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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 05, 2010
Contact: Christina Stephens, christina.stephens@la.gov
State Accepting Public Comments on $100 Million Plan to Devote Gustav, Ike Aid to Economic Development, State and Local Government Match
BATON ROUGE, La. - The Louisiana Recovery Authority and the Office of Community Development are accepting public comments on the fourth amendment to Louisiana's plan for spending its allocation of federal funds for recovery from hurricanes Gustav and Ike, which dedicates $100 million to economic development and aid to local governments, farmers and agribusinesses.
The LRA's Board of Directors last week advanced the plan to use the final $100 million, which will be split between $20 million for a Disaster Recovery State Cost-Share Reserves Program and $80 million for an Economic Development and Growth Infrastructure Program. The Cost-Share program will allow Community Development Block Grant dollars to be used to meet the 10 percent match payment required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in order to receive Public Assistance funds. The economic development program will focus on large economic development loans and grants for projects that:
- Support high growth sectors;
- Maximize new and existing businesses and jobs;
- Provide infrastructure needs to industries and businesses;
- Spur long-term job creation, economic revitalization and long-term sustainability; and
- Employ disaster recovery resources to leverage private resources.
In Action Plan Amendment No. 3, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development disallowed the use of $22 million to fund interoperability equipment, primarily due to the specific request for handheld radios. In Amendment No. 4 the state revised its request, allocating $17 million in Interoperable Communications Infrastructure and providing an additional $5 million for agricultural recovery.
HUD has allocated $1 billion in CDBG funds to Louisiana for Gustav and Ike recovery. Louisiana's overall plan allocated $565 million directly to parishes for recovery projects, with the remaining funds divided among HUD-required affordable housing initiatives and other state-administered programs. Amendment No. 4 details the uses for the final $100 million of this allocation.
Following its federally-required public comment period, Action Plan Amendment No. 4 must get the approval of the Louisiana Legislature before the state can forward it to the HUD for final approval.
Citizens, community leaders and elected officials can access the plans and submit comments online by visiting http://www.doa.louisiana.gov/cdbg/dractionplans.htm and opening "Action Plan Amendment 4 to the Action Plan for the Utilization of CDBG Funds in Response to Hurricanes Gustav and Ike." A copy of the plans can be requested by calling (225) 219-9600. Public comment will remain open until the close of business on February 10, 2010.
Members of the public can submit comments several ways:
- Using the online form at http://www.doa.louisiana.gov/cdbg/dractionplans.htm;
- Emailing them to ocd@la.gov;
- Mailing them to Disaster Recovery Unit, P.O. Box 94095, 70804-9095, Attn: Paul Catrou;
- Faxing them to the attention of Paul Catrou at (225) 219-9605.
Created in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) is the coordinating and planning body leading the most extensive rebuilding effort in American history. The central point for hurricane recovery in Louisiana, the LRA works closely with the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) and partners with state and federal agencies to oversee more than $20 billion worth of programs, speed the pace of rebuilding, remove hurdles and red tape and ensure that Louisiana recovers safer and stronger than before.
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