The recipient entity's physical address:
           938 Lafayette Street, Suite 300
New Orleans, Louisiana 70113

The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           938 Lafayette Street, Suite 300
New Orleans, Louisiana 70113

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

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          Miranda Restovic
Willie Landry Mount
Randy Haynie
Elizabeth Ary

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  5568

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $3,000,000

What type of request is this?  General 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:
           Randy K. Haynie, Chair
P.O. Box 44032
Baton Rouge, LA 70804

Linda Holyfield, Vice Chair
1704 Island Drive
Monroe, LA 71201

Melinda Mintz, Immediate Past Chair
123 Walnut Street
New Orleans, LA 70118

Mark Gremillion, Treasurer
226 Beverly Drive
Lafayette, LA 70503

Kellen Mathews, Secretary
118 S. Dorgenois Street
New Orleans, LA 70119

John Barbry
150 Melancon Road
Marksville, LA 71351

Ty Bromell
532 Spanish Town Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Dr. Christopher Cenac
210 New Orleans Boulevard
Houma, LA 70360

Rebecca Collins
503 Allen Street
New Iberia, LA 70563

Stewart Ewing
1511 Frenchmen’s Bend Road
Monroe, LA 71203

Faye Flanagan
5959 Hannah Drive
Alexandria, LA 71303

Sherry Guarisco
266 Seyburn Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Phebe Hayes, Ph.D.
P. O. Box 11747
New Iberia, LA 70562

Liz Mangham
543 Spanish Town Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Jody Montelaro
9585 Pecue Lane
Baton Rouge, LA 70810

Nathan Ponder, Ph.D.
138 Myrtlewood Drive
Pineville, LA 71360

Cleland Powell
601 Poydras St, Ste 2075
New Orleans, LA 70113

Laura Prisco
265 Empress Ct
Madisonville, LA 70447-3133

Wendell Riley
9000 W Wilderness Way, #55
Shreveport, LA 71106

David Rockett
574 Boardwalk Boulevard
Bossier City, LA 71111

Marie Moyse Schlesinger
1112 Falcon Road
Metairie, LA 70005

Amal Shamieh
707 Doctor Michael Debakey Dr.
Lake Charles, LA 70601

Sharlene Sinegal-DeCuir
1165 Sharynwood Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Emily Stine
1200 Inverness Drive
Lake Charles, LA 70605

Kathy Victorian
1639 Cobblestone Ct
Baton Rouge, LA 70806-8303

Sharonda Williams
6363 St. Charles Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70118

Holly Wilson, Ph.D.
3400 Parkway Dr.
Alexandria, LA 71301

Miranda Restovic, President & Chief Executive Officer
938 Lafayette Street, Suite 300
New Orelans, LA 70113

Patrick Carrier, Chief Operating Officer
938 Lafayette Street, Suite 300
New Orleans, LA 70113

Provide a summary of the project or program:
           The LEH has a half-century track record of advancing public humanities and supporting cultural institutions across Louisiana. Our network includes over 1400 entities across all sixty-four parishes including our museums, universities and affiliated humanities departments and centers, historic sites, archives, media groups, festivals, cultural centers, libraries, indigenous tribes, and cultural content producers, all of whom make up the diverse network of our broader cultural landscape.

The continued effects of all too frequent disasters are threatening the very survival of Louisiana’s cultural sector. Our culture not only enhances the quality of life of every Louisianan, but it also builds communities, drives the economy, and educates locals and the world about our State’s and its people’s important contributions to the nation and the world. The pandemic and our vulnerabilities to extreme weather and disasters continue to threaten the survival of this important treasure.

Solution: The LEH proposes a plan to ensure that our cultural sector is stabilized and emerges better prepared to thrive. The LEH has a 50+-year history of supporting our museums, historic sites, archives, media groups, festivals, cultural centers, libraries, indigenous tribes, and cultural content producers, all of whom make up the diverse and delicate network of our broader cultural landscape. Our network includes over 1400 partner entities across all 64 parishes. Our plan acknowledges that new sustainability models are needed and that frequent disasters will continue to threaten our communities. Total appropriation request: $3,000,000

As a leading advocate for emergency readiness, the LEH will:
1. Facilitate disaster and emergency planning, technical training, and rapid response mitigation support for all critical cultural organizations for when disaster strikes.
2. Implement a coordinated effort to ensure general operating and sustainability planning support is made available to the sector through our effective and efficient grants program.
3. Provide programming that supports teachers, students, and families in all 64 parishes in boosting early childhood education and family literacy.
4. Document local history and expand access and public engagement in meaningful community-based experiences.
Results: The LEH will work to ensure that our cultural infrastructure—its institutions and people—is preserved and supported in planning for a more sustainable future.
The LEH is a trusted steward of public funds and longtime partner of Louisiana’s diverse cultural sector and communities in all 64 parishes. Our expertise lies in grantmaking, disaster mitigation funding, facilitation of innovative solutions, and public education and engagement.

Specifically, we expect the following results:
1. Preservation of cultural sector jobs and assets across the state.
2. Sector wide engagement in disaster mitigation planning and training.
3. Rapid response mitigation support in response to emergencies and disasters.
4. Documentation of local histories and building communities through public engagements.
5. Coordinated education and outreach programming in all 64 parishes.

What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,467,514
          Professional Services. . . $0
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $109,500
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $0
          Operating Services. . . . $223,518
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $1,199,468

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 LEH believes that our culture not only enhances the quality of life of every Louisianan, but it also builds communities, drives the economy, and educates locals and the world about our State’s and its people’s important contributions to the nation and the world. The pandemic and our vulnerabilities to extreme weather and disasters exposed cultural infrastructure weaknesses and continue to threaten the survival of this important treasure.
As a leading statewide provider of resources and training for the cultural sector and education supports that reaches all of Louisiana’s 64 parishes, and in response to the pandemic and recent hurricanes, floods fires and other disasters, the LEH sees a great need for its services to be expanded with state funds. Leveraging state funds with other funding available, the LEH will work to ensure that our cultural infrastructure—its institutions and people—is preserved and supported in planning for a more sustainable future.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Louisiana’s cultural sector is a $6.1 billion industry that supports 47,825 jobs. According to the American for the Arts’ survey which documents the impact of Covid-19 on the arts and cultural sectors, Louisiana’s arts and cultural sector experienced a total financial loss of $9,217,485 from March 2020 to February 2021 alone. Additionally, 65% of organizations expect several financial impacts, with 10% of organizations not confident of survival.
Additionally, ongoing weather-related disasters have hit our state’s humanities infrastructure, which was already reeling from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the wake of the storm Hurricane Ida, the LEH conducted an impact survey for cultural organizations. A full 75% of respondents reported storm-related impacts.
Reversing these negative impacts requires strategic and responsive investment and ongoing support. And while Louisiana was spared a major hurricane in the last two seasons, the state expects exceptionally active hurricane seasons to continue, coupled with extreme winter storms, floods, and fires. These realities call for ongoing rigor and preparedness of the cultural sector.
As a leading provider of humanities education initiatives around the state, the LEH believes that access to high quality education is a right. Through initiatives such as Prime Time Family Reading and the Institute for Louisiana Culture and History, LEH provides critical support to our schools, teachers, and students. Prime Time Family Reading provides research-based, and outcomes driven family engagement and literacy supports to Louisiana’s families and the new Institute for Louisiana Culture and History is a statewide educational hub providing reliable, accessible Louisiana social studies resources to K–12 students and their teachers.

In 2023, Louisiana schools have demonstrated gains in the most recent state rankings released by U.S. News & World Report, elevating its position by five places for Pre-K-12 education, climbing to the 41st spot. This improvement aligns with encouraging data released by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), indicating Louisiana’s 4th graders achieved the top rank nationwide in terms of reading growth. While this data is encouraging, Louisiana still ranks #41 in Pre-K -12, #37 in high school graduation rate, and #40 in college readiness, suggesting that there is more investment and work to be done to ensure continued educational improvements are recorded.

The LEH is a trusted steward of public funds and longtime partner of Louisiana’s diverse cultural and education sectors and communities in all 64 parishes. Our expertise lies in grantmaking, emergency preparedness and disaster mitigation funding for cultural institutions, facilitation of innovative solutions, and public education and engagement. With this program LEH seeks to advance its public purpose in meaningful and quantifiably ways.

What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          The goal of the program is to ensure that our cultural infrastructure—its institutions and people—is preserved and supported in planning for a more sustainable future. Specifically, we expect the following results:

Objective 1: Preservation of cultural sector jobs and assets across the state.
• Key Performance Indicator: 120 sector jobs preserved.
• Key Performance Indicator: 75 organizations supported in operations and programming.

Objective 2: Sector wide engagement in disaster mitigation planning and training.
• Key Performance Indicator: 35 organizations complete emergency plans.
• Key Performance Indicator: 35 organizations complete emergency training.

Objective 3: Rapid response grants support in response to emergencies and disasters.
• Key Performance Indicator: Increase LEH capacity for responsive emergency response.
• Key Performance Indicator: Establish emergency response fund for rapid deployment.

Objective 4: Documentation of local histories and building communities through public engagements.
• Key Performance Indicator: Publish 4 issues 64 Parishes Magazine documenting local history and culture.
• Key Performance Indicator: Facilitate the Poet Laureate program for enhanced public engagement statewide.

Objective 5: Coordinated education and outreach programming in all 64 parishes.
• Key Performance Indicator: Deliver 30 family literacy support programs reaching 1,000 families.
• Key Performance Indicator: 10% increase in content available to students and teachers.
• Key Performance Indicator: Increase capacity to deliver high quality early childhood education services.

What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           12 months

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:
                 N/A
    
     (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:
                 N/A

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                  N/A

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:  Miranda Restovic 
                                       address:  938 LAFAYETTE ST STE 300
NEW ORLEANS, LA 70113-1027
                                       phone:  5046202482
                                       fax:  504-529-2358
                                       e-mail:  restovic@leh.org
                                       relationship to entity:  President and CEO