Junior A. Fabiano
April 7, 2009
Willard John Kraemer Jr.
April 9, 2009
Gov. Bobby Jindal presented five grants – totaling $136,855 – to Morgan City, Baldwin and the St. Mary Parish Council during a stop Friday.
The funds, part of the state’s new Local Government Assistance Program (LGAP), are for shoring up gaps in infrastructure, law enforcement and fire protection needs.
“Today’s announcement is just one more example of how (state government) can use our dollars responsibly to improve the quality of life for all people,” Jindal said. “It’s important for us to do this – to invest in our local communities.”
Jindal credited state Sen. Butch Gautreaux and Reps. Sam Jones and Joe Harrison with fighting on St. Mary residents’ behalf to get the funds.
The LGAP awards include:
• $35,000 for Baldwin, which Mayor Wayne Breaux said will be used to buy and install water system infrastructure for a new community center.
• $50,000 for improvements to the new Centerville park.
• $1,855 to the St. Mary Parish Council to use for infrastructure improvements.
• $35,000 to Morgan City to buy police equipment, including video- and audio-recording equipment, as well as a van for the Juvenile Service Division of the City Court.
• $15,000 to purchase a utility truck for Morgan City’s fire department.
The state Office of Community Development, through the Division of Administration, manages LGAP.
“Louisiana has now outperformed the national economy for a third month in a row,” Jindal said. “But it’s because we work hard at what we do.”
“Last year, I line item vetoed 250 items, and I said that we need to use dollars based on genuine need, not politics,” he said. “Today is a perfect example.”
Gov. Bobby Jindal signs a check Friday, awarding St. Mary Parish over $100,000 in funds from the state’s new Local Government Assistance Program. * Photo by HOWARD CASTAY JR.
