Friday, April 4, 2025
4/4/2025
Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending - Construction - Address: 5414 Brittany Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808 Project Director: Brian Rash, Provost, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University Contact Phone Numbers: (225) 526-1692 Contact email address: brian.rash@franu.edu Website Address: https://franu.edu/ Funds Requested: $1,935,000 Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University (FranU) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, seeks funding to improve the University’s facilities to train future health professionals. Founded in 1923, FranU is a small, Catholic, not-for-profit institution with a health care emphasis. The University enrolls an average of 1,200 students annually. FranU respectfully requests $1,935,000 to be funded through the FY23 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, through the HRSA Health Facilities Construction and Equipment Account FY23 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, through the HRSA Health Facilities Construction and Equipment Account [Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending (CPF/CDS) Facilities and/or Equipment (“Construction”) Projects]. The proposed project will increase FranU’s capacity to train future health professionals by renovating the first floor of the School of Health Professions building to create approximately 14,800 square feet of new classrooms and experiential learning facilities. Currently, the Simulated Environment Teaching Hospital (SETH) occupies the first floor of the building. FranU will move SETH to a new location to make available much-needed space for School of Health Professions programs. The amount requested includes all costs necessary for complete demolition and renovation, including all necessary mechanical, electrical and plumbing reconfigurations (construction without equipment). The proposed renovation will enable FranU to 1) Provide safer and better-ventilated spaces that meet COVID-19 social distancing and air quality guidelines; 2) Provide additional space to permit increased cohort sizes in the future for in-demand programs such as Physician’s Assistant, Physical Therapy, Physical Therapist Assistant, Radiologic Technology, and Respiratory Therapy; and 3) Create a permanent home for the Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences program, which has lacked a dedicated space since the program’s inception in 2016. The proposed renovation project will enhance FranU’s capacity to meet Louisiana’s healthcare workforce needs by preparing students to enter high-demand jobs in healthcare professions, including nursing, medical lab science, physical therapy, radiologic technology, and respiratory therapy.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).