Police jury receives $200,000 grant for rail spur

It was recently announced the Evangeline Parish Police Jury was awarded Delta Regional Authority (DRA) funding in the amount of $200,000 to enhance economic development in the City of Ville Platte.
The money will be used to improve a rail spur serving the parish industrial park.
According to Andrew Moreau, Communications Director for DRA, “The spur has been inoperable for two years, and refurbishing it will allow the parish to attract large national and international companies to the industrial park.”
Moreau continued, “The project will create one new job and help retain 85 jobs.”
Earlier this month, Governor John Bel Edwards shared DRA would be investing $2.6 million throughout the State of Louisiana to enhance workforce training, help create and retain jobs and improve water and sewer service for rural families.
According to Gov. Edwards, DRA’s investments, along with other public and private partners, will bring a total of $34.6 million new investments to Louisiana.
In regard to this news, U.S. Congressman Mike Johnson, stated, “Many of our communities in Louisiana are in desperate need of infrastructure updates, and this grant will provide vital funding to help ensure those needs are met. I am particularly happy to see Ville Platte receive over half a million dollars to enhance economic development in the area that will, in turn, help attract new companies and new jobs. The Louisiana delegation has worked tirelessly to impress upon our colleagues the importance of investment in our state. This is welcome news from the DRA, and we look forward to continuing our efforts in Congress to build upon the growth these grants will provide.”
This money, according to EPPJ President Ryan LeDay Williams, is a grant Donald Bergeron, Ronnie Landreneau, State Police Jury President Eric Soileau, and himself, along with his fellow parish police jury members, were able to retain for Evangeline Parish.
William said, “I want to thank everyone that helped us secure this grant and for all the support we, as the police jury, have received during the process of trying to make this happen. We will receive at least $200,000.00 for a new railroad spur to aid in attracting new industries and to better service the industries that already need to utilize the spur. This is a great thing for our parish. And, we as a police jury, are going to continue to work to bring many more good things like this grant to Evangeline Parish.”