Cassidy Hosts Second Rural Community Funding Summit

SHREVEPORT - This morning, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) hosted his second Rural Community Funding Summit of 2024, together with Minden Mayor Nick Cox, the Louisiana Municipal Association, the Police Jury Association of Louisiana, and LITACorp. Cassidy encouraged local officials in attendance to take advantage of his Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), and the opportunities it provides.

"When I was negotiating the bipartisan infrastructure bill, I was thinking of mayors, police jurors and city council members gaining access to dollars to build roads, fix water and sewage issues and extend high-speed broadband throughout Northwest Louisiana," said Dr. Cassidy. "This summit completes the connection between appropriating our federal tax dollars back to our state and these community leaders learning how to use this money."

Webster Parish alone will benefit from over $17 million in the IIJA as of last summer, including over $9.2 million to build a new overpass over Louisiana Highway 531, along with other improvements near the overpass. Improvements will also be made to the stretch of Louisiana Highway 159 between Country Club Drive and Benson Road, and to the Minden and Springhill Airports.

Representatives from numerous federal and state agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development and the Delta Regional Authority, were present. Cassidy was thanked for his efforts by Mayor Cox.

"Senator Cassidy's infrastructure bill has been enormously helpful in improving our roads and upgrading our airports, and we appreciate the chance to learn more about the opportunities in his bill to improve the services we provide to our residents," said Mayor Cox. "This is great for Minden and great for the region."

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