FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 19, 2024
Media Contacts:
Victoria Alexis
valexis@dillard.edu
(504) 816-4024
Dillard to use $850,000 grant for utilities renovations
NEW ORLEANS – Dillard University is the recipient of one of fifteen Community Project Funding grants secured by Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. and Senator Bill Cassidy for Louisiana’s 2nd District in the 2024 spending bills.
“I am proud to have secured $850,000 for Dillard University in the 2024 federal spending bills. Dillard has a rich legacy spanning over a century and is the oldest HBCU in Louisiana. This funding will help restore their historic campus facilities, specifically redesigning the electrical infrastructure for a more efficient, resilient, and sustainable system. This investment will help Dillard University continue to serve Louisianians and remain a stronghold in our community for generations to come,” said Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-02).
The funding could not have come at a better time, as the University is working on multiple jobs on campus to secure its Emergency Sustainability Plan. Among the projects this grant will support are:
- Purchase and installation of state-of-the-art electrical and HVAC systems
This project will ensure that cutting-edge research and academic excellence are sustained for students and faculty by providing uninterrupted electrical service, backup generators, and testing and monitoring of systems. This is in alignment with Pillar 4 of the university’s strategic plan, which includes fortifying facilities that can withstand the forecast. - Building a stronger, more reliable electrical infrastructure
These funds will aid in building a stronger, more reliable electrical infrastructure for efficiency and sustainability. This will allow Dillard to expand and build, with confidence, new mixed-use facilities to better serve the community, decrease healthcare disparities through community outreach programs, and advance workforce and economic opportunities through the new mixed-use facility. - Creating long-term solutions
We will be able to create long-term solutions, that include backup power sources, through the use of generators that are appropriately sized for each of our buildings. This measure will help improve safety and a sense of well-being among citizens with well-lit campus-sites and surroundings in and throughout the community. - Enhance technology
We will create a stronger, more technologically-advanced backup system to support the expansion of mental and physical health services provided to the underserved and minority populations the communiversity serves.
“As stewards of Dillard University’s legacy, we are committed to advancing our institution’s mission of excellence and service to our community,” said President Ford. “We recognize the urgent need to address the challenges posed by our aging infrastructure, and the critical need for modernization, particularly in our electrical systems, to ensure uninterrupted academic learning and our pursuit of becoming a communiversity. Dillard is grateful for the House-approved $850,000 in federal funds sponsored by Congressman Troy Carter and Senator Bill Cassidy. The funds, which are earmarked for utilities renovations on campus, will enable us to fortify the campus against future disruptions, and enhance our ability to provide essential services to the surrounding community.”
About Dillard University
Dillard University is a historically Black institution that cultivates leaders who live ethically, think and communicate precisely, and act courageously to make the world a better place. Located in New Orleans, Dillard is a private faith-based liberal arts university that offers 22 majors and two certificate programs. Ranked 5th on 2021 The New York Times Overall Mobility Index and 14th in 2022 by Academic Influence for Best Colleges and Universities by Academic Stewardship, Dillard’s call to future leaders is to Write Your Legacy. Find out more about Louisiana’s oldest HBCU by visiting www.dillard.edu.
