description:
The Port of Lake Providence has requested $1,332,000 in funding for the Operation and Maintenance of Lake Providence Harbor in Lake Providence, Louisiana. This funding would be used to dredge Lake Providence Harbor, a critical economic port in the Fifth District of Louisiana. Lake Providence Harbor moves over 1 million tons of goods and $250 million worth of grain annually. The harbor requires annual dredging to ensure that there is adequate depth for operations. If the harbor is not dredged it can lead to barges being light-loaded or a complete shutdown of operations. A shutdown of operations would lead to massive economic hardship to farmers, harbor operators, and others who rely on reliable transportation of goods from the harbor. This funding is vital to ensure the harbor remains open and available to ship Fifth District commodities.