NGO Funding Request


The recipient entity's full legal name:  Friends of the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Foundation

The recipient entity's physical address:
           7910 Park Avenue
Houma, LA 70364


The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           7910 Park Avenue
Houma, LA 70364


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

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          Juana Woodard
Joy Tingle
Emily Elmore


The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  3998

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $10,572,000

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:
           Raegan Creppell - President
509 Prevost Drive
Houma, LA 70364
Damon Baldone - Vice President
162 New Orleans Blvd.
Houma, LA 70364
Sunshine Landry - Treasurer
5732 Dene Drive
Houma, LA 70364
Wynona McElroy - Secretary
103 Simmons Drive
Houma, LA 70363
Chris Pulaski - Past President
855 High Street
Houma, LA 70360
Mazie Dardar
3731 Oak Pointe Road
Montegut, LA 70377
Wayne Simoneaux
629 Hwy 55
Montegut, LA 70377
Vic McElroy
103 Simmons Drive
Houma, LA 70363
Wesley Woodard
42 Texas Avenue
Houma, LA 70360
Erica Anderson
166 Viola Street
Houma, LA 70360
Erica Null-Pellegrin
216 Plantation Drive
Bourg, LA 70343
Jimmy Creppell
509 Prevost Drive
Houma, LA 70364
John LeBlanc
201 Ellendale Blvd.
Houma, LA 70360
Jeremy Davis
219 Original Ct.
Houma, LA 70363


Provide a summary of the project or program:
           The Wetlands Discovery Center is poised to become a national attraction capable of interpreting the experiences of communities at the forefront of coastal land loss and sea level rise. This innovative project located in the heart of the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary will enable students and tourists to connect with our natural surroundings in a more meaningful way than traditional schools or museums. Most importantly, it will provide students with the skill set necessary to adapt to a changing environment, enabling them to remain living in coastal Louisiana and preserving their culture for generations to come.

The Wetlands Discovery Center will be built on 2.4 acres of land in Houma, Louisiana in four phases. The Wetlands Nature Exhibit will be developed as the first phase of this project with over 17,000 square feet of man-made wetlands and an educational pavilion that will be used for hands-on learning. The second phase includes the Bayou Country Institute, a STEM education center. The third phase is dedicated to Louisiana's working coast and explains the relationship between our major industries while inspiring students and visitors to explore the engineering principles that shape our lives. The final phase includes the Traveling Exhibits Building and Research Hall.


What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Professional Services. . . $0
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $10,572,000
          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 mission of the Wetlands Discovery Center is to revolutionize how we think, teach and learn about Louisiana's disappearing coast. We believe that all students, regardless of socioeconomic status, gender, ethnicity or geographic location, have a responsibility to understand their environment and how it changes. We affirm that STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education develops the skills necessary to adapt to a changing environment enabling students to continue their way of life for generations to come. The South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center will serve as the nation's first center for increasing the plight of Louisiana's wetlands to ensure that this valuable resource is preserved for future generations.

What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          The Wetlands Discovery Center is leading an effort to develop an educational campus located within walking distance from the Terrebonne Parish Main Branch Library and the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center. The phased development includes 3 buildings totaling 10,000 square feet to accommodate exhibit galleries and a laboratory. In addition, the project will have approximately 60,000 square feet of outdoor programmed space including 50,000 square feet of educational space. The development of this campus will allow us to expand current programming while developing new projects.

What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           We would like to build our campus over 5 years and operate that campus in perpetuity.

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:
                 Chris Pulaski
855 High Street
Houma, LA 70360
Terrebonne Parish Planning Director appointed by our Parish President

    
     (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:
                

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

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

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: 
               

(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:
              

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

          What is the nature of the relationship? 

(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:
                

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


Contact Information
name:  Jonathan Foret 
                                       address:  8358 Main Street
Houma, LA 70363

                                       phone:  9855807289
                                       fax:  NA
                                       e-mail:  jforet@slwdc.org
                                       relationship to entity:  Executive Director