The federal government’s involvement in infrastructure investment is limited in size and scope, leaving many states and local governments to shoulder the burden of finding the revenue needed for their infrastructural needs.
The purpose of the LGAP is to provide funding to local governments to facilitate requisite capital improvements, including the construction, structural change or restoration of infrastructure in rural areas. The grant program was created to provide financial aid for urgent matters where federal funding was not available. Building projects intended to address issues of health, safety and quality of life will be given priority.
All municipalities and parishes in Louisiana are eligible to apply except for Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Bossier City, Kenner, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe, New Orleans and Shreveport.
Qualifying municipalities and parishes can apply for grants in the following areas:
- Fire protection
- Sewer
- Water
- Renovations to essential governmental buildings
- Police protection
- Land acquisition
- Demolition
- Equipment
- Roads
- Drainage
- Reasonable engineering costs
Award amounts will be determined by population size as listed below:
- Villages (1-999) – up to $25,000
- Towns (1,000 to 4,999) – up to $35,000
- Cities (5,000 to 35,000) – up to $50,000
- Parishes – up to $100,000
All applications are required to have a resolution of support from their local government agency, as well as a letter of support from the state senator and representative from the project area.
Project operations can only begin when a contract between the awarded local government and the Office of Community Development (OCD) has been signed. Additionally, it is only after the OCD has received project-related invoices that award money will be dispensed to reimburse the costs incurred.
Access the administrative rules for the LGAP here. Apply for the grant here.
The CWEF grant was created specifically to assist local governments with the rehabilitation, improvement and construction of water systems projects to provide clean and safe drinking water for communities. If a municipality or parish’s infrastructural needs are specific to these areas of concern, it may apply for a CWEF grant. The same population size and award amount criteria apply.
The administrative rules for CWEF can be viewed here. Apply for the grant here.
The deadline to apply for an LGAP or a CWEF grant is December 6, 2019.
