SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) – Louisiana lawmakers have announced a package of budget bills signed by Governor Jeff Landry that benefit northwest Louisiana.
The package includes hundreds of millions of dollars in investments for the Shreveport-Bossier area, with major funding for healthcare, higher education, workforce development, transportation, public safety, economic development, infrastructure, and community projects, Jackson says.
“This budget is a major win for north Louisiana,” said Rep. Steven Jackson. “Two of the biggest wins are about the future of medical education and healthcare in north Louisiana. The LSU Health/St. Vincent Mall development gives us a chance to take a vacant property and turn it into something that supports medical research, jobs, and long-term growth. The Northwestern State nursing building in Shreveport will help train more nurses for the hospitals, clinics, and families that need them right here at home. At the same time, additional funding for Hearne Avenue and Ford Street means important road projects can move forward this fiscal year. That is what this budget should do. It should help us build, fix, grow, and prepare for what comes next.”
DETAILS ON MAJOR REGIONAL FUNDING
Higher Education, Healthcare & Workforce Development ($64.8 million)
- $25 million for the LSU Health Sciences Foundation in Shreveport for economic development initiatives
- $17.5 million for the Northwestern State University Nursing Education Center at Warrington Place on the Shreveport campus
- $10.5 million for LSU Shreveport’s HPE Renovation for Student Wellness Facility and campus repairs
- $4.92 million for LSU Health Shreveport emergency water supply improvements
- $3 million for LSU Health Shreveport student and faculty parking expansion
- $1 million for the Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana for the Center for Molecular Imaging and Therapy
- $400,000 for startup costs for the Crisis Intervention Center
- $2.5 million for campus safety upgrades at LSU Shreveport
Transportation & Infrastructure ($135 million)
- $24.1 million for the Shreveport Healthcare and Development Corridor
- $23 million for Bossier City water treatment improvements
- $24.1 million in DOTD funding for the Kings Highway Healthcare and Development Corridor
- $21.1 million for I-49 Southern Loop to Murphy Street improvements
- $8 million for the Caddo-Bossier Parish Port Commission land purchase
- $6.1 million for (Hearne Ave Phase II): LA 3094 from US 80 to US 71
- $5.27 million for Shreveport pavement panel replacement
- $3.46 million for Shreveport pavement asphalt rehabilitation
- $1.17 million for (Ford Street) LA 173 from Pine Street to Hartman Street
- $500,000 for Bossier City striping improvements
- $360,000 for Shreveport traffic signal backup generators
- $350,000 for Bossier City improvements at Northgate Road and Patricia Drive
- $100,000 for a Bossier City citywide pump track project
Public Safety & Military Support ($6.5 million)
- $3.5 million for the Shreveport-Bossier Military Affairs Council for the Barksdale Air Force Base security gate
- $2.5 million for the Shreveport-Bossier Military Affairs Council
- $265,879 for Shreveport City Marshal ballistic vests, body cameras, and portable radios
- $150,000 for the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office for domestic violence center and specialized patrols
- $80,000 for Support of pretrial pilot program with the Caddo Parish Sheriff Office
Community, Tourism, Youth & Neighborhood Investments ($1.1 million)
- $225,000 for Neighborhood Beautification Project
- $120,000 for Rho Omega and Friends for the Let the Good Times Roll Festival and youth programs
- $100,000 for the Shreveport Water Works Museum
- $100,000 for the State Fair of Louisiana
- $100,000 for the Highland Center ADA building project
- $100,000 for the Shreveport-Bossier African American Chamber of Commerce
- $75,000 for Arc Caddo-Bossier programming
- $65,000 for Maternal Health Program
- $65,000 for the Shreveport Downtown Development Authority for downtown business development and riverfront activities
- $60,000 for the Caddo Parish Commission for sports, tourism, and activities at Independence Stadium
- $50,000 for Red River Revel
- $36,000 for Bossier City summer youth activities
- $25,000 for Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office for Youth and/or Senior Citizen Programs
“These investments reflect what can happen when north Louisiana stays at the table and continues to fight for its priorities,” said Rep. Jackson. “Not every project began with me, and no one person can claim the work alone. But I am proud to help advocate for a budget that delivers real wins for Shreveport, Bossier, Caddo, and the surrounding region. From health care and higher education to roads, public safety, workforce, and quality of life, these dollars represent progress people will be able to see and feel.”…