The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced a $2.6 million grant to the Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government in Houma, Louisiana. The announcement was made by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo. The grant will be used for water infrastructure improvements intended to support healthcare and workforce development in the region.
The grant will fund the design and construction of a new water line to service the new Terrebonne General Hospital. The goal is to increase access to healthcare and create high-quality jobs. The grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) will be matched with $651,470 in local funds, and is predicted to create or retain approximately 150 jobs. It is also expected to generate around $78 million in private investment, as per grantee estimates.
Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said the EDA investment aligns with President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, which is committed to providing communities with the necessary resources and infrastructure to enhance their quality of life. The investment is projected to improve healthcare access for Louisiana residents, support healthcare workers, and create well-paid jobs in the region.
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, Alejandra Y. Castillo, stated that the EDA works closely with local communities to support economic growth. The investment in Terrebonne Parish is expected to bolster the regional healthcare workforce, offering new job opportunities for residents and supporting a resilient regional economy.
The project was facilitated by the regional planning efforts of the South Central Planning and Development Commission (SCPDC). EDA funds SCPDC to unite public and private sectors to forge an economic development roadmap aimed at strengthening the regional economy, supporting private capital investment, and job creation.
The project’s funding is derived from the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023, which endowed the EDA with an additional $483 million in Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program funds. These funds are for disaster relief and recovery for areas declared as major disaster zones due to Hurricanes Ian and Fiona, wildfires, flooding, and other natural disasters in 2021 and 2022.
