Louisiana
| Program Category | # of Grants per state | Sum of EDA $ |
|---|---|---|
| Disaster Relief | 2 | $318,000 |
| Economic Adjustment Assistance | 2 | $759,000 |
| Planning | 1 | $87,500 |
| Public Works | 3 | $2,800,000 |
| Technical Assistance | 2 | $225,700 |
| Grand Total | 10 | $4,190,200 |
The Louisiana State University (LSU) Innovation Park of Baton Rouge is currently home to 44 companies, a student and small business incubator, and over 250 employees. However, as companies have grown, they have had to move from the Innovation Park because there is insufficient space for expansion. In December 2017, the park lost a company with over 70 employees due to the lack of available space and lack of infrastructure along the main thoroughfare.
In FY 2018, EDA awarded $1.1 million in Public Works funds to LSU to provide “front door” access to the Innovation Park, opening up 150 acres of land to future development. Access to this expanded portion of the Park will allow the development of facilities that could accommodate up to 42 new companies. Additionally, the National Guard will use this road to access their training and disaster recovery center, which will enhance disaster resiliency and mobility for the future.
According to the grantee, this investment is estimated to create 2,100 jobs and spur $80 million in private investment.