Runway facelift: The Federal Aviation Administration has awarded a $4 million grant to the Baton Rouge Metro Airport for improvements to one of its runways that doesn’t meet current FAA standards. Airport officials say the grant is part of the Airport Improvement Program funding for airport projects nationwide.
Flood recovery: The Louisiana Housing Corporation Board of Directors says it has awarded $30.4 million in Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery funds to address long-term housing needs in parishes impacted by the 2016 floods. Funds will be distributed to veterans, senior living, special needs and low income housing facilities in the Baton Rouge area and other parts of the state.
Distillery bought: Louisiana Spirits LLC and its range of Bayou Rums has been purchased by wine and spirits company SPI Group, according to and SPI announcement. Based in Luxembourg, SPI Group has owned a 72.5% majority stake in Louisiana Spirits since 2016 and its subsidiary company, Stoli Group, has been the exclusive distributor of Bayou Rums for two years. Bayou Rum is a copper pot-distilled rum made from molasses and raw sugar from Louisiana sugarcane harvested just southeast of the Lacassine, Louisiana, distillery and is the largest private rum distillery in America. See the announcement.
