Economic development during these difficult financial and economic times is the #1 concern on the minds of most people. Whether you’re a corporate exec, a small business owner, an employee, an entrepreneur looking for an opportunity, a student or a consumer, economic development and its impact on improving the ills of your locality, state, region or nation, you will want to hear our speaker on Tuesday, April 14, 2009.
On Tuesday, April 14, 2009, Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret will speak Tuesday April 14, 2009 at Noon, with reception starting at 11:30AM (early arrival recommended).The topic will be “Economic development efforts in the State of Louisiana”The location is thePlimsoll Club in the World Trade Center, #2 Canal Street in New Orleans.There is a $21 per member; $27 per non-member guest; $15 per student and complimentary at the World Trade Center Garage when ticket is validated at the Plimsoll Club.RSVP to laurendean@fidelityhomestead.com or by telephone to 504-569-3413.
To insure an accurate count of attenders, please RSVP not later than Monday April 13th.
Seating is limited, so please respond early. No-shows will be billed.
Visit website: www.NOCBE.com for our calendar of events & to view the latest NOCBE New Orleans Regional Recovery Index/Report.
SUNO
The Southern University at New Orleans Alumni Association will hold the “Show Your Love for SUNO” Gala on Friday, April 17, 2009 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.The gala will take place at The Crystal Palace, 10020 Chef Menteur Hwy.The attire for the event is dressy and tickets are $60 per person.
For more information call Judy Boudreaux at (504) 248-0514, Avis Lightfoot White at (225) 995-4052, Dr. Brenda Jackson at (504) 286-5274 or Gloria Moultrie at (504) 286-5341.
Eddie Francis
Interim Director of Public Relations
Southern University at New Orleans
6400 Press Drive
Administration Building, Room 312
New Orleans, Louisiana 70126
(504) 286-5343 MAIN
(504) 284-5525 FAX
(504) 236-1009 MOBILE www.suno.edu
CDL Loan Forgiveness
Statement from New Orleans Mayor Nagin
I am very pleased by Secretary Napolitano’s proposal to establish the procedures to forgive the Community Disaster Loans (CDL) the City received following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Having been immediately downgraded to junk bond status and escaping bankruptcy after the storms, this is an important next step for the City of New Orleans. Since 2006, my Administration and the City Council have had difficult discussions during the budget process about what steps we could or could not take pending the forgiveness of the CDL loans, and as a result, we have had to manage our city’s operating budget very carefully, all the while, trying to maintain an improved level of service for our citizens. While I know that the CDL forgiveness is a process and will not happen “overnight”, it is a comfort that we are on the path to a resolution of this very important issue. After only two months in office, I commend Secretary Napolitano and the Administration on their expediency and willingness to make the GulfCoast thrive again.
Sen. Mary Landrieu
(press release)
United States Senator Mary Landrieu, D-La., today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released its proposed amendment to regulations governing Special Community Disaster Loans (CDL) – loans that were issued to assist communities impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The suggested regulation outlines the procedures and requirements that governments who received Special CDLs will need to apply for cancellation of their loan obligations. Eligible communities for loan forgiveness are those that cannot meet their operating budget in the first three fiscal years following the disaster.
“The regulations issued by FEMA today bring us one step closer to achieving a fair policy for our hurricane-impacted communities,” Sen. Landrieu said. “The federal government enacted a double standard when it prohibited Katrina and Rita-affected areas along the GulfCoast from being eligible for Community Disaster Loan forgiveness. FEMA failed to correct this mistake under the previous administration for nearly two years. I commend Secretary Napolitano and the new administration for addressing Special CDL forgiveness right out of the gate.”
Community Disaster Loans are intended to help impacted local governments that have lost tax revenue because of resident displacement cover payroll and operation costs. Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Congress gave FEMA additional loan authority to assist hurricane-affected communities. FEMA provided more than $1.27 billion in Special CDLs to communities in Louisiana and Mississippi.
The Stafford Act has historically required forgiveness of Community Disaster Loans if independent audits determine that, in the three full fiscal years following a disaster, the revenues of the local government are insufficient to meet its operating budget. Otherwise, the loans must be repaid after five years. However, when the loans were granted in October 2005, Sens. Bill Frist, R-Tenn. and David Vitter, R-La., specifically prohibited FEMA from forgiving any Special CDLs.
In 2007, Sen. Landrieu secured language that would make Katrina- and Rita-affected Gulf Coast states eligible for the same Community Disaster Loan forgiveness option that has been made available to all previous disaster-stricken communities. The Landrieu language was included in a 2007 Supplemental bill. Last December, Sen. Landrieu and other members of the Louisiana delegation sent a letter to then-FEMA Administrator R. David Paulison expressing concern over the delayed implementation of the 2007 CDL provision.
FEMA is seeking comments from state and local officials, as well as the public, on the proposed forgiveness procedures. Once comments are adjudicated, FEMA will issue a final regulation establishing the Special CDLs forgiveness procedures. FEMA cannot begin accepting forgiveness applications or begin forgiving loans until that final rule goes into effect.
Louisiana Homeland Security The following parishes have requested assistance from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) as a result of severe weather that moved through Louisiana March 26-28, 2009: East Baton Rouge, Lafourche, Plaquemines, St. Mary, Terrebonne and Washington. These parishes also declared a State of Emergency at the local level: Assumption, East Baton Rouge, Lafourche, St. Mary, Tensas and Terrebonne.
Beginning today, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and State Individual Assistance (IA) teams are conducting official assessments of damages by the recent storms in Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes. Remaining parishes will be assessed throughout the week. Along with representatives from the Small Business Administration, these teams are designed to review damages as a preliminary step to determine eligibility to the Individual Assistance program. If eligible, individual assistance goes to those whose personal property received damage. These Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs) are the first step in assessing whether the state should request a presidential declaration. The deployment of the federal and state teams were the result of preliminary assessments by the local governments.
Public Assistance PDAs will start this week. The assessment teams will determine: (1) The types of damage; (2) Emergency costs incurred by the local and county governments; and (3) The impact to critical facilities such as public utilities, hospitals, schools, and fire and police departments.
GOHSEP will review the results of the PDAs. If the information gathered during the assessment phase certifies that damages are beyond state and local recovery capabilities, the findings will be used by Governor Bobby Jindal to support a request for a presidential declaration.
JIndal Grants
Yesterday, Governor Bobby Jindal announced that eleven Local Government Assistance Program (LGAP) grants totaling $136,855 have been awarded to municipalities and organizations in Grant Parish for infrastructure projects and long-term capital improvements. Governor Jindal awarded the funds to local officials in a ceremonial check presentation at a press conference in Colfax.
Governor Jindal said, “LGAP funds provide critical assistance to rural communities that enables them to maintain and improve infrastructure, strengthen public safety which results in a better quality of life for all Louisianians.”
The eleven LGAP grants awarded include two grants totaling $58,500 for the Grant Parish Police Jury, a $20,000 grant for the Village of Dry Prong, a $15,000 grant for the Town of Pollock, four grants totaling $14,000 for the Village of Montgomery, a $12,855 grant for the Village of Georgetown, a $10,000 grant for the Town of Colfax and a $6,500 grant for the Village of Creola.
The Grant Parish Police Jury, represented by Police Jury President Donnie Brown, received two grants totaling $58,500 that will be used to improve infrastructure and purchase equipment. Specifically, a $50,000 grant will be used to repair and maintain rural parish roads and an $8,500 grant will be used to purchase equipment for the parish’s gas supply.
The Village of Dry Prong, represented by Mayor Paul Pace, Jr., received a $20,000 grant that will be used to purchase a utility trailer and a truck for the Water/Wastewater Department.
The Town of Pollock, represented by Mayor Jerome Scott, received a $15,000 grant that will be used for building construction.
The Village of Montgomery, represented by Mayor Stephen Gunn, received four grants totaling $14,000. Specifically, a $9,000 grant will be used to purchase water purification chemicals for Montgomery’s water system. The second grant totals $1,000 and will be used to make improvements to the TownPark. The third and fourth grants, for $1,500 and $2,500 respectively, will be used to purchase equipment for the fire and police departments.
The Village of Georgetown, represented by Mayor Danny Olden, received a $12,855 grant that will be used to construct a new building that will house chemicals used for water treatment.
The Town of Colfax, represented by Mayor Gerald Hamilton, received a $10,000 grant that will be used to maintain and test the town’s Natural Gas System.
Finally, the Village of Creola, represented by Mayor Robert Wayne Nugent, received a $6,500 grant that will be used for structural and cosmetic renovations to Creola’s Town Hall building.
LGAP is managed by the Office of Community Development through Division of Administration and provides funding to local governments for a variety of needed infrastructure projects and long-term capital improvements in rural areas. The program is designed to fill the gaps where there are no federal or other state funds available to assist local governments with their high priority needs. Priority is given to those projects which identify and resolve basic human health, safety needs or quality of life concerns of citizens.
