Today, Governor Bobby Jindal announced that Tangipahoa Parish is receiving two economic development grants totaling nearly $1.5 million that will create over 150 jobs. In addition to the economic development grants, Governor Jindal said the parish is receiving a $273,225 public facility grant as well as ten Local Government Assistance Program (LGAP) grants totaling $136,800. Each of these grants will be used for infrastructure projects and long-term capital improvements. The Governor awarded the funds to local officials in a ceremonial check presentation at a press conference in the Tangipahoa Parish Tourist Commission Office.

Governor Jindal said “These grants will help grow local communities by creating hundreds of new jobs and making critical improvements to infrastructure that can support the further growth of business.”

Upon awarding the LGAP grants, Governor Jindal said, “By investing state resources into infrastructure improvements for local communities – we reaffirm our commitment to working with local governments and ensuring every Louisianian has the opportunities and quality of life they deserve.” 

The economic development and public facility grants were awarded in the form of Louisiana Community Development Block Grants (LCDBG). The grants include a $904,901 economic development grant, a $557,742 economic development grant and a $273,225 public facility grant. Tangipahoa Parish President Gordon Burgess accepted the funds on behalf of the parish

The Tangipahoa Parish Government received a $904,901 LCDBG economic development grant to repair existing roads as well as create new roads surrounding the Barrister Global Services Network facility. The project will facilitate increased traffic and access to large delivery vehicles by widening existing roadway, creating a turning lane and constructing a new road.  

Barrister plans to create a minimum of 100 new full-time jobs during the three year contract period of the project. In accordance with the LCDBG economic development program, 51 percent of the new jobs created will be given to employees from low to moderate income families.

Barrister Global Services Network is a provider of multi-vendor information technology (IT) services. As the United States’ oldest and largest female-owned computer service company, Barrister provides remote repair, on-site maintenance, per incident on-site hardware repair, equipment installation, de-installations and kiosk services.

The second LCDBG economic development grant, totaling $557,742, will be used for infrastructure improvements surrounding the American Truss, L.L.C., facility. Over 1,000 feet of new roadway, including curbs and underground drainage and ditches, will be constructed from Airport Road to the American Truss facility.

American Truss plans to create 53 new jobs during the three year contract period of the project. In accordance with the LCDBG economic development program, 51 percent of the new jobs created will be given to employees from low to moderate income families.

American Truss specializes in computer driven, mass production engineer structural components for the construction industry in the Gulf South region.

The Tangipahoa Parish Government also received a $273,225 LCDBG public facility grant to be used to purchase a new water well, pressure tank and chlorinator for the Fluker Chapel community in Tangipahoa Parish.

The primary objective of the Louisiana Community Development Block Grant Program is to provide assistance to local government in non-entitlement areas for the development of viable communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment and expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate income. Non-entitlement areas are municipalities with a population of less than 50,000 and parishes with an unincorporated population of less than 200,000.

The LCDBG economic development program provides grants and loans of up to $1,035,000 in order to help a business open or expand. These funds can be used to make infrastructure improvements for water and sewer systems, roads and the construction or repair of buildings. The company benefiting from this program must agree to create at least 10 new jobs, 51 percent of the new employees must be from low to moderate income families, and they must invest in the business an amount of money equal to or greater than the LCDBG funds invested. Businesses that receive a grant can request up to $10,000 per job created, and those that receive loans may request up to $15,000 per job created. Economic development applications can also be submitted at any time during the state’s two year funding cycle.

LGAP Grants For Tangipahoa Parish

Governor Jindal awarded a total of ten LGAP grants to municipalities within Tangipahoa Parish including a $21,185 grant for the City of Hammond, a $17,100 grant for the City of Ponchatoula, one $11,400 grant each for the towns of Roseland, Kentwood, Independence and Amite, one $8,550 grant each for the villages of Tangipahoa and Tickfaw and two grants for the Tangipahoa Parish Government totaling $35,815. 

The City of Hammond, represented by Mayor Mayson Foster, received a $21,185 grant that will be used to purchase and install back-up generators for the city’s administrative offices and the building department. The generators will furnish electrical service to office equipment during extreme weather conditions and decrease power interruptions.     

The City of Ponchatoula, represented by Mayor Bob Zabbia, received a $17,100 grant that will be used to make infrastructure improvements throughout the city, including closing open ditches, repairing, replacing and installing new drainage pipes, and installing catch basins to reduce flooding.

The Town of Roseland, represented by Mayor Wanda “Yodie” McCoy, received an $11,400 grant that will be used to make improvements to the sewer system by upgrading pumps, motors, and hoses. 

The Town of Kentwood, represented by Mayor Harold Smith, received an $11,400 grant that will be used to maintain two elevated water tanks and repair concrete sewer mains.   

The Town of Independence, represented by Mayor Michael Ragusa, received an $11,400 grant that will be used to repair the water system and replace water lines. 

The Town of Amite, represented by Mayor Reggie Goldsby, received an $11,400 grant that will be used to upgrade the town’s sewer lift station. 

The Village of Tangipahoa, represented by Mayor Michael Jackson, received an $8,550 grant that will be used to renovate City Hall.

The Village of Tickfaw, represented by Mayor “Tony” LaMonte, received an $8,550 grant that will be used to purchase and install two five-ton central air and heat units for City Hall. 

Finally, the Tangipahoa Parish Government, represented by Parish President Gordon Burgess, received two grants totaling $35,815. The first grant, totaling $31,065, will be used by Tangipahoa Parish Animal Control to purchase additional equipment for their shelter and the second grant, totaling $4,750, will be used to purchase public works equipment.

LGAP is managed by the Office of Community Development through Division of Administration and provides funding to local governments for a variety of needed infrastructure projects and long-term capital improvements in rural areas. The program is designed to fill the gaps where there are no federal or other state funds available to assist local governments with their high priority needs. Priority is given to those projects which identify and resolve basic human health, safety needs or quality of life concerns of citizens.

(Jindal Press release)