Qualifying Louisiana local governments can now seek state funding for drinking water systems, roads, drainage and other public infrastructure, with applications due February 26, 2027.
The Louisiana Office of Community Development opened the fiscal year 2026 to 2027 application period Monday, November 2, for its Local Government Assistance Program and Community Water Enrichment Fund.
The water fund lists an allocation of $110,000 per parish. It supports work to repair, improve or build community water systems. The Local Government Assistance Program lists $82,000 per parish and covers a broader range of needs, including sewer and water projects, roads, drainage, public safety equipment and essential government building renovations.
Those figures are parish allocations, not a promise that each applicant will receive that amount. Individual grant ceilings and program eligibility rules apply.
Both programs are open to Louisiana municipalities and parishes classified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as nonentitlement communities. These are applications by local governments for public projects, not grants for individual homeowners.
The broader assistance program gives priority to health and safety needs when other state or federal funding is unavailable. Its rules require a local resolution and support letters from the area's state senator and representative. Approved projects cannot begin before a contract is signed with the Office of Community Development, and payment is made through reimbursement of approved invoices.
The water program does not cover projects consisting only of fire hydrants, although hydrants can be included with water line rehabilitation or extensions. It also excludes generators, tools and digging equipment. Both programs exclude previously incurred debt, improvements to private property and ongoing salaries.
Local governments must use the state's online application portal for the regular funding cycle. The official program pages provide eligibility requirements and the portal link. The opening of applications is not an announcement that particular projects have been selected or that construction has begun.