Gov. John Bel Edwards announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has selected Louisiana along with 23 other regions to participate in the Regional Infrastructure Accelerators (RIA) program under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. A total of $24 million in new funding has been allocated to expand the program that aims to advance vital infrastructure projects across the United States. As part of the program, Louisiana will receive a $2 million grant.

“This is very exciting news for Louisiana and especially our rural communities,” said Gov. Edwards. “I want to thank USDOT Sec. Buttigieg, as well as all of our federal, local and state partners for making this happen. Having infrastructure in place to develop reliable transportation projects is vital for every aspect of life and economic development. I also want to thank Noble Ellington and his team at The Office of Rural Development for working diligently to find real solutions to some of the most pressing needs of our rural areas.”

“We are pleased to expand the Regional Infrastructure Accelerator program to 24 regions, helping communities build capacity and get much-needed transportation projects underway,” stated U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “DOT partners with these regions to help them secure financing and develop in-house expertise for innovative delivery of regionally significant projects.”

The Governor’s Office of Rural Development is grateful to the following entities for helping to successfully acquire this grant including: The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), The Lafayette Metropolitan Expressway Commission (LMEC), One Acadiana, and the Build America Center (BAC) at the University of Maryland who served as the technical advisor for the grant application.

“At its core, this office serves as a catalyst for change, building the necessary systems and infrastructure to sustain growth and create new avenues of prosperity in rural areas,” said Noble Ellington, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Rural Development. “This could not have happened without Mrs. Alison Cesar Bates, our regional director for the Acadiana Region. Her relentless dedication and strategic efforts helped bring this grant home to Louisiana and our rural communities that will greatly benefit from it.”

As part of the Louisiana Rural Infrastructure Accelerator (LARIA), the Governor’s Office of Rural Development will collaborate with a diverse range of local governments to collectively address the distinct infrastructure requirements in rural Louisiana. Notable among these local governments are the City of Scott, Acadia Parish, Evangeline Parish, Iberia Parish, Lafayette Parish, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish, and numerous other localities. Through these collaborative efforts, the Governor’s Office of Rural Development aims to foster inclusive and comprehensive infrastructure development throughout the state’s rural areas.

A LARIA workshop will be held at the beginning of December where guest speakers from USDOT and the Build America Center will go over the RIA Program and directly engage with rural jurisdictions to find solutions to their current infrastructure needs. For more information visit RuralDevelopment.la.gov.