U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2.2 Million for High-Speed Internet Access on Tribal Land in Louisiana

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2.2 million grant to the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana in Elton, Louisiana, to construct fiber optic cable on Tribal land in both Allen and Jefferson Parish.

This grant will construct fiber optic cable along U.S. 165, bringing high-speed internet service to nearby residents and businesses. This EDA investment will be matched with $550,000 in local funds.

“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is a commitment to ensuring that Tribal communities in Louisiana and across the country have the resources needed to grow strong, resilient regional economies – and that includes affordable, reliable, highspeed internet,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This EDA investment will provide fiber optic cable to bring reliable high-speed internet service to Tribal land, supporting business growth and creating a stable regional economy.”

“The Economic Development Administration works closely with Tribal communities to support place-based economic growth,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This investment in the Coushatta Tribe will create new opportunities for business growth and provide high-speed internet service to support nearby workers, telehealth, and remote education, helping to diversify the local economy.”

This project is funded under the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023, which provided EDA with $483 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program funds for disaster relief and recovery for areas that received a major disaster declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Act as a result of Hurricanes Ian and Fiona, wildfires, flooding, and other natural disasters occurring in calendar years 2021 and 2022. Please visit EDA’s Disaster Supplemental webpage for more information.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.