NATCHITOCHES – The City of Natchitoches is proud to announce the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $17.2M in grant funding for the “Natchitoches Safe Streets Revitalization” Project.
“Our transportation infrastructure has suffered from neglect and lack of funding for decades,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Louisiana is seeing the benefits of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.”
Crumbling infrastructure throughout the state of Louisiana is expected to benefit greatly from Senator Cassidy’s work. Many of the roads and bridges in rural areas have never been repaired or rebuilt. The DOTD’s investment in infrastructure improvements will be transformative for the State.
“We are extremely grateful to Senator Cassidy for leading the charge to create the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,” said Mayor Williams. “Without his vision and the support of DOTD Secretary Dr. Shawn Wilson, this grant to improve our city’s infrastructure could not be possible. I promised to be relentless in my pursuit of grant monies for our city. We will continue to seek grant funding to make our great city even greater.”
The RAISE grant application team was comprised of Community Outreach & Grants Manager Nicole Gray, City Engineer Nick Verret and Washington, DC-based federal grant consultant Merchant McIntyre, who provided strategic guidance throughout the development process and post-submission support. The team, assembled by Mayor Williams, originally submitted their first application in 2021, and quickly reassembled earlier this year to strengthen the 2022 grant application for resubmission in April.
“I am so very proud of the team Mayor Williams assembled to deliver this win to Natchitoches. This is a game changer for our community,” said Gray. “The grant helps further one of his priorities to improve infrastructure and it also bolsters the rehabilitation of the Texas Street business corridor, including the adjacent communities of Bailey Heights, Breda Town and my childhood neighborhood Jackson Square.”
To learn more about the Natchitoches Safe Streets Revitalization Project, join us on Thursday, Aug. 18 at 1 p.m. at the Natchitoches Events Center. Mayor Williams will be joined by City staff, Louisiana DOTD Secretary Dr. Shawn Wilson, other elected officials and City leaders to discuss the project. For more information, please contact the mayor’s office at 318-352-2772.
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