CONGRESSMAN FIELDS ANNOUNCES $1.8 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR NORTHWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY EQUIPMENT EXPANSION

NATCHITOCHES, LA - Congressman Cleo Fields (LA-06) today announced that Northwestern State University has been awarded $1.8 million in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to support the university's Innovation Park Equipment Expansion (IPEX) Project. The funding request was submitted in collaboration with U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy.

The award will allow the university to purchase cutting-edge equipment for Innovation Park, including an AI supercomputer, laser cutters, and advanced 3D printers.

"Innovation Park is a cornerstone of STEM education in Northwestern Louisiana," said Congressman Fields. "This funding will expand research and innovation opportunities, empowering students to deepen their STEM expertise and drive groundbreaking discoveries. It will give students the critical skills they need to lead the next wave of scientific and technological innovation, and give Louisiana employers the workforce they need to grow. I was proud to work alongside Senator Cassidy and Senator Kennedy to bring these resources home to Natchitoches and to ensure Louisiana institutions get their fair share of federal investment in research and workforce development."

The equipment is expected to expand research and innovation opportunities at Innovation Park, provide students with hands-on experience in high-demand fields, strengthen the university's ability to attract and retain top undergraduate and graduate students and faculty, and support Louisiana's broader economic development priorities in advanced technology, industrial engineering, and biomedical research.

The award was made under NIST's Congressionally-Identified Projects program (CFDA 11.617).

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