Project Overview

Empowering Communities Through Community Empowerment Strategies

Project Overview

The proposed Donaldsonville Sports & Leadership Complex will feature:

Indoor Multi-Sport Arena
- Regulation basketball courts (4 full courts; convertible for volleyball)
- Indoor turf field for football, baseball, and soccer training
- Batting cages and pitching tunnels
- Bleacher seating for up to 1,500 spectators
- Locker rooms and team suites

Leadership & Education Wing
- Classrooms and smart labs for college readiness, coding, and STEM learning
- Entrepreneurship and business incubation offices
- Mentorship and leadership development center
- College and career resource lounge

Community & Event Space
- Administrative offices for Sowers Choice and partner organizations
- Meeting and training rooms for local schools, youth councils, and parish agencies
- Fitness and wellness studio
- Multi-use event hall for conferences, ceremonies, and civic programs

Why Donaldsonville?

Donaldsonville, located at the heart of Ascension Parish, is a historic and culturally rich community with deep agricultural and industrial roots. Yet, despite proximity to major plants and ports, the city’s youth lack access to large-scale training and leadership facilities that connect them to the region’s economic resurgence.

Demographic Highlights

Population: ~6,500 (city); ~129,000 (Ascension Parish)
Median Age: 34.2 years
Youth (Under 18): 26% of the population
Median Household Income: $39,000 (below state and regional average)
Education: 76% high school graduation rate; less than 20% college completion
Racial Composition: 70% African American, 25% White, 5% Hispanic/Other

This project will bridge the opportunity gap by equipping young residents with the academic, athletic, and leadership tools to thrive within an expanding regional economy.

Economic Context and Alignment

Over the next decade, industrial expansion in Ascension and surrounding parishes—led by Hyundai, CF Industries, and others—will inject more than $40 billion into the local economy. These investments will demand skilled labor, technical education, and leadership capacity.

However, without strategic community investment, the youth of Donaldsonville risk being bystanders to their own city’s transformation.

The proposed facility positions Sowers Choice as a bridge between industry investment and local empowerment—offering leadership, training, and opportunity pipelines that prepare youth for both college and high-wage careers.

Core Program Areas

Youth Athletic Development

Leadership & Character Formation

Structured sports training across basketball, baseball, softball, football, and soccer
Partnerships with collegiate athletic programs for exposure and recruitment
Certified strength and conditioning programs

Leadership & Character Formation

“Mentor Champions” model emphasizing faith-based leadership principles
Weekly leadership workshops integrating teamwork, discipline, and civic responsibility
Guest speaker series featuring local government, education, and business leaders

Academic and Workforce Readiness

Community Engagement & Family Empowerment

Tutoring and dual-enrollment programs in collaboration with River Parishes Community College and Baton Rouge Community College
Soft-skills and workforce readiness boot camps aligned with industrial partners
Scholarships and college navigation workshops

Community Engagement & Family Empowerment

Parent resource center for education, finance, and health literacy
Summer leadership institutes and after-school mentorship programs
Annual community leadership summit

Empowering Communities Through Community Empowerment Strategies

Project Overview

The proposed Donaldsonville Sports & Leadership Complex will feature:

Why Donaldsonville?

Demographic Highlights

Economic Context and Alignment

Core Program Areas

Youth Athletic Development

Leadership & Character Formation

Leadership & Character Formation

Leadership & Character Formation

Leadership & Character Formation

Leadership & Character Formation

Academic and Workforce Readiness

Community Engagement & Family Empowerment

Community Engagement & Family Empowerment

Community Engagement & Family Empowerment

Community Engagement & Family Empowerment

Community Engagement & Family Empowerment

Capital Campaign Goal - $25,000,000

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