BATON ROUGE, La. – Private non-profit organizations, local governments, and elementary and middle schools wishing to apply for the next round of Safe Routes To School Program funds through the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development-Safe Routes To School Program are encouraged to attend 2010 Safe Routes to School Training. The event locations and times are as follows:

Monroe - November 3, 11am-3pm

Alexandria - November 4, 9am-1pm

Lafayette - November 9, 10am-2pm

New Orleans - November 10, 10am-2pm

Baton Rouge - November 16, 10am-2pm

Hammond - November 18, 10am-2pm

The training will greatly increase your ability to properly respond to the application. All participants will get a head start in preparing their applications by receiving an early copy of the 2011 Request for Applications.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has received approximately $2.3 million dollars to fund Safe Routes To School projects throughout the state for the 2011 application cycle.

Safe Routes To School programs aim to improve the health of kids and the community by making walking and bicycling to school safer, easier and more enjoyable. They work to assess the safety of school travel routes; make changes to current conditions; educate students and drivers about safe travel, and encourage walking and biking to school. Interested organizations will have an opportunity to apply for up to $300,000 to conduct Safe Routes to School programs in their areas.