The recipient entity's physical address:
           100 RIVER ROAD SOUTH
BATON ROUGE, LA 70802

The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           100 RIVER ROAD SOUTH
BATON ROUGE, LA 70802

Type of Entity (for instance, a nonprofit corporation):  Non-Profit Corporation

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          Mr. Fred H. Bock
Dr. Gulnar K. Bosch
Mr. Jay R. Broussard
Mrs. J. F. Butterworth
Mrs. Camille E. Cazedessus
Mr. Frank Craig, Jr.
Mrs. W. Hamilton Crawford
Dr. John D. Greene
Mrs. Ernest Gueymard
Mrs. 0. Caldwell Herget
Mr. Joseph S. Hutchison
Mr. A. R. Johnson, III
Mrs. J. K. Matens
Mrs. George H. Menefee
Mrs. James 0. Mullins
Mrs. William A. Nichols
Mrs. Minnie Perkins
Mrs. Thomas B. Pugh
Mr. W. E. Robinson 282
Dr. Sidney B. Smith
Mr. A. Hays Town
Mrs. Henry J. Voorhies
Mrs. Scallen E Walsh
Mrs. Wesley Wiksell
Mrs. Wilson H. Williams
Mrs. W. Floyd Williamson, Jr.
Mrs. H. B. Witter
Mrs. Sparkman H. Wyatt
Mr. H. Payne Breazeale
Dr. Lloyd V. Funchess
Mr. Ralph Hileman
Mrs. Mary Jane Kahao

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  2138

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $100,000

What type of request is this?  Capital Outlay Appropriation

Is this entity in good standing with the Secretary of State?  Yes

Provide the name of each member of the recipient entity's governing board and officers:
           Serena Meredith Pandos, President & Executive Director: 3729 Berkley Hill Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70809 (Serena Meredith Pandos is the person responsible for the operation of the entity and will function as the key personnel member responsible for the proposed project)

Ty Bromell, Board of Trustees (OFFICER - Chair): 5321 Riverbend Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70820

Elizabeth Tadie Canfield, Board of Trustees (OFFICER - Chair-Elect): 2360 Oleander St., Baton Rouge, LA 70806

Melissa Dotson, Board of Trustees (OFFICER - Secretary): 15235 Copping Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70810

C. Alex Tucker, Board of Trustees (OFFICER - Treasurer): 2021 Terrace Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70806

Paula Davis, Board of Trustees (OFFICER - Member-at-Large): 2644 Fairway Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70809

Eric Dexter, Board of Trustees (OFFICER - Member-at-Large): 574 Silverbill Ln., Baton Rouge, LA 70810

Alexandra Clark Layfield, Board of Trustees (OFFICER - Immediate Past Chair): 2111 Myrtledale Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Sarah Allen, Board of Trustees (Member): 17839 British Ln., Baton Rouge, LA 70810

Noah Boudreaux, Board of Trustees (Member): 13780 Quail Grove Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70810

Scott Gaudin, Board of Trustees (Member): 1854 Cedardale Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Tyler Gray, Board of Trustees (Member): 533 Woodstone Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Sarah Haneline, Board of Trustees (Member): 8404 River Rd., Geismar, LA 70734

Joshua Hollins, Board of Trustees (Member): 13467 Kings Court Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70810

Louis Jeansonne, IV, Board of Trustees (Member): 3521 Torrance Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70809

Heather LeBlanc, Board of Trustees (Member): 1244 Glenmore Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70806

Erin Nugent, Board of Trustees (Member): 2775 McConnell Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70809

Julio Perez, Board of Trustees (Member): 531 Woodgate Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Seth Schilling, Board of Trustees (Member): 10836 Gatewood Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70810

Thomas Teepell, Board of Trustees (Member): 6852 S. Woodgate Court, Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Drew Tessier, Board of Trustees (Member): 1121 Belvedere Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Dr. Melissa Thompson, Board of Trustees (Member): 1213 Kenilworth Parkway, Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Shawn Usher, Board of Trustees (Member): 624 South Lakeshore Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Kathy Fletcher Victorian, Board of Trustees (Member): 1639 Cobblestone Court, Baton Rouge, LA 70806

Lauren Whatley, Board of Trustees (Member): 8507 Scarlett Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70806

Daryl Williams, Board of Trustees (Member): 12074 Rotterdam Ave., Geismar, LA 70734

Provide a summary of the project or program:
           LASM seeks $100,000 in funding from the state of Louisiana to complete a $160,000 project to illuminate its 60-foot Irene W. Pennington Planetarium dome with color-changing LED lights, which can be controlled with a mobile device and changed at any time. The goal is to complete this project by Q1 2023, which marks the 20th anniversary of the Irene W. Pennington Planetarium's construction.

Currently, LASM appears as a 75,000-square-foot, city-block long dark spot in the capital city’s skyline at night. Lighting up one of Baton Rouge’s most unique crown jewels – the planetarium dome – will not only greatly increase LASM’s visibility and impact but also will bolster tourism in Baton Rouge.

A dream project since it was first conceptualized in 2019, this capital improvement project will benefit Louisiana’s capital city and beyond by:

- Increasing tourist and local resident awareness of LASM’s state-of-the-art planetarium, which is the largest and most technologically-advanced planetarium in Louisiana and among the largest in the southeastern US

- Attracting tourists who may not otherwise be aware of LASM and its planetarium to stay another night to visit this one-of-a-kind attraction, contributing to the capital city and state’s economic development

- Illuminating the skyline of the capital city from both the River Road side and the levee side, increasing the city’s overall visibility from the Mississippi River bridge

- Emphasizing LASM’s unique architecture, highlighting a historic building (which was leased to the City-Parish of Baton Rouge with the provision that it be used only to house LASM in 1971 and then purchased by the City-Parish in 1988 and leased to LASM through the year 2087) that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as it approaches its milestone 100th anniversary of construction in 2025

LASM has acquired bids from a variety of specialized lighting companies in the region for the competition of this project, with support and advising from its Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees has approved moving forward with contracting Wells Keown Associates, Inc. (WKA Lighting) to complete this project, with WKA Lighting sub-contracting Total Electrical Services, Inc. (Total Electrical Services) to perform the installation of the lighting equipment. WKA Lighting and Total Electrical Services have thoroughly reviewed the scope of work, have visited LASM multiple times, and have provided a detailed lighting plan including layout, quantities and exact specified light fixtures, junction boxes, and controllers.

LASM received funding in the amount of $50,000 from the Charles Lamar Family Foundation in support of this project in December 2021 and has reserved $10,000 from its internal capital outlay fund for this project. Additional funding in the amount of $100,000 from the state of Louisiana will make this important project a reality.

What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Professional Services. . . $0
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $160,000
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $0
          Operating Services. . . . $0
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $0

Does your organization have any outstanding audit issues or findings?  No

If 'Yes' is your organization working with the appropriate governmental agencies to resolve those issues or findings?
          Not Applicable

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          The primary purpose of this project to light the dome of LASM’s state-of-the-art Irene W. Pennington Planetarium, which is the largest and most technologically-advanced planetarium in the state of Louisiana and among the largest in the southeastern US, is to bolster tourism in the capital city, increase awareness of and visitation to LASM and its planetarium, and to raise the visibility of downtown Baton Rouge’s skyline.

What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          GOAL 1: Light the Irene W. Pennington Planetarium dome by Q1 2023, as 2023 marks the 20th anniversary of the planetarium’s construction.

Objective 1A: Solicit bids from a variety of regional specialized lighting companies. (COMPLETE)

Objective 1B: Board of Trustees chooses and approves specialized lighting company to engage. (COMPLETE)

Objective 1C: LASM seeks funding for additional $100,000 needed to complete this project. (IN PROGRESS – WILL BE COMPLETE WITH $100,000 FROM THE STATE)

Objective 1D: Lighting company orders equipment needed and installs lighting by Q1 2023.

GOAL 2: Increase awareness of and visitation to LASM and its planetarium, bolstering tourism and thus economic development in the capital region of Louisiana.

Objective 2A: Bolster tourism in the capital city of Louisiana.
Objective 2B: Light the Irene W. Pennington Planetarium dome, which is located in a highly-visible area on the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown Baton Rouge (IN PROGRESS – WILL BE COMPLETE WITH $100,000 FROM THE STATE)

Objective 2C: After project completion, leverage dome lighting to develop and implement a comprehensive marketing campaign – positioned as part of an initiative to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the planetarium’s construction – to raise awareness of the Irene W. Pennington Planetarium dome and its importance the capital city and state, as it is the largest and most technologically-advanced planetarium in Louisiana and among the largest in the southeastern US.

Objective 2D: Leverage holidays, awareness campaigns (such as pink for Breast Cancer), and other public events to inform the coloring of the dome’s lighting, coordinating with other downtown entities with lit facades (such as the Raising Cane’s River Center and Louisiana Old State Capital) to ensure a cohesive downtown appearance.

Objective 2E: Compare attendance figures to LASM and its planetarium from before the planetarium lighting and after the planetarium lighting, measuring the impact of the lighting project.

What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           Once the allocation of $100,000 is received from the state of Louisiana in support of this project, it is estimated that it will take approximately 6 months for the lighting company to order, receive, and install the lighting for the dome. The goal is for the dome to be lit by Q1 2023, the 20th anniversary of the planetarium’s construction. The dome will then be lit in perpetuity, with maintenance activities performed on a regular basis to sustain the quality and operations of the lighting and upgrades performed as needed.

If any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the recipient entity who receives compensation or holds any ownership interest therein:
     (a) If an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of the official and the office held by such person:
                 Paula P. Davis is a State Representative for the Louisiana House of Representatives, representing District 69. Davis serves as an officer on LASM's Board of Trustees (Member-at-Large).

Home Address: 2644 Fairway Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70809

District Office Address: 7902 Wrenwood Blvd., Suite D., Baton Rouge, LA 70809
    
     (b) If an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of such person; the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related; and the nature of the relationship:
                 N/A

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                 0

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                  Paula Davis serves as an officer on LASM's Board of Trustees (Member-at-Large).

If the recipient entity has a contract with any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official or with the state or any political subdivision of the state:
(a) If the contract is with an elected or appointed state official, provide the name and address of the official and the office held by such person: 
               N/A

(b) If the contract is with an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official:
          Provide the name and address of such person:
               N/A

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
                N/A

          What is the nature of the relationship?  N/A

(c) If the contract is with the state or a political subdivision of the state, provide the name and address of the state entity or political subdivision of the state:
                 N/A

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               N/A


Contact Information
name:  Frances Lee 
                                       address:  100 RIVER ROAD SOUTH
BATON ROUGE, LA 70802 (WORK)

3642 CAPITAL HEIGHTS AVE.
BATON ROUGE, LA 70806 (HOME)
                                       phone:  6016653794
                                       fax: 
                                       e-mail:  flee@lasm.org
                                       relationship to entity:  Employee - Development & Grants Manager