[StBernard] LRA, Regents, OCD Seek Proposals for CDBG Strategic Planning Process for Postsecondary Research Prog

[Westley Annis]

LRA, Regents, OCD Seek Proposals for Community Development Block Grant Strategic Planning Process for Postsecondary Research Programs

BATON ROUGE, La. (November 15, 2006) -- The Louisiana Recovery Authority and the Louisiana Board of Regents today issued an official request for proposals (RFP) from qualified applicants to provide professional services to develop a strategic plan for the expenditure of $28.5 million in federally-appropriated Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. The CDBG funds are earmarked for the recovery of research programs within Louisiana's public colleges and universities most severely impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and planning for a statewide program 

The program is one of the economic recovery initiatives developed in response to! hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco made workforce and economic development one of her top priorities in hurricane recovery, along with housing and infrastructure.

"We're delighted to set the wheels in motion on this very promising initiative," said Louisiana Recovery Authority Executive Director Andy Kopplin. "The viability of research programs at our colleges and universities is fundamental to Louisiana's long-term recovery. This project holds a great deal of promise for the local economies in the affected areas and our state overall."

"As the name implies, the Research Commercialization and Educational Enhancement program is intended to enhance the quality of community life," said Commissioner of Higher Education Joseph Savoie. "I can't think of a better way to improve a community than to help shore up its university research and education infrastructure so that those institutions can in turn help catalyze their economic! potential and provide opportunities for citizens to improve their own economic and social circumstances." 

The purpose of the RFP is to identify a contractor to work with the Board of Regents, the LRA and private-sector partners to develop a strategic plan that will help storm-damaged postsecondary institutions recover their research bases and related educational programs.

"The RFP has two objectives," said Kerry Davidson, Board of Regents Deputy Commissioner for Sponsored Programs. "The first is to establish guidelines for the proposed Research Competitiveness and Educational Enhancement Program, which will use the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development CDBG funds for recovery of research capacity, including related educational programs, on the campuses most damaged by the hurricanes. The second, longer-range objective is to develop a statewide system to foster university technology development and research commercialization."

Written questions regarding the RFP should be addressed to Dr. Kerry Davi! dson (davidson at laregents.org <mailto:davidson at laregents.org> ) no later than November 30, 2006. Proposals must be received in the Board of Regents office by 4:30 p.m. (CST) on December 8, 2006. An RFP packet may be obtained by contacting the Board of Regents at (225) 342-4253. 

The packet may also be downloaded from the Sponsored Programs page of the Board of Regents web site http://www.regents.state.la.us/ <http://keelson.eatel.net/websites/la.gov/action.cfm?md=communication&task=addClick&msg_ID=2844&ID=d%3Ejnk%21m%40lhml&redirect=http://www.regents.state.la.us/> .

The RFP will also be available on the LRA's website:
www.lra.louisiana. gov/rfpmainpage.html <http://keelson.eatel.net/websites/la.gov/action.cfm?md=communication&task=addClick&msg_ID=2844&ID=d%3Ejnk%21m%40lhml&redirect=http://www.lra.louisiana.g!  ov/rfpmainpage.html> .

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated South Louisiana, claiming 1,464 lives, destroying more than 200,000 homes and 18,000 businesses and inflicting about $25 billion in insured losses. 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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