Iberia Parish will receive more than $17 million in cash and non-cash lines of credit for capital outlay projects approved at the state Bond Commission meeting last week, including dredging a deeper channel for the Port of Iberia and a new access road for the Acadiana Regional Airport.

According to state Speaker of the House Taylor Barras, the state approved funding seven projects, including $5 million for the AGMAC project at the Port of Iberia, which will allow the port to dredge a large portion of the channel connecting it to the Intracoastal Waterway and subsequently allowing larger ships to access the port.

“In working with our Iberia Parish legislative delegation, these critical economic development projects have been carefully planned and executed,” Barras said in a prepared statement. “Over the past several years, we have worked closely with the officials of Iberia’s various governmental entities in applying for capital outlay project dollars. Securing funds through this extremely competitive process takes a great deal of patience and diligence. Hats off to our Parish entities for their hard work.”

The Iberia Parish Airport Authority will receive $1.4 million for hangar improvements, while the Iberia Parish Government will receive $4.27 million for a new access road to the airport. This is in addition to funding already in the works for a roundabout to tie in the parish’s Prosperity Point industrial park development.

The parish will also receive $200,000 for sewerage system improvements and $200,000 for renovation of the Robert Green building.

The village of Loreauville is on tap to receive $150,000 for the planning phase of its new fire station.

“My fellow Iberia Parish delegation members including, Sen. Fred Mills and Reps. Terry Landry, Blake Miguez and Mike Huval, are to be commended for their commitment to the development, and ultimately the funding, of these important projects,” Barras said. “Job creation is of vital importance to Iberia Parish and this type of investment in the infrastructure of the parish is badly needed to continue attracting businesses and their investment to the area.”

Barras also said the Acadiana Criminalistics Lab will receive a $2,000,000 line of credit and a $2,000,000 non-cash line of credit for new construction and redesign of its facility.

“Funding at the state level can be a very competitive process, and our delegation continues to provide the needed support to get the job done,” Barras said.