Louisiana Receives First IIJA Round of Funding Totaling $101 Million

Louisiana has received the first round of funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (UIJA) totaling $101 million that will help improve water infrastructure.

The act passed November 6 by congress that the White House described as “a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s infrastructure and competitiveness.” The act’s goal is to rebuild America’s roads, bridges and rails, expand access to clean drinking water, ensure every American has access to high-speed internet, tackle the climate crisis, advance environmental justice, and invest in communities. It will help strengthen supply chains by making improvements for the nation’s ports, airports, rail, and roads. It will drive the creation of union jobs and the White House said it will grow the economy sustainably and equitably so that everyone gets ahead for decades to come. Combined with the President’s Build Back Framework, they said it will add on average 1.5 million jobs per year for the next 10 years.

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards released a statement on the first round of funds received. “Ensuring that our citizens have access to clean and safe drinking water has always been among my top priorities and this allocation of federal dollars from the IIJA could help many more communities across Louisiana,” said Gov. Edwards. “I’m grateful to Senator Cassidy, Congressman Carter, and President Biden for their hard work on making this happen.”