[StBernard] LRA Progress Report - February 1, 2008

[Westley Annis]

In this issue:

*	President Sets Dates for International Summit in New Orleans
*	Foundations Assist St. Bernard Parish in Reopening Library
*	Housing Center for Volunteers in Southwest Louisiana Gets Upgrade
*	BCS Game Travelers Give New Orleans Airport Record Day
*	Community Invited to Help Shape Vision for Calcasieu Parish
*	Competition Lets College Students Design New Orleans Recovery Projects
*	Federal Reserve Bank Releases Crisis Preparedness DVD

________________________________

President Sets Dates for International Summit in New Orleans

The White House announced Thursday that the North American Leaders' Summit will be held in New Orleans on April 21 and April 22. President George W. Bush announced Monday during his State of the Union address that New Orleans would host the summit, which brings leaders from Mexico, Canada and the United States together annually to discuss global issues of importance to North America. In announcing the summit in New Orleans, Bush said "Tonight the armies of compassion continue the march to a new day in the Gulf Coast. America honors the strength and resilience of the people of this region. We reaffirm our pledge to help them build stronger and better than before."

*	Click here to read LRA Chairman Norman Francis' statement on the announcement.
	<http://lra.louisiana.gov/pr012808InternationalSummit.html> 

Foundations Assist St. Bernard Parish in Reopening Library

St. Bernard Parish reopened its library this week, located at 7701 W. Judge Perez Drive in Arabi, the Times Picayune reports. The temporary facility is provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which also provided computers, wireless internet and funds to help restore the library's collection, and to help cover its utilities and staff salaries. The Meraux Foundation has allowed the library to use its land for the duration of its grant with the Gates Foundation. Current library hours are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The phone number is (504) 279-0448.

Housing Center for Volunteers in Southwest Louisiana Gets Upgrade

The Southwest Louisiana Volunteer Housing Center, which is an initiative of the United Way of Southwest Louisiana that provides housing for volunteers visiting the area to help with rebuilding, upgraded its facilities with a new roof and a back up electrical generator switching station. Grants from the Calcasieu Parish School System, the Enterprise Foundation, Rebuilding Together and Ferguson Roofing provided the roof and grants from Entergy, the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office and the United Way Hurricane Fund paid for the generator. The center helps coordinate work for volunteers and provides 200 beds for visiting volunteer groups. 

*	For more information, visit http://www.swlavolunteercoordination.org/ <http://www.swlavolunteercoordination.org/> .

BCS Game Travelers Set New Orleans Airport Record Day

Travelers attending the BCS Championship Game in New Orleans in January set a record for Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY) in New Orleans, giving it the highest number of passengers in a single day since Hurricane Katrina hit the city. On Jan. 8, 2008, a record number 19,188 passengers were processed through security at the airport in New Orleans. The airport had a second record day because of the Sugar Bowl, when 17,929 passengers traveled to New Orleans. Pre-Katrina approximately 17,500 passengers departed the city on a normal Sunday. 

Passenger totals have continued to climb at the airport, which reported 2007 year-to-date boardings were up 22.5 percent over 2006, with about 3.5 million travelers through November. That compares to 2.8 million in November 2006. By March the airport is also expected to add four cities with once daily nonstop flights. The cities will be Boston, Indianapolis, Charlotte, NC and Ronald Reagan International Airport in Washington, D.C. 

*	For more information on the Louis Armstrong International Airport visit http://www.flymsy.com/ <http://www.flymsy.com/> . 

Community Invited to Help Shape Vision for Calcasieu Parish

The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury is working with Planning Works, a land use planning consulting firm, to draft the Parish's first Comprehensive Plan. The plan will guide ongoing growth and development, identify goals for the parish, establish decision-making policies and propose implementation strategies. The team expects that the plan will take 12 to 14 months to complete and will hold 10 public meetings across the parish to invite input from residents. The first public meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Lake Charles Civic Center's Jean Lafitte Room.

*	For more information on Vision Calcasieu, call the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury at 337-721-3500 or visit www.visioncalcasieu.com <http://www.visioncalcasieu.com> .

Competition Lets College Students Design New Orleans Recovery Projects

The City of New Orleans, Chase and Enterprise Community Partners are sponsoring a real-estate design competition that will tap into the brain-power of the city's college students. In existence since 1994, this year's Chase Community Development Competition is designed to support the ongoing recovery of New Orleans. Students will partner with a local not-for-profit agency to develop a real estate plan that is buildable, sustainable and will meet prevalent community needs in low-to-moderate income areas. The exact type of project is up to the students, who may decide to design a farmers market, education center, housing development or some other creative enterprise.

The competition encourages teams to focus on one of the 17 target recovery areas (www.nolarecovery.com <http://www.nolarecovery.com> ) identified by the Office of Recovery and Development Administration. The complete proposal must include financial analysis, architectural renderings and other relevant components. Chase will award the winning entry with a $25,000 pre-development grant.

*	Click here for more information. <http://www.enterprisecommunity.org/local_work/gulf_coast/chase_competition.asp>  

Federal Reserve Bank Releases Crisis Preparedness DVD

The Federal Reserve Bank in Atlanta has created a crisis preparedness DVD to help banks better prepare for disasters. The Federal Reserve Bank notes that in times of crisis or disaster, banks play a vital role in distributing money to their customers and ensuring their customers have the means to meet their financial needs for their family or business. Drawing on the experience of bankers who have weathered crisis situations, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta developed Crisis Preparedness: Reconnecting the Financial Lifeline, a DVD designed to assist bankers with their institutions' emergency preparedness efforts. 

*	Click here to download or order a free copy of the DVD. <http://www.frbatlanta.org/bank_info/crisis_preparedness.cfm> 



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 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.

###