The recipient entity's physical address:
           2721 South Broad Street
New Orleans, Louisiana 70125-1939

The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           2721 South Broad Street
New Orleans, Louisiana 70125-1939

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

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          AINA ABIODUN - President, Director - 2721 S BROAD ST, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70125

RODNEY WALLIS - Director - 7340 DUNDEE ST, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70126

TERRENCE CHAMBERS - Director - 110 CHASTANT BLVD, LAFAYETTE, LA 70508

GRANT TREGRE - Director - 2721 S BROAD ST, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70125

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  0677

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $430,000

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:
           JOSHUA COX - CEO - 2721 BROAD ST, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70125

AINA ABIODUN - President, Director - 2721 S BROAD ST, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70125

RODNEY WALLIS - Director - 7340 DUNDEE ST, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70126

TERRENCE CHAMBERS - Director - 110 CHASTANT BLVD, LAFAYETTE, LA 70508

GRANT TREGRE - Director - 2721 S BROAD ST, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70125

Provide a summary of the project or program:
           This request seeks to fund the installation of a solar and battery-powered microgrid at Mt. Zion Baptist Church (211 Mount Zion St, Monroe, LA 71201), transforming it into a Community Lighthouse—a critical neighborhood resilience hub capable of operating independently during grid outages. This church serves as a trusted anchor in Monroe and is uniquely positioned to provide life-saving services during storms and power outages.

In recent years, Louisiana has faced increasingly severe and frequent weather events—hurricanes, heatwaves, and floods—that often result in prolonged power outages. During Hurricane Ida, for example, the vast majority of storm-related deaths were due to power loss rather than wind or flood damage. Some communities in Monroe are particularly vulnerable, with many low-income, elderly, and medically fragile residents who are at extreme risk during outages.

By equipping Mt. Zion Baptist Church with solar generation and battery storage system, this project will ensure that this building remains powered when the grid goes down, allowing them to operate as a resilience hub. This Community Lighthouse will provide:

-Electricity for charging phones and powering medical devices

-Refrigeration for medications and food

-Air conditioning during extreme heat

-Access to clean water, meals, and basic supplies

-A secure, staffed site for community response and coordination

Outside of disaster periods, this systems will reduce Mt. Zion Baptist Church 's utility costs and serve as a platform for workforce training for electrical workers and solar installers.

This project will be implemented by Community Power South, a nonprofit solar development organization experienced in delivering resilience infrastructure to faith-based and community institutions throughout Louisiana, and in partnership with Together Louisiana and Delta Interfaith, membership organizations composed of churches across the state.

With state funding, we anticipate completing a microgrid at Mt. Zion Baptist Church —including design, construction, and commissioning—within 12 months.

This investment will become part of a growing, statewide network of Community Lighthouses, creating decentralized infrastructure to protect public health, reduce strain on emergency response systems, and build energy independence in underserved areas. The benefits of this project will be felt not only during times of crisis but every day—advancing Louisiana’s resilience and sustainability goals in concrete and lasting ways.

What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Professional Services. . . $430,000
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          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?
          

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          The public purpose of this project is to safeguard human life and community wellbeing during disaster events by equipping church facilities with a solar-powered microgrid system, transforming them into fully functional Community Lighthouses—a resilience hub that remains powered during grid outages caused by hurricanes, floods, extreme heat, and other disruptive weather events.

This Community Lighthouse will serve as a trusted neighborhood anchor capable of providing critical services to surrounding residents when traditional infrastructure fails. It will offer access to backup power, refrigeration for medicine, phone and device charging, potable water, air conditioning, meals, and communications. These functions are vital to prepare citizens in Louisiana for future hurricanes, severe storms, and energy grid failures.

The facility will also provide year-round public benefits, including community gathering space, workforce training opportunities, and access to educational programming on energy resilience and disaster preparedness. This investment represents a fiscally responsible use of state funds to prevent loss of life, protect vulnerable populations, and reduce the burden on emergency response systems.

What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          he overarching goal of this project is to enhance Louisiana’s disaster resilience and public safety infrastructure by establishing another solar-powered community resilience hub with backup battery storage in Monroe.

Specific objectives for this project include:

1. Ensure Continuity of Critical Services During Emergencies

-Install a solar and battery microgrid system capable of providing sustained off-grid power during outages.

-Design the site to support medical refrigeration, device charging, communication access, and cooling stations.

2. Strengthen Neighborhood Disaster Response Capacity

-Train church staff and volunteers in emergency response protocols.

-Partner with local emergency agencies and community-based organizations to coordinate services during crises.

-Make the Lighthouse publicly accessible during extreme weather events, regardless of religious affiliation.

3. Expand Access to Public Infrastructure in More Areas

-Site the microgrid in a Monroe neighborhood that serves populations with limited access to safe havens or transportation to evacuate.

4. Share Best Practices

-Share data and outcomes with legislators, state agencies, and resilience coalitions to support broader policy development.

Through these goals and objectives, the project will not only provide an immediate safe haven but also support long-term strategies to better protect Louisianans from the effects of power outages after storms.

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:  Joshua Cox 
                                       address:  2721 South Broad Street
New Orleans, Louisiana 70125-1939
                                       phone:  3525629645
                                       fax: 
                                       e-mail:  josh@communitypowersouth.com
                                       relationship to entity:  CEO