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Federal Grants Totaling $2.7 Million Awarded for Biotech Facility and Jazz Museum in Louisiana

Louisiana — Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards announced on September 14, 2022, that a north Louisiana bioscience center and a New Orleans Jazz Museum expansion have been awarded $2.7 million in American Rescue Plan grants announced Tuesday by the United States Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration.

The EDA has pledged $1.8 million to the creation of a new Biomedical Research and Innovation Park on the campus of the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Matching funding from the state and municipal governments will raise the overall grant value to $3.6 million. EDA will provide $900,000 to the New Orleans Jazz Museum for enhancements to its French Quarter location, with an additional $225,000 in local funding bringing the total grant value to $1.1 million.

“I would like to thank President Biden and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo for awarding us these American Rescue Plan funds,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said. “We are committed to diversifying our economy and creating good-paying jobs in key industries like life sciences, and this biotechnology facility has the potential to be a transformative investment for the people of Northeast Louisiana. New Orleans is widely celebrated and recognized as the birthplace of jazz, and investing ARP funds into this entertainment mecca will help ensure that Louisiana’s tourism and visitor sector will continue to grow and thrive. These grants will have immediate and long-term economic, cultural and educational benefits for our state.”

Separate American Rescue Plan programs will support the projects, which will focus on expediting the post-pandemic recovery of various economic sectors. The biomedical park award is part of the Economic Adjustment Assistance Program, which funds innovative economic development projects that meet local requirements.

The projected 45,000-square-foot facility will be built next to the University of Louisiana at Monroe’s School of Pharmacy. Its objective is to help the biotechnical industry expand in North Louisiana by building a physical hub for life sciences enterprises and start-ups to develop their business models. Total capital expenditure is expected to be $34 million, with EDA and matching funds going toward infrastructure and site development. The project is estimated to generate 175 new jobs in the Monroe area once completed.

“President Biden is committed to ensuring that our communities are provided with the resources they need to diversify and grow their economies,” Raimondo said. “This EDA investment will support development of a lab to provide a place for new biotechnology startups to develop new businesses, leading to a stronger regional economy.”

The Jazz Museum will receive support from the ARP’s Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation program, which is aimed to speed the rehabilitation of regions whose economies rely largely on those sectors.

The Jazz Museum in New Orleans wants to upgrade its facility by refurbishing the first-floor cafe, constructing an outside stage, and making other upgrades. The Louisiana Museum Foundation predicts that the investment will sustain 55 new and retained employment and might create up to $33 million in private investment by luring additional tourists to the city.

“The travel, tourism and outdoor recreation sector is a critical economic driver for many communities and the Economic Development Administration is pleased to support community-led development strategies,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This EDA investment will strengthen New Orleans’ tourism sector, providing economic recovery and a more resilient tourism industry for the region.”

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