(09/16/26) BATON ROUGE, La. — The LSU AgCenter LaHouse Research and Education Center has been awarded a 2026-2027 Healthy Communities Grant from Keep Louisiana Beautiful to support local efforts that improve the environment through litter prevention, waste reduction, recycling, education and other community beautification initiatives.

The $9,500 grant, made possible through funding from the state of Louisiana and the Office of the Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, will allow LaHouse to create new hands-on exhibits, demonstrations and outreach programs that teach practical ways to reduce food waste and support a healthier environment.

This year, Keep Louisiana Beautiful awarded 22 Healthy Communities Grants totaling more than $177,735 to eligible organizations across the state, including parishes, municipalities, schools, universities, nonprofit organizations, state agencies and Keep Louisiana Beautiful affiliate organizations.

“We are grateful to Keep Louisiana Beautiful for investing in our community and supporting our mission to reduce food waste through education, hands-on learning and practical solutions that help create a healthier and more sustainable Louisiana,” LaHouse program manager Celeste Robin said. “This grant allows us to expand our food waste reduction education efforts, engage more residents and volunteers and provide new learning opportunities that will benefit our community for years to come.”

Nungesser said the Healthy Communities Grant program empowers local organizations to take meaningful action against litter while improving quality of life across Louisiana.

“The best ideas for making Louisiana cleaner and more beautiful come from the people who know their communities best,” Nungesser said. “These grants give local organizations the resources to turn those ideas into action, creating cleaner neighborhoods, stronger community pride and lasting results that benefit everyone.”

Keep Louisiana Beautiful executive director Susan Russell said the Healthy Communities Grant program is designed to support projects that inspire long-term behavioral change while encouraging community collaboration.

“Projects focus on litter removal; litter prevention, education and practices; waste management and reduction; recycling, reusing and refusing; litter enforcement and other related efforts,” Russell said. “Keep Louisiana Beautiful seeks projects that have diverse community support, volunteer involvement, collaboration with stakeholders and benefit the community at large.”

Keep Louisiana Beautiful is a state program under the Office of the Lieutenant Governor and the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism that promotes a personal, corporate and community responsibility for a clean and beautiful Louisiana. The program supports local communities through resources for litter education, prevention, removal, enforcement, beautification, recycling, waste reduction and sustainability initiatives. Keep Louisiana Beautiful is affiliated with the national organization, Keep America Beautiful, and is supported by a robust statewide network of community affiliates and university affiliates. Learn more at KeepLouisianaBeautiful.org.

The LaHouse Research and Education Center, part of the LSU AgCenter, serves as a resource for homeowners, building professionals, students and communities seeking practical, research-based information on resilient housing, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, disaster preparedness and sustainable living. Through exhibits, educational programs and community outreach, LaHouse helps Louisianans make informed decisions that improve the safety, durability, health and sustainability of their homes and communities. Learn more at LsuAgcenter.com/LaHouse.