Delta Regional Authority Announces $9.3M Investment Into 18 Louisiana Infrastructure Projects

DRA’s investment will improve water, draining, and transportation infrastructure projects to help build safer, more resilient communities throughout Louisiana.

Delta Regional Authority (DRA) today announced that $9.3M will be invested into 18 Louisiana infrastructure projects through DRA’s Community Infrastructure Fund (CIF). The investment will be matched by $11.7M and will attract an additional $6.7M in capital investments. The CIF program addresses unmet basic public infrastructure, transportation infrastructure, and flood control needs to help build safer, more resilient communities in the Delta region. These projects are expected to create 98 jobs, retain 126 jobs, and affect over 18,000 families.

“As I travel throughout Louisiana and listen to community leaders, it is clear that infrastructure upgrades are among the state’s greatest needs,” said DRA Federal Co-Chairman Dr. Corey Wiggins. “Accessible roads, reliable water and sewer services, and secure flood protection are essential in order to maintain existing businesses, attract new industries, and keep a community healthy and thriving.”

Louisiana: FY 2022 CIF Investment Snapshot

• Number of Projects: 18
• DRA Investment: $9,346,667
• Total Project Investment: $21,112,213
• Additional Capital Investment: $6,700,000
• Jobs Created: 98
• Jobs Retained: 126
• Families Affected: 18,766

The following projects were funded by CIF:

1. Village of East Hodge Main Lift Station | East Hodge, LA: The Town of Hodge will use DRA funds to rehabilitate all existing lift stations within East Hodge. This investment is projected to affect 135 families.
   • DRA Investment: $362,777
   • Total Investment: $362,777
2. Franklinton Medical District Water System Improvements | Franklinton, LA: The Town of Franklinton will use DRA funds to install new water mains to provide resilient and redundant water infrastructure for existing facilities and future medical district development and expansion. This investment is projected to affect 50 families.
   • DRA Investment: $584,653
   • Total Investment: $665,653
3. Lonewa Road Improvements | Monroe, LA: The Ouachita Parish Police Jury will use DRA funds to repair and widen a segment of Lonewa Road servicing the businesses located on that road and the assisted living and memory care community under construction. This investment is projected to create 1 job and retain 1 job.
   • DRA Investment: $1,174,307
   • Total Investment: $1,565,743
4. Sterlington Access Road | Sterlington, LA: The Town of Sterlington will use DRA funds to construct a road that will provide access to 20 acres for economic growth. This investment is projected to create 2 jobs.
   • DRA Investment: $368,811
   • Total Investment: $436,311
5. Sibley Water Treatment Improvements | Sibley, LA: The Town of Sibley will use DRA funds to construct new water supply and treatment facilities. This investment is projected to affect 524 families.
   • DRA Investment: $357,425
   • Total Investment: $1,936,925
6. Lift Station No. 4 Rehabilitation | Farmerville, LA: The Town of Farmerville will use DRA funds to repair, rehabilitate, and improve sewer lift station number four for the Town of Farmerville. This investment is projected to affect 1,222 families.
   • DRA Investment: $364,999
   • Total Investment: $417,999
7. SWWD Water Main Replacement | Sarepta, LA: The Sarepta Water Works District will use DRA funds to replace the water mains along 2nd Street and Davenport Drive and add gate valves and fire hydrants. This investment is projected to affect 29 families.
   • DRA Investment: $256,435
   • Total Investment: $281,435
8. Opelousas Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements | Opelousas, LA: The City of Opelousas will use DRA funds to upgrade the clarifiers, tertiary filter, and sludge digesters of the city’s wastewater treatment facility. This investment is projected to affect 6,607 families.
   • DRA Investment: $500,000
   • Total Investment: $2,767,430
9. Lafourche Parish Pump Station Fuel Tank Upgrade | Thibodaux, LA: The Lafourche Parish Government will use DRA funds to upgrade and replace 15 old single-skinned fuel tanks with 11 new double-skinned fuel tanks at 11 pump station. This investment is projected to retain 11 jobs.
   • DRA Investment: $251,757
   • Total Investment: $401,227
10. Grambling Sewer Collection System Renovations | Grambling, LA: The City of Grambling will use DRA funds to renovate the sewer collection system at the College Lift Station. This investment is projected to create 25 jobs, retain 98 jobs, and affect 430 families.
    • DRA Investment: $300,000
    • Total Investment: $694,600
11. Russtown Industrial Access Road | Ruston, LA: The City of Ruston will use DRA funds to build an industrial road ensuring access to seven lots for development at the old Ruston airport. This investment is projected to create 20 jobs and retain 15 jobs.
    • DRA Investment: $1,013,860
    • Total Investment: $1,572,744
12. Abbeville Water Treatment Plant | Abbeville, LA: The City of Abbeville will use DRA funds to upgrade the water treatment plant. This investment is projected to affect 5,305 families.
    • DRA Investment: $508,910
    • Total Investment: $1,264,910
13. Port Barre Water Treatment Facility Improvements | Port Barre, LA: The Town of Port Barre will use DRA funds to upgrade existing treatment facilities to address insufficient treatment capabilities. This investment is projected to affect 2,100 families.
    • DRA Investment: $500,000
    • Total Investment: $1,481,185
14. Concordia Parish Sewer District Renovations | Vidalia, LA: The Concordia Parish Police Jury will use DRA funds to improve the Parish’s sole sewerage treatment facility to resolve violations and expand capacity. This investment is projected to affect 1,200 families.
    • DRA Investment: $407,920
    • Total Investment: $2,018,920
15. Tullos Water Treatment Plant Compliance | Tullos, LA: The Town of Tullos will use DRA funds to construct a water treatment plant to reduce disinfectant/disinfection by-products in the town’s water system. This investment is projected to affect 264 families.
    • DRA Investment: $1,013,860
    • Total Investment: $3,332,460
16. Cheneyville Sewer Lift Station Rehabilitations | Cheneyville, LA: The Town of Cheneyville will use DRA funds to rehabilitate six sewer lift stations in the Town of Cheneyville’s sewer collection system to assist with the reshoring basic infrastructure.
    • DRA Investment: $103,891
    • Total Investment: $103,891
17. Tunica-Biloxi Garan Project | Mansura, LA: The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana will use DRA funds to develop an industrial infrastructure site at 5570 Highway 1 for emerging enterprise activity. This investment is projected to create 50 jobs and retain 1 job.
    • DRA Investment: $571,524
    • Total Investment: $1,009,524
18. Woodworth Sewer System Improvements | Woodworth, LA: The Town of Woodworth will use DRA funds to rehabilitate gravity sewer infrastructure for mitigation of sanitary sewer overflows and reducing or eliminating inflow and infiltration to the sewer system. This investment is projected to affect 900 families.
    • DRA Investment: $705,538
    • Total Investment: $798,479

About The Delta Regional Authority
The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) is a federal-state partnership created by Congress in 2000 to promote and encourage the economic development of the lower Mississippi River Delta region and Alabama Black Belt. DRA invests in projects supporting transportation infrastructure, basic public infrastructure, workforce training, and business development. DRA’s mission is to help create jobs, build communities, and improve the lives of those who reside in the 252 counties and parishes of the eight-state region.