Eunice Gets $2.5 MIllion
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
Eunice elected officials and St. Landry Parish government representatives announced on Wednesday that the city has received $2.5 million in state capital outlay funding which will be used primarily for City Hall, Liberty Theater and Jail improvements.
Mayor Scott Fontenot added that the overall 2025 state appropriation includes an additional $1 million in direct cash that Fontenot said could possibly be utilized for streets, drainage and athletic complex improvements.
The big winner for the Eunice-area, state-funded improvements is LSU-Eunice, Fontenot pointed out.
LSUE, located just outside Eunice in Acadia Parish, was awarded $ 27.9 million for a science and technology innovation center, $13.38 million for the payment of athletic complex obligation bonds and $1.13 in repairs for Manuel Hall.
Parish president Jessie Bellard said his administration will continue working with state elected officials to secure funding that impacts parish municipalities.
Fontenot complimented Bellard and the state officials that Fontenot said helped obtain the revenues.
“We’ve applied for capital outlay funds in the past, but with the new (state) administration and working with our elected representatives, we are getting much-needed revenues,” said Fontenot.
Fontenot said the funding breakdown indicates that $1.32 million of the total Eunice appropriation will help offset costs for City Hall and municipal jail improvements.
Another $1.2million is dedicated for continued work for Liberty Theater renovations, Fontenot said.
Police chief Kyle Louef said during the brief press conference at City Hall that the state allocation allows him to make major improvements for the facility.
Initial architectural plans for the jail project have been completed, Lebouef said.
“Improvements for the jail are something we really need. There’s mold and mildew that need to be addressed,” Lebouef said.
Lebouef noted that he would like to use a portion of the funding that would create a dorm-like, bedding arrangement at the jail and perhaps increase the intake capacity from the current 36 inmates.
Fontenot said use the City Hall part of the funding for lobby, front door and ceiling work.
The Liberty Theater project is ongoing, Fontenot said.
“There has been a lot of planning done (on the theater). There has been a change in the roof and about $500,000 has been used already for other modifications and drawings,” Fontenot said during a post-meeting interview.
The parish previously sent $500,000 in COVID funding that was used for Liberty Theater improvements.
Fontenot said the parish COVID revenues were matched by the city.
