FY24 Community Projects
Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration
Project Name: Citizens Medical Center Emergency Room Expansion
Intended Recipient: Citizens Medical Center
Intended Recipient Address: 7939 US-165, Columbia, LA 71418
Requested Amount: $4,000,000
Project Description: The funding would be used to make critical upgrades and renovations to Citizens Medical Center’s Emergency Department. It should be noted that Citizens Medical Center operates the only emergency room within the Town of Columbia and Caldwell Parish, and there are no existing ICU beds in the entire Parish. This project is a good use of taxpayer funding because the emergency room expansion will create 75 new jobs and will significantly improve the economic and health outcomes for the residents of the Town of Columbia and the surrounding rural areas.
Financial Disclosure Letter:
Project Name: Agricultural Conservation through Precision and Digital Agricultural Technologies
Intended Recipient: Louisiana State University Agricultural Center
Intended Recipient Address: 101 J. Norman Efferson Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803.
*The project will be administered in Louisiana’s Fifth Congressional District.
Requested Amount: $5,000,000
Project Description: The funding would be used to enhance scientific research programs, student education, training and certifications, and extension initiatives focused on improving the conservation of resources, reducing the environmental footprint, and increasing the sustainability of agricultural operations. This initiative, led by the LSU Ag Center and LSU Alexandria, will focus on establishing model farm operations that incorporate precision agriculture initiatives and translating data through digital agriculture to support producers, industry, and residents. This is a good use of taxpayer funding as it will maximize yield and the commodities produced by Louisiana’s farmers which feed America’s families.
Financial Disclosure Letter:
Project Name: Our Lady of the Angels Hospital Emergency Helipad
Intended Recipient: Our Lady of the Angels Hospital
Intended Recipient Address: 433 Plaza Street, Bogalusa, LA 70427
Requested Amount: $825,000
Project Description: The funding would be used to construct a helipad atop the ambulance canopy, with an elevator, to ensure safe and effective patient transport. Currently, patients are wheeled out of the emergency department, across a gravel parking lot, and through a grassy ballfield to be airlifted. Inclement weather and unreliable lighting add another layer to the challenges of these substandard conditions, from landing impediments to safe patient transport. Due to these hazards, some helicopters will not land in the field after dark, creating compounding issues for patient outcomes. It is important to note the hospital is the only full-service acute care hospital and birthing facility within a 45-minute radius. This project is a good use of taxpayer funding as it will significantly improve healthcare access for the residents of the Town of Bogalusa and the surrounding rural areas.
Financial Disclosure Letter:
Project Name: Washington Parish Government 9-1-1 Communications Tower
Intended Recipient: Washington Parish Government
Intended Recipient Address:909 Pearl Street, Franklinton, LA 70438
Requested Amount: $921,197.50
Project Description: The funding requested would be used to construct a new emergency communications tower which will replace a 50-year-old existing tower that has been deemed unrepairable. The project also seeks to construct a building associated with the tower which houses critical 9-1-1 data and telephone equipment used by emergency services and law enforcement. It is important to note there are no existing tower facilities in this area that would be adequate to meet the required 9-1-1 communications needs. This project is a good use of taxpayer funding since it improves community safety and enhances important communication needs for a rural Parish.
Financial Disclosure Letter:
Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
Project Name: Town of Pollock Water and Wastewater System Improvements
Intended Recipient: Town of Pollock
Intended Recipient Address: 3911 LA Hwy 8, Pollock, LA 71467
Requested Amount: $3,200,000
Project Description: The funding would be used to construct essential upgrades to the Town of Pollock’s water and wastewater system to provide residents and federal penitentiary facilities with a more resilient and sustainable water and wastewater system. The Town of Pollock owns, operates, and maintains a rural water system and community sewer collection and treatment system in Grant Parish. This is a good use of taxpayer funding as it will repair aging water wells and failing sewer systems which are critical to keeping the community healthy and safe.
Financial Disclosure Letter:
Project Name: Town of Tullos Wastewater Collection System Improvements
Intended Recipient: Town of Tullos
Intended Recipient Address: 9887 S. Main Street, Tullos, LA 71479
Requested Amount: $400,000
Project Description: The funding would be used to make essential upgrades to the town’s wastewater collection system, which will eliminate occurrences of discharge of sewage into the community. Additionally, it would ensure continuous operation of the wastewater collection system during power outages by installing generators at the three lift stations that do not have a secondary power source. This is a good use of taxpayer funding as it will repair failing wastewater systems that are a general threat to the health and safety of the town’s residents.
Financial Disclosure Letter:
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
Project Name: Louisiana Tech University Empowering North Louisiana Research Support for Domestic Semiconductor Technology and Workforce Development
Intended Recipient: Louisiana Tech University
Intended Recipient Address: 201 Mayfield Avenue, Ruston, LA 71272
Requested Amount: $3,500,000
Project Description: This would provide cutting-edge fundamental and applied research in semiconductor technologies critical to growing the region and the nation. That will be achieved by strengthening, expanding, and modernizing the Institute for Micromanufacturing (IfM) infrastructure and equipment in advancing research capabilities for the University and its corporate, government, and academic partners. This project is a good use of taxpayer funding because the resources this project provides will contribute to the education of a diverse, skilled workforce for multiple industries, strengthen and grow technology jobs in North Louisiana, and diversify its economy.
Financial Disclosure Letter
Project Name: North Delta Law Enforcement Planning District Rural Police Cruiser Modernization
Intended Recipient: North Delta Law Enforcement Planning District, Inc.
Intended Recipient Address: 6556 Main Street, Winnsboro, LA 71295
Requested Amount: $1,100,000
Project Description: The funding would be used to purchase 22 law enforcement police cruisers with the required safety equipment affixed to the vehicle. This funding would allow for each Sheriff’s office in the Planning District, Caldwell Parish, East Carroll Parish, Franklin Parish, Jackson Parish, Madison Parish, Morehouse Parish, Ouachita Parish, Richland Parish, Tensas Parish, Union Parish, and West Carroll Parish, to receive two new police cruisers. This project is a good use of taxpayer funding because it will ensure law enforcement has access to reliable and safe equipment so they can maintain the highest standard to meet the expectations and calls of service within rural communities daily.
Financial Disclosure Letter
Project Name: Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff’s Office Computer Aided Dispatch
Intended Recipient: Pointe Coupee Parish Sherriff’s Office
Intended Recipient Address: 215 East Main Street, New Roads, LA 70760
Requested Amount: $569,000
Project Description: The funding would be used to make critical upgrades to the Pointe Coupee Parish 9-1-1 Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system and the incident and jail records management system. This project is a good use of taxpayer funding because it will afford the tools necessary to dispatch appropriate First Responders efficiently and effectively throughout the parish, thereby providing the entire community and all citizens with necessary response and resources in emergencies.
Financial Disclosure Letter
Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
Project Name: Alexandria International Airport (AEX) Extension of Runway 18-36 and Associated Improvements
Intended Recipient: Alexandria International Airport
Intended Recipient Address: 1611 Arnold Drive, Alexandria, LA 71303
Requested Amount: $9,000,000
Project Description: The funding would be used to extend and make critical improvements to the Alexandria Airport runways. The runway extension and improvement project will continue to allow larger aircraft to come in and out of Alexandria. This project is a good use of taxpayer funding because it will ensure the airport's long-term viability as market conditions lead to the increased use of larger aircraft, connect local business owners and the community with other parts of the country, and ensure military readiness at the nearby Fort Polk.
Financial Disclosure Letter
Project Name: Central Louisiana Regional Port Portable Multimodal Transloading Equipment
Intended Recipient: Central Louisiana Regional Port
Intended Recipient Address: 600 River Port Road, Alexandria, LA 71303
Requested Amount: $976,000
Project Description: The funding would be for a portable multimodal transloading equipment system to facilitate the transfer of goods from one mode of transportation to another, such as from a train to a truck, truck to train, or truck to an inland barge. The equipment is designed to increase regional resilience by being mobile and easily transported to different locations, making it ideal for use in temporary or remote areas. This project is a good use of taxpayer funding because it will increase regional resilience and market development by enabling companies to access new markets that may have previously been too expensive or difficult to reach.
Financial Disclosure Letter
Project Name: City of Monroe and University of Louisiana at Monroe Entrepreneurial Innovation Expansion
Intended Recipient: City of Monroe
Intended Recipient Address: 400 Lea Joyner Memorial Expressway, Monroe, LA 71201
Requested Amount: $1,000,000
Project Description: The funding would expand the City of Monroe’s and the University of Louisiana at Monroe’s (ULM) entrepreneurial outreach by creating a new business innovation space. There is a critical need for a larger innovation building with the equipment and tools to enable young businesses to develop further and improve their products and sufficient space for training activities directed toward technology and management skills development. This project is a good use of taxpayer funding because it will expand start-up businesses’ access to critical services, improve the success rate of small businesses in Northeast Louisiana, and promote excellent economic opportunity for the region.
Financial Disclosure Letter
Project Name: City of Ruston S. Farmerville Street Multimodal Corridor
Intended Recipient: City of Ruston
Intended Recipient Address: Post Office Box 2069, Ruston, LA 71273
Requested Amount: $5,100,000
Project Description: The funding would be used to construct a multimodal corridor and make safety enhancements along the existing South Farmerville Street in Ruston. The portion of South Farmerville Street that needs revitalization connects LA Hwy 146 and LA Hwy 3061. This project is a good use of taxpayer funding because it will provide infrastructure improvements to support the region’s most critical healthcare facilities and serve as the primary arterial connection for all areas of the Ruston Sports Complex, which hosts thousands of visitors annually, and is now home to the newly founded Russtown Business Park.
Financial Disclosure Letter
Project Name: City of West Monroe Commercial Park Roundabout Access
Intended Recipient: City of West Monroe
Intended Recipient Address: 2305 North 7th Street, West Monroe, LA 71291
Requested Amount: $3,600,000
Project Description: The funding would be used to construct a roundabout built at the intersection of Downing Pines Road, Mane Street, and Short Constitution Drive. The proposed project will service the Ike Hamilton Expo, sports complex, hotels, businesses, and Restaurant Row. Roundabouts provide a safer method for vehicles to maneuver through an intersection and reduce right-angle crashes. This project is a good use of taxpayer funding because it will increase public safety and assist with economic development in an area that is a key component of the City's smart growth policy.
Financial Disclosure Letter
Project Name: Columbia Port Commission Dock Improvement
Intended Recipient: Columbia Port Commission
Intended Recipient Address: 212 Jackson Street, Columbia, LA 71418
Requested Amount: $5,000,000
Project Description: The funding would assist with upgrading the existing earthen embankment area to a public dock on the Ouachita River, electrify the dock allowing for the use of electrical loading equipment, and build service roads to connect the dock to the rail spur, Louisiana Green Fuels Plant site, and LA Hwy 165. This project is a good use of taxpayer funding because it will make critical investments in the Port to assist with economic development efforts for the region by attracting more businesses and industries to the area, leading to job creation, and economic growth.
Financial Disclosure Letter