[StBernard] LRA Moves to Increase Funding for Local Recovery Plans, Schools

[Westley Annis]

LRA Moves to Increase Funding for Local Recovery Plans, Schools
Board also approves measure to support 
the redevelopment of Road Home properties

BATON ROUGE, La. (December 11, 2007)-Today the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) approved resolutions calling for the development of an action plan to allocate $500 million in additional Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for the Long Term Community Recovery Program.

"Congress' action last month has not only ensured that the Road Home program is solvent, it has also enabled us to increase funding that's available to parishes for their local recovery plans by more than a half a billion dollars," said John T. Landry, Chair of the LRA's Infrastructure Task Force. "This critical funding has been promised to the parishes twice already-once when we were fighting for the 10 percent match waiver, and then again when the Road Home shortfall was recognized. I have no doubt this money will have a significant impact on their ability to get recovery projects off the ground, and I am thrilled that we were able to move forward with preliminary approval today." 

Over the next month, these actions plans will be developed and published for public comment. The Board is expected to consider the measures for final approval at its next meeting in 2008. 

Conceived by the LRA and implemented by the Division of Administration's Office of Community Development (OCD), this program provides funds to support implementation of local long-term recovery plans in the most heavily impacted communities in the state. The proposed reallocation of funding brings the total amount of funding that will be available to the parishes for this program to $700 million. Funds from this program will be distributed among parishes in the most heavily impacted areas of the state according to a formula that is based on estimated housing and infrastructure damages inflicted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. This is the same formula which was used to distribute the original $200 million to the districts. 

A complete list of parishes and funding allocations are available online at: http://www.lra.louisiana.gov/assets/Dec07/APA19LTCRAllocations.pdf <http://www.lra.louisiana.gov/assets/Dec07/APA19LTCRAllocations.pdf> . 


$47.5 Million for K-12 Schools

The Board also approved a resolution calling for the development of an action plan to allocate $47.5 million in additional CDBG funds to support K-12 school building repairs that are not otherwise covered through the FEMA Public Assistance program. 

"Last August, the LRA recognized schools as an area of the recovery where the storms actually provided us with an opportunity to rebuild better than before, and as a result we committed $250 million in CDBG funds to repair and rebuild K-12 schools," said Linda Johnson, Chair of the LRA's Education Task Force and President of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. "Now that the Road Home has been fully funded, we were able to allocate these remaining funds for their original purpose." 

These funds will be distributed according to the same formula which was used to distribute the original $200 million to the districts through this program. 

Costs not covered by FEMA include uninsured or underinsured facilities, rebuilding schools that did not meet building codes prior to the storm and damages that did not directly result from Hurricanes Katrina or Rita. For example, if termite damage is discovered while a previously flooded school facility is being gutted, certain repairs are necessary before reopening the school though the costs will not be eligible for reimbursement from FEMA.

To provide the optimum learning environments for students, the criteria for parishes to access these funds include current school design best practices such as: 

Building schools with flexible facilities to encourage teaching to different styles of learning; developing a small school culture; making schools a vital part of the community; and integrating the public in the school planning process. 

Actions to Support Road Home Property Redevelopment

The Board also voted to approve several resolutions regarding the redevelopment of properties that are bought out by the state's housing recovery program, known as the Road Home. They include:

- A resolution directing staff to develop and publish an action plan that details the process of transferring bought out properties from the Louisiana Land Trust, a state chartered non-profit entity, to local redevelopment agencies. 

- A resolution directing the LRA Housing Task Force to work with local stakeholders to build consensus and make recommendations to the Board regarding the establishment and proposed budget for a program that will provide "soft-second mortgages" or zero-interest loans of up to $50,000 to low and moderate income families to increase homeownership throughout hurricane recovery areas. 

Copies of these resolutions are available online at http://www.lra.louisiana.gov/meetings.html <http://keelson.eatel.net/websites/la.gov/action.cfm?md=communication&task=addClick&msg_ID=4776&ID=d%60j%20kVm%5El7my&redirect=http://www.lra.louisiana.gov/meetings.html> .

These action plans will be considered by the Board at its next meeting and then on to the governor, the Legislature and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for final approval.

The Board also received and approved Road Home Property Disposition Plans for Orleans and Jefferson Parish. Presentations detailing these plans, which were locally developed with citizen input, are available online at http://www.lra.louisiana.gov/meetings.html <http://www.lra.louisiana.gov/meetings.html> .

Approval of Long Term Community Recovery Plans

The Board gave preliminary approval to a proposed reallocation of $500 million in CDBG funds to support parish long-term community recovery programs, pending the input of the new Governor and Legislature. 

The proposed allocation would be on top of a $200 million pool approved earlier this year. Parishes have presented long-term recovery plans to the board as a means of applying for the funds, which are granted based on each parish's housing and infrastructure damage. Six parishes presented their plans this month triggering $2.4 million in aid. They are: Acadia ($181, 301), Allen ($150,000), Iberia ($615, 677), Jefferson Davis ($168,174), Tangipahoa ($625,030) and Washington ($689,579). 

So far, 99.5 percent of the funds from the existing $200 million pool have been allocated. The three remaining parishes - Ascension, East Baton Rouge and St. Charles - are expected to present their long-term plans to the LRA board in coming months. 

"Our board has been extremely impressed with parishes' long-term plans and we are glad to help them invest in improvements that will make their communities safer and stronger," said LRA Infrastructure Chairman John T. Landry. 

TANGIPAHOA PARISH - $625,030
Projects:
- Construction of a Climate Controlled Storage Building for Emergency Relief Supplies
- Improvement of the Safety and Operation of Community Water Systems
- Retrofitting of Emergency Shelters and Parish Government Structures
- Improvement of Port Manchac Infrastructure
-Floodplain Management and Building Code Improvement

WASHINGTON PARISH - $689,579
Projects:
- Installation of 700 Mhz Radio System
- Establishment of Angie and Varnado Community Center
- Renovation of the Cassidy Park Area (Bogalusa)
- Replacement/Repair of Firehouses (Bogalusa, Richardson)
- Improvement of Rural Water and Sewer Systems

IBERIA PARISH - $615, 677
Projects:
- Delcambre Redevelopment Plan

ACADIA PARISH - $181,301
Projects:
- Provision of Additional Water Capacity/Linkages Between Water Systems in the Parish
- Relocation of the Acadia Parish Police Jury Administrative Office
- Establishment of a Land Use Plan
- Update the Existing Hazard Mitigation Plan
- Emergency Management Training for Local Officials

JEFFERSON DAVIS - $168,174
Projects: 
- Upgrading of Evacuation Shelter
- Construction of Emergency Preparedness Facilities
- Upgrading of the Water and Wastewater Facilities
- Rebuilding and Protection of the Lake Arthur Waterfront District
- Implementation of a Drainage System Study

ALLEN PARISH - $150,000
Projects:
- Repairs to Kinder and Bayou Blue Drainage
- Construction of Mill Creek Reservoir
- Debris Removal from Ouiska Chitto Creek
- Rapid Completion of US 165
- Expansion of Capacity of Evacuation Shelters

Tribute to Governor Kathleen Blanco

In the last LRA Board meeting of Governor Blanco's term, Francis gave a presentation which outlined Governor Blanco's recovery accomplishments since October 2005 and described the positive impact of her leadership on the state's recovery.

Calling her a champion of recovery, Francis said, "She has been a listener when our people had so much pain, a fighter when our state had so much need and a cheerleader for the preservation of our communities and our culture all along the way."

All board resolutions and presentations for the board meeting are available online at www.lra.louisiana.gov <http://www.lra.louisiana.gov> . 

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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