Governor Jeff Landry announces the state is in the process of investing $3.5 billion in rural Louisiana. $1.5 billion of that is in federal broadband funding. Veneeth Iyengar, the executive director of ConnectLA, says by the end of 2026, he expects 95% of Louisiana to have access to reliable internet.
“The rate of broadband growth, just in these 26 parishes, and the speed that we’re connecting people is three times the national average,” Iyengar noted.
Archie Chaisson, the executive director of the Office of Louisiana Highway Construction, says the office is investing $580 million in 152 road and bridge projects.
“It’s more than just that piece of steel, that piece of concrete; it’s how we get to church, it’s how we get to school. It’s how we get to mom’s house for a home-cooked meal at the end of the day. And when those things are out, it hampers our economy, it hampers our community,” Chaisson said.
The Louisiana Department of Health’s Rural Health Transformation Project is spearheading a $1.4 billion initiative to improve access, quality and innovation across rural healthcare systems statewide. ULM President Dr. Carrie Castille says they have received funding to expand programs in its College of Health Sciences, which will expand their nursing enrollment.
“We’re leading in workforce development. We’re leading when it comes to developing our next generation of healthcare providers, and we’re doing it to where we can support our rural communities,” Castille explained.