Tuesday Governor Jeff Landry had a press conference at the Rapides Parish Renaissance Facility to announce that the state will build a new $39 million modern secure facility as an addition to Renaissance.

Some of the funds will also be utilized to renovate Renaissance’s existing dorm. The state will also assist in paying for the facility’s annual operations through its Office of Juvenile Justice Department.

Adjacent sister parishes will be paying to participate in the project.

The new facility will provide Rapides Parish with 32 guaranteed juvenile beds (the current facility operates with 12 beds) with an additional 13 available to Rapides if needed, and a more modern and secure overall facility.

This will come at no additional cost to Rapides taxpayers, officials said.

Rapides Parish taxpayers will still get what they voted for – the $2.3 million annual tax will fund the existing facility.

But they will now get a larger, more modern and secure facility thanks to the state.