Projects & Grants

The U.S. Department of Commerce, through the Economic Development Administration (EDA), has announced a $3.4 million investment to enhance the Baton Rouge Health District. This funding, which includes a $2.72 million EDA grant and $680,000 in local contributions, will be used for the R.E.A.C.H. Gateway Infrastructure Enhancement Project. This project aims to improve signage and intersections to support business development and create a welcoming gateway to the district. The initiative reflects a collaboration with Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome and is part of a broader effort to build resilience and economic vitality in the area affected by recent disasters.

Collaborative Partners

• City of Baton Rouge
• Baton Rouge Area Foundation
• Louisiana Blue
• Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center
• Ochsner Health
• Baton Rouge General
• Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center
• Pennington Biomedical Research Center
• Woman's Hospital

KEY POINTS:

• Improved Wayfinding
• Intersection enhancements with a focus on sustainability and resiliency
• Defined gateway infrastructure at district boundaries



The Baton Rouge Health-Tech Catalyst is a unique partnership between the Baton Rouge Health District, the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, and the Pennington Biomedical Research Center to strengthen and grow the regional health-tech-related innovation cluster. The program promotes a cluster of stakeholders advancing the application of organized knowledge and skills in the form of devices, medicines, vaccines, procedures, and systems developed to solve a health problem and improve quality of life.

The Baton Rouge Health-Tech Catalyst partnership was originally formed as a result of federal funding from the Economic Development Administration, Venture Challenge program. This program funds regional initiatives that support entrepreneurship and accelerate company growth.

Collaborative Partners

• Baton Rouge Health District
• Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC)
• Pennington Biomedical Research Center
• Louisiana Economic Development (LED)



THREE MAIN FOCUS AREAS:

Launchpad Innovation Pilot Awards:

Provides a launchpad for innovation and technology commercialization by supporting collaborative proof-of-concept start-up projects in the District. LEARN MORE

Innovation Challenges and Forums:

Addresses the top health and life sciences challenges in the District through innovative strategies designed to accelerate strategic partnerships between growth-stage health-tech companies and regional health system institutions.

Economic Development (in partnership with BRAC):

Advance economic development through targeted business expansion and (inter)national recruitment that is focused on meaningful engagement of established industry leaders.

The Baton Rouge Health-Tech Catalyst, supported by the Economic Development Administration, Venture Challenge program, awarded 6 proof-of-concept pilot projects with up to $30,000 in funding to test their innovative pilot project idea. Awarded projects were selected by a panel of judges who graded pitch presentations on the following criteria: novelty of the project idea, ability to produce meaningful outcomes, the soundness of the project's approach, feasibility, and alignment with Health District priority areas.

By providing seed funding to these collaborative pilot projects, Launchpad allowed innovative leaders in the Health District the opportunity to fine-tune and test their innovative project ideas before scaling in larger markets.

Collaborative Partners

• Louisiana Economic Development (LED)
• Pennington Biomedical Research Center
• Baton Rouge Area Chamber
  

LAUNCHPAD PORTFOLIO

Previously Funded Innovation Pilot Projects

$180,000 in grant dollars have been invested in the Launchpad pilot awards process. Six Launchpad Innovation Pilot Award grants have been provided to support innovative healthcare solutions.

• BRG FIT! Total Health and Wellbeing
• Increasing Endometrial Cancer Awareness and Cure for Louisiana Women
• Palliative Care Program for Persons Living with Dementia
• Developing Multicellular Organoid for Precision Therapy
• Reconceptualizing How the Most Seriously Ill Patients Experience the Emergency Department
• Non-Invasive Treatment of Uterine Fibroids

The Baton Rouge Health District (BRHD) has received a $1.3 million NIH grant to form a Research Data Collaborative. This initiative will link Pennington Biomedical's research with clinical data from Our Lady of the Lake Health, Woman’s Hospital, Baton Rouge General, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, and Ochsner Health. The collaborative will develop secure, anonymized data warehouses standardized by Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) to support extensive health research. This project, part of the Health-Tech Catalyst program, aims to enhance healthcare innovations and patient outcomes across South Louisiana.

Collaborative Partners

• Pennington Biomedical Research Center
• Woman's Hospital
• Baton Rouge General
• Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center
• Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center
• LA CaTS



KEY POINTS:

• Expand research and data sharing across Baton Rouge region and national studies
• Research-oriented database populated with EMR-derived data
  

The planned rail service between Baton Rouge and New Orleans will offer twice-daily trips, connecting major points including downtown Baton Rouge, the Health District, and New Orleans' Union Passenger Terminal. This route is a key part of the Gulf Coast Corridor, a national high-speed rail network aimed at enhancing regional connectivity. The service not only provides a convenient travel alternative but also boosts economic development, improves job access, and serves as an effective evacuation route during emergencies.

Collaborative Partners

• Capital Region Planning Commission
• New Orleans Regional Planning Commission
• BioDistrict New Orleans
• Baton Rouge Health District



KEY POINTS

• BRHD and New Orleans BioDistrict Joint Initiative
• Focused transport of workforce on passenger trains among healthcare facilities
• Medically supported evacuation of patients during times of disaster

The Baton Rouge Health District's BRHireD Initiative is designed to bridge healthcare workforce gaps through recruitment, retention, and training that ultimately establishes a robust and consistent workforce pipeline.

The BRHireD initiative is funded by grants from the Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation and Health District member institutions. Aligned with the Health Education and Workforce Focus Area, this initiative convenes local stakeholders from the community, education, and employer sectors as well as the local workforce development office to establish a strong fluid pipeline of qualified healthcare talent. As a major economic driver in the Baton Rouge community, maintaining a cohesive workforce pipeline for BRHD Member Institutions not only allows these healthcare providers to adequately serve the health needs of the community but also supports economic stability for local families.

Collaborative Partners

• Woman's Hospital
• Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center
• Baton Rouge General
• Propel America
• Ochsner Health
• Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center
• Christian Outreach Center Baton Rouge
• HOPE Ministries Baton Rouge
• Baton Rouge Community College
• River Parishes Community College
• Louisiana Blue
• EmployBR



The Health Loop aims to provide District employees, residents, and visitors with outdoor spaces for walking, running, or biking. There is strong support among Health District stakeholders for BREC's vision of a trail loop around the District, with the BRHD Landscape Framework Plan incorporating the Health Loop as a key feature. The westward extension of the trail to the OLOL campus is a priority.

The BRHD plays a crucial role by coordinating discussions on trail development, securing easements, and addressing design and maintenance concerns. Partnerships could also support habitat restoration and track the health impacts of the trails, guiding future projects and funding efforts.

Collaborative Partners

• BREC

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS FROM BREC:

• 2019 – Ward Creek Bridge connects the initial segments that terminate at Ward Creek and provides a public crossing to destinations geographically separated by the waterway.
  
  
• 2020 – The East Baton Rouge Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan was approved and adopted by the BREC Commission and EBR City-Parish. The CAPP plan was incorporated into the overall master plan.



MOVEBR is the largest and most significant transportation infrastructure investment in East Baton Rouge Parish history. The vision of MOVEBR is to deliver transportation solutions that will move our region in a safe, sustainable manner and further enhance strong neighborhoods, communities, and economic vitality for all residents of East Baton Rouge. This program is through the East Baton Rouge, City of Baton Rouge Office of the Mayor-President.

Collaborative Partners

• East Baton Rouge, City of Baton Rouge Office of the Mayor-President

MAP KEY

The Baton Rouge Health District is monitoring five MOVEBR projects within the Baton Rouge Health District. We are working closely with the MOVEBR initiative to help with traffic congestion and patient flow within the district:

• Bluebonnet (Perkins to Picardy)
• Dijon Ave. Phase II (Midway to Bluebonnet)
• Midway (Dijon to Picardy)
• Picardy – Perkins Connector
• Hennessy (Perkins Railroad Safety Improvements)
  

The mission of the Baton Rouge Health District's Substance Use Awareness Task Force, is to coordinate and advance activities and understanding around substance use and misuse. The Task Force focuses on supporting collaborative partners with meeting the unique healthcare needs of patients and families who are impacted by substance use disorder and addiction. The Task Force emphasizes elevating best practices and education to healthcare partners as the primary strategies for accomplishing the Task Force's Mission.

Key strategies include:

• Elevate evidence-based best practice across BRHD Member Institutions specifically around prescribing, managing, and handling substances with potential for abuse

• Increase education and awareness on substance use disorders and harm reduction techniques for providers, care providers, and the community

The Task Force has also organized drug-take-back events, successfully collecting significant amounts of unused medications to prevent misuse. Additionally, this group has worked to tackle the opioid crisis by reducing prescriptions through provider and patient education on alternative pain management options. This comprehensive approach aims to decrease new addiction cases and inform patients about their pain management rights and options, contributing to healthier community outcomes.

Collaborative Partners

• Baton Rouge General
• Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center
• Pennington Biomedical Research Center
• Louisiana Blue
  
• Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center
• Ochsner Health
• Woman's Hospital
• Acadian Ambulance
  

SUBGROUPS/COMMITTEES

• Evidence-Based Best Practice Subgroup
• Education and Awareness Subgroup

RESOURCES

• PDF Download: Caring for Patients with Addiction & Substance Use Disorder
• PDF Download: Raising Awareness by Supporting National Health Observances Related to Substance Use & Harm Reduction