Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser visits Assumption Parish to promote Keep Louisiana Beautiful grants and enforcement tools

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser on Dec. 10 addressed the Assumption Parish Police Jury and promoted the office’s Keep Louisiana Beautiful program, outlining grant opportunities, enforcement tools and community outreach items.

Nungesser described statewide efforts to reduce litter and fund local projects, noting the office has partnered with agencies and private sponsors and that the program has grown to thousands of volunteer groups and hundreds of schools. He said the office can help parishes apply for surveillance camera grants and other resources. "We get about, I think, 5 to 7,000,000 that's... federally for boat launches, kayak launches," he said while discussing grant opportunities for public access improvements.

Susan Russell, the local Keep Assumption Beautiful affiliate representative, thanked the lieutenant governor and said the parish has received roughly $50,000 and about 40 trash receptacles through the program, and cited volunteer cleanup totals. Russell also said the office maintains resources for youth education and loanable cleanup equipment for libraries and small groups.

Nungesser described enforcement tools and a hotline, and noted recent legislation gives park managers citation authority in some cases. He encouraged local officials to take advantage of surveillance camera grant funding (the program requires a 15% match but can accept in-kind contributions such as staff time) and offered to follow up with staff on application steps.

Jurors expressed interest in camera grants to address illegal dumping and tire disposal problems; the lieutenant governor’s staff offered to provide application information and technical support.

The lieutenant governor concluded by encouraging local businesses and schools to participate in the clean‑biz and youth education programs and to apply for grant funding when available.