The recipient entity's physical address:
           204 Exchange St., West Monroe, LA 71292

The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           P.O. Box 5048, Monroe, LA 71211

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

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  3809

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $1,500,000

What type of request is this?  Both

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:
           Jean Toth – Executive Director – 204 Exchange St., West Monroe, LA 71292
Marisol O’Neal - President - 1511 North Trenton St, Ruston, LA 71270
Seth Hall – Vice President - 124 Avant St., West Monroe, LA 71291
Sarah Thornhill, CPA – Treasurer – 1900 Roselawn Ave., Monroe, LA 71201
Susan Weaver – Secretary – 1521 Adams St., Monroe, LA 71201
Tisha Arnold – Member – 204 Exchange St., West Monroe, LA 71292
Rosie Brown – Member - 409 Second St., Lake Providence, LA 71254
Michael Crenshaw – Member - 201 Victory Blvd., Suite 265, Monroe, LA 71203
Linda Holyfield – Member – 1704 Island Dr., Monroe, LA 71201
Kimberly Hudson – Member – PO Box 4503, Monroe, LA 71211
Pam Lavender – Member – 1200 Lamy Ln., Monroe, LA 71201
Jay Mitchell – Member – 210 Hines Ln., West Monroe, LA 71291
Sonny Oliver – Member – 430 Millhaven Rd., Monroe, LA 71203
Stewart Robinette – Member - 1900 North 18th St., Suite 606, Monroe, LA 71201
Dana Taylor – Member – 268 Bayou Bank Dr., Monroe, LA 71203
Chelsea Monae Williams – Member – 200 Pavillion Rd., West Monroe, LA 71292
Juanita Woods – Member – 2411 Wood St., Monroe, LA 71201
Roderick Worthy – Member – PO Box 35803, West Monroe, LA 71294

Provide a summary of the project or program:
           The Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana requests $1.5 million in state funding to support completion of the Food Bank’s Feeding Our Future Capital Campaign. The project will renovate and equip a newly acquired permanent facility, creating a regional food distribution center capable of significantly expanding hunger-relief efforts across a 12-parish service area. Demand for assistance continues to grow, with visits to the Food Bank's programs and partner agencies increasing 21% during the most recent fiscal year, underscoring the urgent need for expanded capacity and infrastructure to meet the region's rising demand for food assistance.

The new facility, nearly four times larger than the Food Bank's former leased warehouse, will dramatically increase storage, refrigeration, volunteer capacity, and operational efficiency, enabling annual food distribution to grow from 8.4 million pounds to approximately 15 million pounds. Funding will support critical facility improvements, including warehouse racking, refrigeration systems, backup power infrastructure, and building renovations.
The project will also create two full-time and one part-time positions to support increased food sourcing, distribution, volunteer management, and engagement across the region. In addition, approximately 21,000 square feet of the facility will be dedicated to commercial lease space, generating ongoing revenue to support operations and long-term sustainability. With $11 million already secured toward the campaign's $14 million goal, state funding will help complete a transformational investment in food security, economic vitality, and community resilience throughout Northeast Louisiana.

What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $432,000
          Professional Services. . . $332,921
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $4,800,000
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $7,194,489
          Operating Services. . . . $0
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $1,240,590

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?
          Founded in 1996, the Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana exists to combat hunger and build food security across a 12-parish region through food access, education, advocacy, and disaster response. The parishes the organization serves are: Caldwell; East Carroll; Franklin; Jackson; Lincoln; Madison; Morehouse; Ouachita; Richland; Tensas; Union; and West Carroll. The total population of these 12 parishes is approximately 350,000 people.

The public purpose of this project is to strengthen food security, improve public health, support economic growth, and enhance disaster preparedness across Northeast Louisiana. State funding will help expand the Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana's capacity to provide reliable access to nutritious food for thousands of children, seniors, veterans, working families, and individuals facing food insecurity throughout its 12-parish service area, where more than 72,000 residents experience hunger each year.

By investing in critical food distribution infrastructure, the State of Louisiana will help create a regional asset capable of increasing annual food distribution from 8.4 million pounds to approximately 15 million pounds, significantly expanding the Food Bank's ability to meet growing community needs while improving access to fresh produce, protein, dairy, and other nutritious foods. The project will also strengthen the region's emergency response capacity by providing enhanced storage, refrigeration, and backup power capabilities to support disaster relief efforts and community resilience.

Beyond its hunger-relief impact, the project will generate economic activity and support long-term sustainability. The expanded facility will create two full-time and one part-time positions, increase opportunities for community engagement and volunteerism, and utilize approximately 21,000 square feet of commercial lease space to attract and retain business tenants, generate ongoing revenue, and contribute to local economic development. These investments will help ensure the facility remains a self-sustaining community resource while maximizing the return on public funds.

Through this investment, the State will help create lasting benefits for Northeast Louisiana by reducing hunger, strengthening families, improving health outcomes, creating jobs, stimulating economic activity, and building the infrastructure necessary to serve Northeast Louisiana for decades to come.

What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          The Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana exists to alleviate hunger and strengthen communities by providing access to nutritious food and essential support services for low-income children, families, seniors, veterans, and individuals facing food insecurity. As demand continues to rise, including a 21% increase in visits to Food Bank programs and partner agencies during the last fiscal year, the organization must expand its capacity to meet the growing need across Northeast Louisiana.

The Feeding Our Future project will transform the Food Bank's ability to acquire, store, pack, and distribute nutritious food while creating a more efficient, sustainable, and resilient regional hunger-relief hub. The new facility will significantly expand cold storage, warehouse, volunteer, and distribution capacity, allowing the Food Bank to provide more fresh produce, protein, dairy, and other healthy foods to the communities it serves.

Through this project, the Food Bank will:
• Increase annual food distribution capacity from approximately 8.4 million pounds to 15 million pounds when operating at full capacity, providing more food to children, families, seniors, and individuals experiencing food insecurity.
• Expand access to nutritious foods by increasing storage and handling capacity for fresh produce, refrigerated, and frozen products.
• Increase food box packing capacity by more than 120%, reducing outsourcing costs by approximately $148,000 annually while improving operational efficiency and responsiveness.
• Eliminate the need for rented cold-storage units, generating approximately $49,682 in annual savings and improving food safety and inventory management.
• Nearly double volunteer engagement from more than 6,200 annual volunteer hours to over 12,000 hours, expanding community involvement and support.
• Strengthen emergency response capabilities, enabling the Food Bank to serve as a more effective disaster-relief and emergency food distribution center during hurricanes, severe weather events, and other crises.
• Support regional economic development through the creation of approximately 2 new jobs and a sustainability model that includes commercial lease revenue to help offset operating expenses and maximize charitable resources.

This project will directly benefit the 72,680 individuals and 23,620 children who are considered food insecure across the Food Bank's service area. Beyond expanding a facility, this investment will create lasting infrastructure that increases access to nutritious food, improves operational efficiency, strengthens emergency preparedness, generates economic activity, and helps ensure that no one in Northeast Louisiana faces hunger alone.

What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           The major renovations of the building were completed in September 2026, with remaining items to be completed by July 2027.

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:
                
    
     (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:
                 Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry
Food Distribution Division
5825 Florida Blvd., Suite 4002
Baton Rouge, LA 70806

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               Receipt, Storage and Distribution of Donated Commodities (TEFAP)


Contact Information
name:  Jean Toth 
                                       address:  204 Exchange St., West Monroe, LA 71292
                                       phone:  318-322-3567
                                       fax:  318-322-1620
                                       e-mail:  jtoth@fbnela.org
                                       relationship to entity:  Executive Director