[StBernard] LRA Releases Second Quarterly Report

[Westley Annis]

LRA Releases Second Quarterly Report

BATON ROUGE, La. - The Louisiana Recovery Authority today released its second quarterly report, outlining progress that's been made in recovery from February through May of 2006. The report highlights the launch of Louisiana's housing registry, the expansion of Louisiana's Bridge Loan Program, funding for infrastructure repairs and economic development, and the development and approval of The Road Home housing program. 

The executive summary and full report are available online at http://lra.louisiana.gov <http://keelson.eatel.net/websites/la.gov/action.cfm?md=communication&task=addClick&msg_ID=1854&ID=d%29j%23kgmYlkm%2C&redirect=http://lra.louisiana.gov> . 

Other activities of the LRA highlighted in this report include: 

*	Generating widespread bipartisan support from residents, community leaders and the Louisiana Legislature for The Road Home. 

	
*	Receiving approval from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for The Road Home. 

*	Developing neighborhood plans for three diverse communities that were impacted by the storms. Working with world-renowned planner Andres Duany of Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company the LRA lead the development of rebuilding plans for downtown Lake Charles, South Acadiana, Arabi and other parts of St. Bernard Parish, which will serve as models for other neighborhoods that will be rebuilt. 

*	Developing action plans and received approval from HUD to use $368 million in Community Development Block Grants to support small business redevelopment; local government emergency infrastructure, such as fire houses, police stations and sewer systems; state building infrastructure, such as roads, schools, universities and ports; and start-up costs for The Road Home housing plan. 

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated South Louisiana, destroying more than 200,000 homes and 18,000 businesses. The Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) is the planning and coordinating body that was created in the aftermath of these storms by Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco to lead one of the most extensive rebuilding efforts in the world. The LRA is a 33-member body which is coordinating across jurisdictions, supporting community recovery and resurgence, ensuring integrity and effectiveness, and planning for the recovery and rebuilding of Louisiana. 


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