U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2.2 Million to Make Water Infrastructure Improvements to Support Baton Rouge Health District

Press Release

U.S. Congressman Garret Graves announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2,240,000 grant to the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to improve Pump Station 299 and increase capacity to support business development in the Baton Rouge Health District. This EDA project, to be matched with $560,000 in local funds, is expected to create 574 jobs and generate $21 million in private investment.

"Through private investment and federal funding, the Baton Rouge region is going to be the beneficiary of new water infrastructure that will support our healthcare facilities and businesses in the area. This is a big step toward fulfilling the vision of the Health District and making Baton Rouge a destination for healthcare innovation, education, research, and -- most importantly -- results," said Graves.

"President Biden is committed to strengthening access to healthcare and improving regional economies for communities across the nation," said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. "The Baton Rouge Health District contains much of the region's medical infrastructure, and this EDA investment will provide necessary sewer water improvements to support expansion of healthcare facilities and nearby businesses, attract new businesses to the area, and create a stronger regional economy."

"The Economic Development Administration is pleased to support Baton Rouge as it seeks to grow the region's healthcare economy," said Dennis Alvord, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. "This investment will construct and relocate an existing water pump station and create new gravity collection lines, providing the medical corridor with needed infrastructure capacity to support tens of thousands of existing jobs and support the creation of hundreds of new jobs through existing and new businesses."

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Capital Region Planning Commission (CRPC), which EDA funds to help bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment, and create jobs.

Grant Description:

This EDA investment supports the City of Baton Rouge with providing infrastructure capacity improvements and associated appurtenances for Pump Station-299, which supports economic advances within the Baton Rouge Medical Corridor in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The project will assist the region with recovery efforts from Hurricane Laura and the COVID-19 pandemic by expanding the Baton Rouge Medical Corridor to meet the demand for qualified and accessible healthcare facilities. In addition, the project will benefit activity in a nearby Opportunity Zone and provide critical sewer capacity to help meet the current needs of the region's largest healthcare providers and employers. Once completed, the project will build the foundation for future growth, which will bolster job creation, spur private investment, and advance economic resiliency throughout the region.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)

The U.S. Economic Development Administration's (EDA) mission is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.

###

Source