[StBernard] LRA Announces Schedule of Public Meetings to Present Final LA Speaks Regional Plan

[Westley Annis]

LRA Announces Schedule of Public Meetings to Present 
Final Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan

More than a dozen events scheduled across South Louisiana during May

BATON ROUGE, La. (April 25, 2007)-The Louisiana Recovery Authority today announced a schedule of public meetings that will be held across South Louisiana to present the final Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan.

"The Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan has been developed over the last 20 months using scenario planning, world-class computer modeling and technical analysis, and extensive public input generated from tens of thousands of citizens," said Donna Fraiche, LRA board member and Chair of the LRA's Long Term Community Planning Task Force. "We are ecstatic that this plan is finally complete, and look forward to presenting it to the people of Louisiana through this series of public meetings."

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2nd

Unveiling of the Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan
5:30 pm
Shaw Center for the Arts, Manship Theater (1st Floor)
100 Lafayette Street, Baton Rouge

*This town hall meeting is free and open to the public. 

THURSDAY, MAY 3rd 

Lunchtime Presentation in New Orleans
11:30 am
World Trade Center, Plimsoll Club (30th Floor)
2 Canal Street, New Orleans 

*This presentation will be given during a luncheon that is hosted by the World Trade Center, so you must register to attend. The cost to attend the luncheon is $35. RSVP online at wtcno.org.

Town Hall Meeting in New Orleans
3 pm
Delgado Community College- City Park Campus
Student Life Center, Lake Maurepas Room
501 City Park Avenue, New Orleans

*This town hall meeting is free and open to the public. 

MONDAY, MAY 7th 

Lunchtime Presentation in Thibodaux
11:30 am
Envie, Isabella Room
203 North Canal Blvd (behind Howard Johnson's), Thibodaux

* This presentation will be given during a luncheon that is hosted by the Bayou Industrial Group, so you must register to attend. The cost of attendance for non-members of the Bayou Industrial Group is $15. You must register by noon on Friday, May 4 to attend this event. RSVP by contacting Jennifer Armand at 985-580-3901 or jen at amandcreative.com.

Town Hall Meeting in Metairie
5:30 pm
East Bank Regional Library, Napoleon Room B 
4747 W. Napoleon Avenue, Metairie

*This town hall meeting is free and open to the public. 

TUESDAY, MAY 8th 

Town Hall Meeting in Lake Charles
6:00 pm
Central School Arts & Humanities Center
809 Kirby Street, Lake Charles

*This town hall meeting is free and open to the public. 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 9th 

Breakfast Presentation in Crowley
7:45 am
Acadia Parish Cooperative Extension Office
157 Cherokee Drive, Crowley

*This presentation will be given during a breakfast is sponsored by the Crowley Chamber of Commerce, the Jefferson Davis Business Alliance, and the Rayne Chamber of Commerce, so you must register to attend. Breakfast will be provided by the Rice Palace. Call 337-788-0177 to RSVP. 

Lunchtime Presentation in Abbeville
11:45 am
Riverfront Restaurant
503 West Port Street, Abbeville

*Additional details TBD. Please check for updates on the Louisiana Speaks Calendar. <http://www.louisianaspeaks.org/calendar.html?view=month&sd=2007050100:00:00> 

Town Hall Meeting in Lafayette 
5:30 pm
Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum- A. Hays Town Building (2nd Floor)
710 East Saint Mary Blvd., Lafayette 

*This town hall meeting is free and open to the public. 

THURSDAY, MAY 10th

Presentation at the LRA Board Meeting
9 am- 5 pm (Time of LA Speaks presentation TBA)
Baton Rouge Community College- Louisiana Boardroom
5310 Florida Boulevard, Baton Rouge 

*This meeting is free and open to the public. 

FRIDAY, MAY 11th 

Presentation at the Louisiana Interfaith Disaster Recovery Network Inaugural Assembly
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (LA Speaks Presentation at 11 am)
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge
1900 S. Acadian Thruway, Baton Rouge 

* There is a $10.00 registration fee to attend the assembly, which covers lunch and incidentals. You must register by May 4th to attend this event. For additional information on Louisiana Interfaith Disaster Recovery Network and its Inaugural Assembly, call 225-344-0134 or visit www.lainterchurch.org <http://keelson.eatel.net/websites/la.gov/action.cfm?md=communication&task=addClick&msg_ID=3746&ID=dtijegiBnWnI&redirect=http://www.lainterchurch.org> .

THURSDAY, MAY 17th

Lunchtime Presentation in Slidell 
11:30 am
Trinity's Banquet & Reception Hall
1000 Caruso Boulevard, Suite 201

* This presentation will be given during a luncheon that is hosted by the Greater Slidell Area Chamber of Commerce, so you must register to attend. The cost to attend the luncheon is $25 for chamber members and $35 for non-members. RSVP by emailing assistant at slidellchamber.com.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 30th 

Lunchtime Presentation in Covington
11:30 am
Tchefuncte Country Club 
2 Country Club Park

* This presentation will be given during the monthly St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce luncheon, sponsored this month by Banner Ford, so you must register to attend this event. The cost to attend the luncheon is $25 for chamber members and $30 for non-members. RSVP at 985-892-3216 ext 2. 


A presentation will also be held in St. Bernard Parish. Details of this event will be announced soon. 

Meeting times, dates and locations are tentative and subject to change. Please check the Louisiana Speaks Calendar <http://www.louisianaspeaks.org/calendar.html?view=month&sd=2007050100:00:00>  for updates and additional events. All meetings are open to the public. 

Spanning parishes from the Texas to Mississippi border (including the Houma/ Thibodaux, New Orleans, North Shore, Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Lake Charles metro areas), the Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan will provide a broad strategic framework and priorities for moving Louisiana forward. Its innovative design will allow us to integrate planning for economic development, transportation, coastal protection and restoration and community growth--thus allowing us to leverage future investments and accelerate the pace of Louisiana's long term recovery. It will also complement and support parish and local plans and serve as a guide for sustainable growth over the next 50 years. 

Additional presentations of the Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan can be scheduled by request. Please contact Melissa Landry at melissa.landry at la.gov if you would like to schedule a public meeting in your area. 

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated South Louisiana, claiming 1,464 lives, 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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