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ConnectLA has received applications from 23 companies for the first round of the Granting Unserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunities program.
The total funding request for the applications is $440 million, with $711 million in total project costs and an average of 40% of total project costs in matching funds. With applications coming from 58 parishes, this figure represents requests for broadband projects in every corner of the state.
In addition, the proposed applications seek to provide high speed internet to 215,000 households and 14,000 businesses.
The Acadia Parish Police Jury has committed $3 million in matching grant funds to a pair of companies for broadband expansion in the rural areas of the parish.
The GUMBO grant program was launched to assist the nearly 450,000 Louisiana residents without adequate broadband speeds. The grant program is a key step in delivering access to these residents, connecting them to opportunities in healthcare, education and the workforce.
In addition, the projects will create a tremendous number of job opportunities as these projects are constructed and maintained over the next several years. Employment opportunities will extend to students throughout Louisiana, as applicants have worked with numerous technical and community colleges to develop workforce plans.
“The volume of applications we’ve received and the enthusiasm for broadband we’ve encountered from municipalities throughout the state reaffirms just how important our work is to Louisiana,” Veneeth Iyengar, ConnectLA executive director, said. “As we review applications and grant awards in the following months, we will grow closer to our goal of eliminating the digital divide by 2029.”
ConnectLA is using third-party reviewers to evaluate each application with objective scoring metrics. These 23 metrics will evaluate a wide range of subjects, including experience, technical ability, financial wherewithal, provider matching funds, number of households/businesses served, scalability and small business entrepreneurship. All applications are public and can be accessed at gumbo.la.gov.
Nearly $90 million will be granted in the first round of GUMBO funding. Awards will be announced in March with construction starting as soon as May.
Additionally, ConnectLA will begin the application period for the second round of GUMBO funding in July, allowing for the construction of even more broadband projects in unserved areas of Louisiana.
In total, the $177 million for local providers to build out broadband infrastructure will potentially benefit more than 125,000 locations in Louisiana over the next two to three years, positioning our state for success in the 21st century.

Two Acadia Parish men, one from Rayne and one from Crowley, have been arrested in connection with a New Year’s Eve shooting in Vermilion Parish.
According to Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Eddie Langlinais, on Dec. 31, 2021, the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office received a call of a shooting that occurred in the 300 block of Lover’s Lane, south of Abbeville.
When Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division (CID) detectives arrived on scene, they discovered two vehicles and a residence had been shot 14 times with a .22 caliber firearm.
During the course of the investigation, detectives identified a suspect vehicle and confirmed the driver of the vehicle as Craig Dewon Batiste, 21, of Rayne.
Through further investigation of the incident, detectives developed information identifying the shooter as Johnathan Brian Lee, 20, of Crowley.
On Jan. 7, with the assistance of the Rayne Police Department, Bastiste was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Vermilion Parish Correctional Center on a warrant for assault by drive-by shooting.
His bond was set at $50,000.
A subsequent search warrant was conducted on Batiste’s residence where detectives located a .22-caliber rifle with a large-capacity magazine.
On Jan. 11, with the assistance of the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lee was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Vermilion Parish Correctional Center on a warrant for attempted first-degree murder and illegal discharge of a firearm.
His bond was set at $150,000 on the first-degree murder charge and $25,000 on the discharging of a firearm charge.
This investigation is still ongoing, and additional charges may follow.
“I commend my deputies for a job well done, and I thank the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Rayne Police Department for their assistance in this investigation,” says Sheriff Mike Couvillon.

With the start of the new year also came the arrival of a new member, the election of officers for a new term and the start of a new set of bylaws for the Acadia Parish Tourist Commission.
Megan Duhon was sworn in as the newest member of the board by Crowley City Judge M’elise Trahan.
Duhon replaces former member Amy Thibodeaux as the representative from the Acadia Parish Chamber of Commerce.
The board also re-elected its “old” officers for a new term during Thursday morning’s meeting.
Bart Wild will continue to serve as chairman with Suzette Leonards as vice chair. Duhon, who stepped in “unofficially” for Thibodeaux in December, will continue as secretary-treasurer, the office previously held by Thibodeaux.
“We all have a good working relationship and everything’s moving along just fine,” said Commissioner Keith Henry in nominating the three. “I think we should just keep things like they are.”
The commissioners agreed.
The commission also is taking a look at its bylaws as they relate to the terms of office for at-large members.
Through legislative action in 2021, the commission expanded the number of at-large seats it is allowed to have from two to three, though a third seat has not yet been filled.
Currently, the bylaws limit the at-large members to two consecutive two-year terms, those terms to be staggered.
It was suggested that the terms be extended to three years, staggered, and that the two-term limit be lifted.
That and other tweaks to the bylaws will be presented to the full board for adoption at a meeting later this year.