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February 21, 2008

CONTACT:
Seth Harvey
(225) 342-0729
sharvey@crt.state.la.us

BATON ROUGE, LA - Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu and the State Bond Commission approved funding for healthcare, education, and housing needs across the state. Lt. Gov. Landrieu, as a member of the commission, signed off on a number of projects, funding infrastructure improvements, economic development, and recovery efforts.

"These projects are moving Louisiana in the right direction," said Lt. Governor Landrieu. "We must make responsible investments in housing, healthcare and education if we want progress."

Landrieu also proposed a measure which would require the Bond Commission to report reasons for denying applications for items to be reviewed at commission meetings. His proposal, designed to increase transparency in the applicant review process, was adopted by the commission.

Landrieu added, "We must continue to support transparency and accountability in all areas of our government."

Approved project funding includes:

158 mixed-income rental housing units and a community center in New Orleans' Upper Ninth Ward ($18,600,000)
Road and bridge improvement in Allen Parish ($68,500)
Improvements to Coushatta High School in Red River Parish ($8,000,000)
Renovations to Abbeville General Hospital in Vermilion Parish ($2,500,000)
Hurricane Rita recovery projects in Cameron Parish ($27,150,000)
Purchase and rehabilitation of a 136-unit residential rental facility in Terrytown, Jefferson Parish ($8,940,000)
Construction of a molasses blending plant and pilot plant in St. Bernard Parish ($30,000,000)

For more information, please visit www.treasury.state.la.us/divisions/bondcommission/bondcommission_index.htm