Grambling State Receives $500,000 Grant to Renovate Foster-Johnson Health Center
National Park Service Awards $7.7 million in Grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities
GRAMBLING, LA – April 27, 2020 – Grambling State University announced it has been selected to receive $500,000 from the National Park Service’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities grant program for the renovation of the Health Center in Grambling State University’s Historic Village.
“Our campus is covered in historically significant gems,” said Grambling State President Rick Gallot. “We are grateful for this support from the National Park Service to preserve one of our most important landmarks.”
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) announced that Grambling State and Southern Universities will receive a combined $1 million from the Historically Black Colleges and Universities grant program, funded by the Historic Preservation Fund, and administered by the National Park Service Department of Interior. The Fund will supply $7.7 million in grants to preserve historic structures across HBCU campuses in 12 states.
“Grambling and Southern are two of the most historic campuses in Louisiana. This funding will help preserve buildings that make them unique so that they remain for generations to come,” said Dr. Cassidy.
The funds for the University Historic District’s Health Center come in the midst of ongoing infrastructure improvements across the campus, including the $16.6 million construction of the State’s first Digital Library and the $6.7 million renovation to McCall Dining Hall as part of GSU’s SodexoMAGIC partnership.
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, ongoing campus construction has slowed to honor social distancing with staggered work shifts and other enhanced safety measures.
“As Grambling State continues to make Louisiana history, we hope to find the digital library and other new construction on future lists of historically valuable landmarks,” said Dr. Rudolph Ellis, Associate Dean of Student Services. Ellis worked with Rene Harris of University Facilities Management team and other key University staff members to acquire the grant funding for infrastructure preservation.
For more information, please contact mediarelations@gram.edu.