LEESVILLE -- Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal announced Thursday the state would be committing $25.2 million in capital outlay and Community Development Block Grant funding over the next three years to pay for the expansion of a water and sewer system along La. 467 as well as the construction of a parkway connecting La. 467 to La. 468 and La. 468 to La. 28.
"These enhancements will improve the quality of life not only for our Soldiers, but our civilians," Jindal said.
Jindal said the investment would provide the infrastructure necessary to grow the local economy and attract more units to Fort Polk. These infrastructure improvements will occur in tandem with the Fort Polk expansion of 100,000 acres, increasing the post's training footprint by 50 percent, which is expected to be the largest Army land acquisition in decades.
"This expansion could create up to 2,000 jobs in the area," Jindal said. "This is the kind of investment that will benefit not only the men and women who train here to defend our freedom, but also help grow the economy of the Central Louisiana region in a big way. We expect a substantial return on investment from these improvements, which will also help our chances of adding a new, full brigade to Fort Polk."
An analysis funded by the Pentagon concluded that housing, retail and quality of life are the amenities needed most at Fort Polk to allow it to expand. Several developers are interested in the expansion, which will aggressively promote off-post housing.
The first phase of the project will include construction of the sewer and water systems along La. 467 to the veteran's clinic near the entrance of Fort Polk, including the construction of lift stations and force mains for the sewer project. Phase one could take as little as 18 months; the sewer project will cost roughly $4.25 million and the water project $1.152 million.
The next phase, labeled Phase 1B, will cost about $1.15 million and will involve a water distribution extension of the City of Leesville's water system for the installation of a 12-inch-diameter water line along La. 467 to the Veteran's Clinic.
Phase 2A, the Sub-Regional Parkway Road, slated to cost $12.5 million, is a 2.3-mile new road from La. 467 to La. 468. The second phase would be from La. 468 to La. 28. This would involve constructing a boulevard section of 30- to 34-foot travel lanes, concrete curbs and gutter, a 25-foot median, a five- to 10-foot pedestrian and bicycle trail on one side, landscaping, drainage and utilities. The right-of-way would be 150 feet.
Phase 2B, the Sub-Regional Parkway Sewer, would cost about $6.7 million and provide gravity sewer mains ranging in size from eight-inch to 18-inch diameter, manholes, force mains and six pump stations to accommodate the anticipated sewer flow from new developments.
Phase 2C, the Sub-Regional Parkway Water, would cost $608,000 and involve a water distribution extension of the City of Leesville's water system for the installation of a 12-inch diameter water line from La. 467 north to La. 468.
Phase one is expected to take approximately 18 months, while phase two will take approxi-
mately two and a half years.
"By the end of 2012, the Army plans to spend more than $638 million in Fort Polk improvements," Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret said in a press release Thursday. "We are encouraged by the Army's commitment to Fort Polk and to Louisiana. And we see the state's investment in these major infrastructure improvements as a key for unlocking the economic power of Fort Polk and for augmenting the civilian and soldier communities in the region."
Officials agreed that supporting Fort Polk was crucial to not only the success of Vernon Parish but that of the state as well.
"Fort Polk contributes $1.6 billion a year to the Louisiana economy," Jindal said.
"We need to support our family at Fort Polk," Vernon Parish Police Jury President Jim Tuck said. "It's time for us to git-r-done."
"We're ensuring that the future is bright for generations to come," said Brig. Gen. K.K. Chinn, commanding general of the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk.
Other speakers at Thursday's event included Sen. John Smith (R-Leesville); Rep. James Armes (D-Leesville); Leesville Mayor Robert Rose; and Fort Polk Progress Chairman Michael Reese, who were all instrumental in securing the funding, according to Gov. Jindal.
Also in attendance were mayors from local municipalities, including New Llano, Hornbeck, Anacoco, Rosepine and DeQuincy, as well as Louisiana Economic Development's Paul Sawyer, director of federal programs and other state representatives.
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