"Provision chose to expand and invest in Louisiana because of the strength of the healthcare community in Louisiana and New Orleans, and the support and collaboration received from local and state authorities," Douglass said. "We believe that proton therapy can benefit Louisiana and New Orleans, which has some of the highest cancer-incidence rates in the country. In addition, we are particularly excited about the possibility of working with LCMC and LSU Health and the vision that they have to provide world-class cancer care in New Orleans."

Provision plans to break ground on the Louisiana Proton Therapy Center before the end of 2017. Following a two-year construction phase, the center will begin seeing patients by late 2019.


"As the region's leading academic medical center, access to cutting-edge technology and research is a core part of our mission at University Medical Center New Orleans," said CEO Gregory C. Feirn of LCMC Health. "This proton therapy center can provide next-generation cancer treatment to our community and region – an innovative tool in our fight against cancer and in solidifying UMC's role in destination healthcare."

"Cancer incidence and mortality rates among men and women in Louisiana are worse than the national rates for all cancers combined, and cancer remains the second-leading cause of death here," said Chancellor Larry H. Hollier, M.D., of LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans. "In putting this innovative technology to work for our patients, we hope to make great strides in reducing those stark statistics and greatly improve both their quantity and quality of life."

To secure the project, LED offered the company a competitive incentive package that includes a $1 million performance-based grant, payable in five annual installments beginning in 2020, and the comprehensive workforce solutions of LED FastStart® – the nation's No. 1 state workforce training program. In addition, Provision Healthcare is expected to utilize Louisiana's Quality Jobs Program.

"We are thrilled that Provision has decided to bring their company to New Orleans," Mayor Mitch Landrieu said. "This is another sign of New Orleans' growing economy and business attraction efforts. Provision will be a great addition to our healthcare industry and biomedical corridor, will create jobs, and will advance cancer treatment to help people in a real way."

Provision Healthcare and the Louisiana Proton Therapy Center have engaged The HWH Group to pursue federal New Markets Tax Credits that support redevelopment in the city's biomedical corridor. Beyond the healthcare partnerships, a central factor in selecting the University Medical Center site is its location in a qualified U.S. census tract. The location qualifies the proton therapy cancer center development for federal financing through the New Markets Tax Credit program.

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