[StBernard] LRA Progress Report - September 10, 2006

[Westley Annis]

LRA Progress Report - September 10, 2006



In this issue:

- $74 Million for Louisiana Cottages on the Way

- Louisiana Speaks Set to Take Major Step in October

- Recovery School District Progresses as School Year Begins

- Freret Market Opens in Uptown New Orleans

- Higher Education Enrollment Rebounds in Southeast Louisiana 

- Recently Released Recovery Report: 
"Education after Katrina: Time for a New Federal Response"

$74 Million for Louisiana Cottages on the Way

The state of Louisiana will receive more than $74 million for its Louisiana Cottage project, which will create over 400 homes in targeted neighborhoods across South Louisiana. The Louisiana project is one of five selected under the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Alternative Housing Pilot Program (AHPP), which has provided an opportunity and an avenue to explore new ideas for providing post-disaster housing to people in need. To read the Louisiana Recovery Authority's press release click here <http://www.lra.louisiana.gov/pr090707cottages.html> . 

Louisiana Speaks Set to Take Major Step in October

Louisiana Speaks, the state's long-term post-hurricane plan for rebuilding safer, smarter and stronger, will take a significant step on October 11 at the Louisiana Recovery Authority's (LRA) Board of Directors meeting. The LRA in cooperation with the Center for Planning Excellence (CPEX) will present a comprehensive blueprint with a 15-minute video-presentation produced by Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) and release an eight-page document highlighting the central ideas of the Louisiana Speaks Regional Vision Plan. To read the entire article published by the Baton Rouge Advocate click here 
<http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/business/9655692.html> . 


Recovery School District Progresses as School Year Begins

Last week, thousands of students returned to school in New Orleans. The start of the new academic year kicked off for students in grades 1 through 12, signaling another sign of progress on the road to recovery. The Recovery School District, which operated 22 schools last year, begins the 2007-2008 academic year with 34 schools and approximately 13,500 students, an increase of 4,000 students since the end of the last school year.
To date, more than $220 million has been paid to public school districts across the state to repair more than 870 K-12 public schools that were damaged or destroyed by the storms in 2005. There is now more than $1 billion available for K-12 institutions to rebuild and recover from the storms. For a list of available public schools in the New Orleans area click here <http://www.louisianaschools.net/lde/uploads/9461.pdf> . 

Freret Market Opens in Uptown New Orleans

This weekend marked the official opening of the Freret Market located at Freret Street and Napoleon Avenue in Uptown New Orleans. This project is part of the city's Strategic Recovery and Redevelopment Plan approved by the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) Board in June 2007 which allocated $117 million in CDBG infrastructure funds to Orleans Parish through the Long-Term Community Recovery Program. This "open-air" style market will feature up to 60 different vendors selling everything from vintage clothing to produce and seafood. To visit the Freret Market website click here <http://www.freretmarket.org/> . 

Higher Education Enrollment Rebounds in Southeast Louisiana 

Enrollment has increased since last year for many higher education institutions in St. Bernard and Orleans parishes. Seven schools have higher enrollment numbers than last year and even those that do not have an overall increase in students have a proportionally larger entering class. The return of students to higher learning facilities is an encouraging sign of recovery for all of Louisiana. To read the full story from the Times-Picayune click here 

<http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/editorials/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1189404064198650.xml&coll=1> . 


Recently Released Recovery Report: 

Southern Education Foudation - "Education after Katrina: Time for a New Federal Response": Click here to read the report 

<http://www.sefatl.org/pdf/Education%20after%20Katrina%20Report-Final.pdf> . 



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 o! f 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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