Jan 1, 2007 thru Mar 31, 2007 Performance Report

Grant Number:
B-06-DG-22-0001

Grantee Name:
State of Louisiana

Grant Amount:
$6,210,000,000.00

Grant Status:
Active

Submitted By:
No Submitter Found		 Obligation Date:
05/16/2006

Award Date:
05/09/2006

Contract End Date:


Reviewed By HUD:
Original - In Progress


Disasters:
Declaration Number
FEMA-DR-1603-LA
FEMA-DR-1607-LA


Plan Description:
Hurricane Katrina hit the State of Louisiana on August 29, 2005, and Rita slammed into the State on September 24, 2005. They were the second and third Category 5 hurricanes of the 2005 hurricane season. The storms were both deadly and costly to communities throughout the Gulf and particularly destructive to Louisiana. More than 1,100 persons lost their lives in Louisiana; approximately 18,000 businesses were destroyed; roads, schools, public facilities, medical services were washed away; and thousands of people were forced to relocate. The storms destroyed or severely damaged an unprecedented number of homes and rental properties, displacing hundreds of thousands of Louisianans. Of the rental and owner occupied units that are now uninhabitable, a substantial portion were occupied by low income households. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the hurricanes made about 0.2 percent of the housing stock in the nation uninhabitable (CBO, Letter to Chairman, September 29, 2005). President Bush’s Office of Gulf Coast Rebuilding estimates of the impact of the storms on the housing stock ranges from 338,038 (homeowners sustaining some damage) to over 599,703 (including rental units as well as owner occupied housing). An estimated 127,969 owner-occupied homes received major or severe damage, while 210,069 received minor damage. The breakdown for rental units was 133,367 severely damaged and 128,298 with minor damage. The economic impacts of business losses and structural damage are compounded by unemployment, reduction of public services, costs of cleanup and recovery, damage to crops and livestock and public sector budget deficits. According to the LRA the total value of lost businesses and commercial property ranges from $25 - $29 billion. The estimate for damage to infrastructure including roads, bridges, utilities and debris removal is $15 - $18 billion. Over 20,000 businesses are thought to have been affected with 90% of those affected businesses receiving catastrophic damage. This represents ten times the number of affected businesses in other states impacted by the hurricanes. According to another estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau, 18.9% of Louisiana businesses fell within a FEMA designated damage zone, with 17.4% of the State’s businesses located in a damage zone classified as “flooded”.


Recovery Needs:
Priorities for recovery address urgent community recovery needs including redevelopment and revitalization of housing and infrastructure and the economic base in the affected areas, and the need to to eliminate the blighting effects resulting from the storms of 2005. The storms severely affected the infrastructure of many of our communities, some of which continue to suffer from the lack of electricity, telephone and gas service. The total impact on roads, bridges and utilities, including debris removal, is estimated at $15 to 18 billion. As of October 17, 2005, parishes that were the hardest hit have large percentages of service outage, such as 42% in Orleans, over 63% in Cameron, 69% in Plaquemines and 100% in St. Bernard. As of March 31, Entergy reports that power is now available to 100% of Orleans, Cameron, Plaquemines, and St. Bernard parishes. Telephone service was spotty last quarter with 60% of Orleans, 100% of St. Bernard, and 24% of Plaquemines customers with no service. AT&T has yet to comment on services for this quarter. These parishes represent those whose infrastructure requires extensive repairs or needs to be completely rebuilt before power can be restored. Only $405 million is available through FEMA and insurance proceeds to cover the projected $1.89 billion needed to restore electricity, gas and telecommunications infrastructure as referenced in our complete Action Plan. The Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) tags the cost of restoring levees to pre-Katrina levels at $3 billion, which excludes the projected $20 to 30 billion necessary for Category 5 hurricane protection and coastal restoration. The impact on the economy also creates many urgent need to restore sectors such as the tourism and services sectors which dominate the Orleans metropolitan area, the seafood industry which was heavily impacted as well as other agricultural sectors such as the timber and sugar cane production. There is an initial indication that between 25 and 40 percent of homeowners in the City of New Orleans had flood insurance. FEMA figures show that there were 127,969 owner-occupied homes that received major or severe damage, 25,183 or 19.7% of which were without insurance. Contrast that figure with the total of 133,367 rental units which sustained major or severe damage, and that 126,568 or 94.9% were not insured. Borrowers with no insurance may face extended unemployment and very likely experience greater difficulty in rebuilding their lives. Lastly, about 1,700 homes, or about one-third of the severely and repetitively damaged homes in America, are in Louisiana. These are structures that have suffered damages of $1,000 or more on at least four occasions or suffered damages of more than 50 percent of their value on two or more occasions. Estimates are available for the City of New Orleans on the impact of Hurricane Katrina on housing occupied by low to moderate income residents which are defined as those that are below 80% of the average median income (AMI). Those estimates produced by the Greater New Orleans Community Development Center show that an estimated 65% of the owner occupied units that are damaged or destroyed belonged to low to moderate income families. Low to moderate income families rented 89% of the rental units that were damaged or destroyed. An estimated total of 119,770 owner occupied and rental units serving the low to moderate income population or 88.7% were damaged or destroyed.


Overall This Report Period To Date
Total Projected Budget from All Sources N/A 9,286,616,156
Total CDBG Disaster Recovery Grant Funds Budgeted N/A 5,760,000,000
Obligated CDBG DR Funds 612,319,258.01 1,640,987,066.08
Expended CDBG DR Funds 484,351,929.77 567,888,631.46
Match Contributed 0 0
Program Income Received 0 0



Progress Toward Required Numeric Targets
Requirement Required To Date
Minimum Overall Benefit Percentage 50 0.01
Minimum Non-Federal Match 0 0
Limit on Public Services 931,500,000 0
Limit on Admin/Planning 1,242,000,000 5,419,378.44
Limit on State Admin 310,500,000 0


Overall Progress Narrative:
The Disaster Recovery Unit of Louisiana’s Office of Community Development (OCD) continues to develop and implement recovery programs approved by HUD and supported via federal and state funding. Within the three major areas of housing, infrastructure, and economic development, the OCD has continued working this quarter on the original 10 programs and 12 new ones to address myriad dimensions of our nation’s costliest disasters. OCD’s plans and program designs continue to respond to HUD directives, citizen input, and local officials’ concerns. Even as policies and procedures adjust to a dynamic administrative environment, solid progress is evident on several fronts. Particularly noteworthy are the milestones achieved in the Homeowner’s Assistance program. As of March 31, 2007, 120,789 applications have been received and recorded; 93,037 appointments have been held; and 3,212 homeowners have closed on their homes thereby receiving awards to help rebuild their lives. This program, also known as the Road Home program, is the OCD’s most complex activity and the single largest housing program ever undertaken in US history. An additional advancement in this program is seen in the increase in the pace with which awards are distributed. The OCD has taken strides forward in infrastructure and economic development as well. The structures for several programs now are established. For numerous programs, requests for proposals (RFPs) have been issued, proposals have been reviewed, and contract negotiations are well underway. The State of Louisiana has built upon the progress from the previous quarter, achieved notable success in this quarter, and is poised for even more demonstrable results in the next quarter.



Activities


Grantee Activity ID:
Admin (SAAD)

Activity Category:
Administration

Activity Status:
Under Way

Responsible Organization:
Office of Community Development, Disaster Recovery Unit 		Projected Start Date:
05/09/2006

Projected End Date:
05/09/2016

National Objective:
N/A


  This Report Period To Date
Total Projected Budget from All Sources N/A 161,100,000
Total CDBG Disaster Recovery Grant Funds Budgeted N/A 161,100,000
Obligated CDBG DR Funds 1,130,958.55 6,252,328.14
Expended CDBG DR Funds 1,276,557.16 3,568,184.23
Match Contributed 0 0
Program Income Received 0 0


Performance Measures
 
This Report Period
Cumulative Actual Total / Expected
  Low Mod Total Low Mod Total
No Performance Measures Found


Activity Description:
Supports the administrative work conducted to implement disaster recovery projects funded with these resources. This includes technical assistance as well as general administrative costs.


Location Description:


Activity Progress Narrative:
The Disaster Recovery Unit (DRU) of the Office of Community Development (OCD), Division of Administration (DOA), was created in the aftermath of the 2005 Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The DRU administers the CDBG Disaster Recovery funds approved by Congress on December 23, 2005. Personnel were hired from within Louisiana and around the United States with experience in all aspects of CDBG programs. Managers and staff were retained in the areas of homeownership housing, multifamily/rental/supportive housing, infrastructure, economic development, policy and reporting, legal, and financial and auditing. Experienced employees of the Office of Community Development, CDBG Program, provide training as needed to new hires. In addition, the OCD supplied CDBG “boot camp” training in partnership with the Council of State Community Development Agencies. The DOA’s resources are available to augment the DRU with expertise in budgeting, accounting, reporting, contract review and legal matters. The DRU is in close contact with the Louisiana Legislative Auditors. Currently, 8 auditors are assigned to the DRU. We are planning on adding 4 more auditors in the near future. At present, there are 49 people working in the DRU. The DRU received approval in September 2006 to raise our total number of staff to 86. Currently, there 37 vacant positions. The administrative budget is used to fund salaries and related benefits, travel expenses, operating supplies and services, professional services, and inter-agency transfers. Community meetings have been held throughout the impacted parishes and in cities with large numbers of evacuees. These meetings have raised citizen awareness of the recovery programs. Importantly, the meetings also have served as forums for citizens to discuss their needs and priorities for disaster recovery – needs and priorities that our office will take into account in our programs. The state follows the State Procurement Code. All sub-recipients are required to follow Title 24 Part 84 and Part 85. Monitoring plans are being developed for the new disaster recovery activities funded under this program. The obligated and expended amounts for this quarter reflect the summation of the total administrative and technical assistance costs. The total expended and obligated administrative costs are $1,123,664.73 and $1,276,557.16, respectively. The total expended and obligated technical assistance costs are $1,397.16 and $7,293.82, respectively.


Activity Location:
Address City State Zip
1201 North Third Street   Baton Rouge Louisiana 70802


Other Funding Sources Budgeted - Detail
Match Sources Amount
No Other Match Funding Sources Found


Other Funding Sources Amount
No Other Funding Sources Found



Grantee Activity ID:
Bldg Code (HBCE)

Activity Category:
Code enforcement

Activity Status:
Under Way

Responsible Organization:
OCD in partnership with the Department of Public Safety (DPS), contracting Louisiana Institute for Building Technology and Safety (LA IBTS) 		Projected Start Date:
01/01/2007

Projected End Date:
06/15/2007

National Objective:
Slums and Blight


  This Report Period To Date
Total Projected Budget from All Sources N/A 11,390,000
Total CDBG Disaster Recovery Grant Funds Budgeted N/A 11,390,000
Obligated CDBG DR Funds 0 6,863,883
Expended CDBG DR Funds 687,841.32 687,841.32
Match Contributed 0 0
Program Income Received 0 0


Performance Measures
 
This Report Period
Cumulative Actual Total / Expected
  Low Mod Total Low Mod Total
# of housing units 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/2


Activity Description:
Without special assistance being provided to local governments, it is expected that a major impediment to housing development will be the lack of building, electrical and plumbing inspectors and permit processing staff. In addition, architects and builders will need inspectors and plan reviewers to help communities adapt to the new State Uniform Construction Code and to interpret the latest available advisory base flood elevations. Therefore, the State has budgeted $11,390,000 for the hiring and training of such staff for local government over a number of years, based on the numbers of damaged/destroyed units in each parish. It is expected that this amount will fund at least 70 field inspectors and plan reviewers, as well as a limited number of support staff. The State will also support the expansion of code enforcement capacity by sponsoring additional training opportunities for inspectors, engineers and architects. While building code enforcement by local authorities will be supported by permitting and inspection fees in the long run, this initial CDBG funding is necessary to immediately expand enforcement capacity to expedite the construction of safer and stronger homes where the storm impact was most concentrated and building activity will be fervent in coming months. Until the activity is started, the exact number of buildings and housing units that are brought up to code is unknown.


Location Description:
Disaster affected parishes


Activity Progress Narrative:
As of March 2007, the Louisiana Institute for Building Technology and Safety (LA IBTS) had deployed 78 personnel to assist with code inspections, plan evaluations, code permitting, and training in the 11 parishes most impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: Orleans; Jefferson; St. Bernard; St. Tammany; Calcasieu; Plaquemines; Vermillion; Terrebonne; Cameron; Washington; and Iberia. Based on Memorandums of Understanding entered into by the Department of Public Safety (DPS), these personnel are currently deployed in ten of the eleven parishes and in 12 separate cities. Although Iberia Parish has yet to request assistance, one of its municipalities has. Quarterly LMI and Urgent Need activities include, respectively: Plan Reviews - 179, 968; Building Inspections - 3319, 5395; Electrical Inspections - 4630, 6022; Mechanical Inspections - 0, 1188; and Plumbing Inspections - 0, 2412. Number of individuals trained in Orleans Parish this quarter is 0, while the total number trained is 54. This is only a six month contract, but already the parishes and cities are requesting assistance for at least another year.


Activity Location:
Address City State Zip
No Activity Locations Found


Other Funding Sources Budgeted - Detail
Match Sources Amount
No Other Match Funding Sources Found


Other Funding Sources Amount
No Other Funding Sources Found



Grantee Activity ID:
Bridge Loan-UN (EBLP)

Activity Category:
Econ. development or recovery activity that creates/retains jobs

Activity Status:
Under Way

Responsible Organization:
Office of Community Development, Disaster Recovery Unit 		Projected Start Date:
05/09/2006

Projected End Date:
05/09/2007

National Objective:
Urgent Need


  This Report Period To Date
Total Projected Budget from All Sources N/A 95,000,000
Total CDBG Disaster Recovery Grant Funds Budgeted N/A 95,000,000
Obligated CDBG DR Funds 0 95,000,000
Expended CDBG DR Funds 2,148,087.18 3,079,970.76
Match Contributed 0 0
Program Income Received 0 0


Performance Measures
 
This Report Period
Cumulative Actual Total / Expected
  Low Mod Total Low Mod Total
# of Businesses 0 0 382 0/0 0/0 1,026/547
# of Persons benefitting 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/0


Activity Description:
Louisiana Bridge Loan Program This program provided temporary six-month working capital loan guarantees to owners of small businesses with less than 100 employees. There were three different releases of Bridge Loan funds. Each release varied slightly in how it was administered. The first bridge loan program was for $10 million, the second totaled $30 million and the last installment totaled $55 million. The Bridge loan program had no leverage requirement; therefore, information on the amount of private funds generated by the businesses is unavailable. The number of businesses reported could include businesses that have more than one bridge loan.


Location Description:
In Hurricanes Katrina and Rita affected parishes.


Activity Progress Narrative:
HUD approved the Bridge Loan Program May 9, 2006, as a part of the State’s Initial Action Plan. On February 10, 2006, a Cooperative Endeavor was entered into between the Louisiana Public Facilities Authority (LPFA), Louisiana Economic Development (LED), and the Division of Administration (DOA), which obligated $30,000,000 in State CDBG funds to be utilized in the Extended Bridge Loan program. That agreement was amended, on June 20, 2006, to include $10,000,000 to cover the cost of the Emergency Bridge Loan program that was originally funded by LED, as well as $55,000,000 to be utilized in the Enhanced Bridge Loan Program. Prior to the Enhanced Loan program being implemented, a change in geographical location of beneficiaries was requested through the submittal of a substantial amendment that was approved by HUD on September 15, 2006. This amendment revised the allocation language from a 50% allocation to the thirteen most impacted parishes, to a minimum of 50% will be allocated to the thirteen most impacted parishes, and up to 50% allocated to the other twenty-four impacted parishes. This change transpired due to the demand for loan guarantees amounting to $8,820,765 in the most impacted areas. Also, during the previous quarter, the Extended BL made a total of 325 loan guarantees totaling $28,696,080 in a 37 parish area. An estimated 3,872 jobs were reported as being created or retained as a result of the first two Bridge Loan Programs. The Enhanced BL program deadline was December 29, 2006. There were a total of 57 loans guaranteed, for a principal sum of $ 5,409,427 for this BL program. The estimated number of jobs created and retained will be 304. The total amount paid this quarter for Bridge Loan principal is $1,985,300.


Activity Location:
Address City State Zip
No Activity Locations Found


Other Funding Sources Budgeted - Detail
Match Sources Amount
No Other Match Funding Sources Found


Other Funding Sources Amount
No Other Funding Sources Found



Grantee Activity ID:
Capacity Grant (HCAP)

Activity Category:
Public services

Activity Status:
Planned

Responsible Organization:
Office of Community Development in coordination with nonprofit organizations. 		Projected Start Date:
12/13/2006

Projected End Date:
09/03/2007

National Objective:
Low/Mod


  This Report Period To Date
Total Projected Budget from All Sources N/A 2,070,000
Total CDBG Disaster Recovery Grant Funds Budgeted N/A 2,070,000
Obligated CDBG DR Funds 1,500,000 1,500,000
Expended CDBG DR Funds 0 0
Match Contributed 0 0
Program Income Received 0 0


Performance Measures
 
This Report Period
Cumulative Actual Total / Expected
  Low Mod Total Low Mod Total
# of Public Facilities 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/0
# of Persons benefitting 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/0


Activity Description:
The State developed a program to strengthen community-based nonprofits and/or faith-based institutions already providing housing recovery services through the investment of $2,070,000 of CDBG funds in their activities. The funds will be used to provide housing counseling and outreach to homeowners accessing assistance under the Road Home homeowner assistance program, as well as those homeowners who have not yet completed a Road Home application. This CDBG funded activity will also be utilized for limited legal services to assist low income clients seeking assistance from the Road Home homeowner assistance program. Services to be provided shall be on a state-wide as-needed basis. Outreach and Housing Counseling assistance may be provided on a limited basis to displaced homeowners living out –of –state. A single non-profit organization will be selected through an RFP process to provide coordination and administrative oversight in the delivery of the legal services through that organization as well as through other qualified non-profit organizations. The successful proposer may either subcontract services through other non-profit organizations to be approved by the State or the proposer may be a consortium of non-profits with a single designated principal organization for contracting and management purposes. For the housing counseling services, the mechanism for making these services available will be through the use of a prime contractor that would be responsible for identifying and assembling a geographically diverse group of nonprofit partners who collectively could provide these services. Housing Counseling and Outreach Services The services fall into two groups, General Support and Application Assistance. A variety of assistance is needed for the preparation of a Road Home application. This includes transportation needs for displaced homeowners in the rural area parishes of the state so that homeowners with transportation challenges can attend required entrance and closing interviews at the Homeowner Assistance Center. In addition, support and application assistance to individuals in the form of language translation for individuals that have language barriers as is many times the case with applicants who are native Spanish, Vietnamese and French language users. Literacy support for individuals with low literacy levels that will experience challenges in understanding program requirements and associated paperwork is necessary. Support for persons with physical disabilities that may hinder them from completing the application process must be provided. Lastly, general support and guidance to the elderly in completing their application is essential for them to achieve maximum benefit under the program. The assistance provided under this section may also include helping clients gather all supporting documents required to complete an application from any relevant source agencies. Provision of document fee support is an allowable expense up to a certain limit. Outreach Despite a significant investment in a print and television media campaign launched on August 21, 2006, a significant number of affected homeowners have not yet submitted applications to the program. As of March 31, 2007; 93,037 appointments have been held. The number of applications received and recorded at this date is 120,789. More grassroots outreach efforts to disseminate information on The Road Home program would greatly enhance the number of people who are made aware of the program as well as generate more applications to the program. Limited Legal Services and Curative Title Work Limited legal services will be provided to low income applicants of The Road Home Program and may include but are not limited to the following: (1) advising low income applicants about The Road Home grant closing documents, (2) performing curative title work as needed, (3) assist low income applicants who are in foreclosure prior to the receipt of the Road Home benefits, and (4) The Road Home Additional Compensation Loan determination on as needed basis, and (5) negotiating with financial institutions, mortgage companies, and other mortgage holders payout plans on behalf of individuals receiving Road Home Grants to repair their home. The proposals for both the legal and housing services were due on November 2, 2006. Services were expected to commence by the beginning of December, 2006 for Outreach and Housing Counseling Services and February, 2007 for Limited Legal Services.


Location Description:
Disaster affected parishes


Activity Progress Narrative:


Activity Location:
Address City State Zip
No Activity Locations Found


Other Funding Sources Budgeted - Detail
Match Sources Amount
No Other Match Funding Sources Found


Other Funding Sources Amount
No Other Funding Sources Found



Grantee Activity ID:
Devt Fund (HDEV)

Activity Category:
Rehabilitation/reconstruction of residential structures

Activity Status:
Planned

Responsible Organization:
OCD and qualified financial institutions such as Enterprise Community Partners, Inc., and Local Initiatives Support Corporation. 		Projected Start Date:
03/01/2007

Projected End Date:
02/28/2010

National Objective:
Low/Mod


  This Report Period To Date
Total Projected Budget from All Sources N/A 16,570,000
Total CDBG Disaster Recovery Grant Funds Budgeted N/A 16,570,000
Obligated CDBG DR Funds 16,080,000 16,080,000
Expended CDBG DR Funds 0 0
Match Contributed 0 0
Program Income Received 0 0


Performance Measures
 
This Report Period
Cumulative Actual Total / Expected
  Low Mod Total Low Mod Total
# of Properties 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/0
# of housing units 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/0
# of Households benefitting 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/0


Activity Description:
The Housing Development Loan Fund would provide seed funding for a contractor or state agency to establish one or more loan funds that offer acquisition and predevelopment financing on flexible terms to developers of the most critically needed housing. Providing early, high-risk capital will be a powerful incentive for developers to build mixed-income housing in the communities that lost the most housing. Loans would be made to nonprofit and for-profit developers of new rental and single-family housing that is affordable to families with incomes that are below the area median, with a strong preference for well-designed residential communities and infill housing developments that also include families with incomes higher than the area median. The Housing Development Loan Fund would be operated by a state agency or an experienced community development loan fund manager. A total of $16,570,000 in CDBG funds, including fund management costs, will be invested as “top loss” capital in order to leverage an estimated $30 million in additional lending capital. As two priorities, the loan fund would target developers participating in the rental assistance programs described in the previous section, as well as developers of mixed-income for-sale housing. As projects close their construction financing, the acquisition/predevelopment loans would be repaid and the lending capital would become available for additional investments. In a three-year period, it is expected that the funds will recycle two to three times. As currently planned, the Housing Development Loan Fund would be operated on a contractual basis by one or more qualified financial institutions that are experienced in providing early-stage, high-risk property acquisition and predevelopment loans, as an incentive for developers to rebuild existing housing or build new housing at different price points, including affordable homes and rental units. These types of loans are typically not offered by conventional lenders, but instead by the numerous so-called "community development loan funds" across the country. These loan funds are able to take higher risks in lending by attracting risk-tolerant capital and guarantees from foundations and socially motivated investors. The goal should be to lend the funds at 0% and to subordinate these loans to the private capital in order to provide a strong incentive for developers and to leverage private capital. Many such funds receive some of their capital as grants from the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund of the Department of Treasury. Congress specifically directed the states receiving supplemental CDBG funding should consider the use of up to $20 million to fund recovery activities of two organizations that are experienced in operating such loan funds: Enterprise Community Partners, Inc., and Local Initiatives Support Corporation.


Location Description:
Disaster affected parishes


Activity Progress Narrative:
The Housing Development Loan Fund program is combined contractually with the Land Assembly Operations program. A meeting is scheduled with Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and Enterprise Community Partners Inc. for April 13 to finalize programmatic details and DRU requirements. Launch of this program is planned for late April.


Activity Location:
Address City State Zip
No Activity Locations Found


Other Funding Sources Budgeted - Detail
Match Sources Amount
No Other Match Funding Sources Found


Other Funding Sources Amount
No Other Funding Sources Found



Grantee Activity ID:
Educ Infras (IEDU)

Activity Category:
Rehabilitation/reconstruction of public facilities

Activity Status:
Planned

Responsible Organization:
OCD, DOE and local school districts 		Projected Start Date:
09/01/2006

Projected End Date:
09/01/2010

National Objective:
Low/Mod


  This Report Period To Date
Total Projected Budget from All Sources N/A 200,000,000
Total CDBG Disaster Recovery Grant Funds Budgeted N/A 200,000,000
Obligated CDBG DR Funds 0 0
Expended CDBG DR Funds 0 0
Match Contributed 0 0
Program Income Received 0 0


Performance Measures
 
This Report Period
Cumulative Actual Total / Expected
  Low Mod Total Low Mod Total
# of Public Facilities 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/0
# of Non-business Organizations benefitting 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/0
# of Persons benefitting 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/0


Activity Description:
Of the $595 million now allocated to local emergency government infrastructure, $200 million is allocated for Primary and Secondary Education Infrastructure. Working with the LRA, the Department of Education will develop needs-based criteria to prioritize the allocation of the funds to the school districts. These funds will flow to the affected school districts through the Office of Community Development. Schools that are repaired or rebuilt shall demonstrate they have taken into account specific educational and repair goals to build back better facilities. In addition, rebuilding plans will address local community planning priorities, including opportunities for shared use of school facilities with other public agencies, such as libraries.


Location Description:
Disaster affected parishes


Activity Progress Narrative:
The purpose of the Primary and Secondary Education program is to provide funding for non-FEMA eligible schools that were damaged by the storms. Working with the LRA, the Department of Education (DOE) has developed needs-based criteria to prioritize the allocation of the funds to the school districts. Schools that are repaired and/or rebuilt shall demonstrate they have taken into account specific educational and repair goals to surpass the quality of the original facilities. In addition, rebuilding plans will address local community planning priorities, including opportunities for shared use of school facilities with other public agencies such as libraries. The DOE Recovery School District in New Orleans currently has over $35 million in contracts for the repair of 17 schools. The application form and process have been tested and will be available to all potential applicants in April, 2007.


Activity Location:
Address City State Zip
No Activity Locations Found


Other Funding Sources Budgeted - Detail
Match Sources Amount
No Other Match Funding Sources Found


Other Funding Sources Amount
No Other Funding Sources Found



Grantee Activity ID:
Enhancement (ECRE)

Activity Category:
Econ. development or recovery activity that creates/retains jobs

Activity Status:
Planned

Responsible Organization:
 Projected Start Date:
01/03/2007

Projected End Date:
01/03/2010

National Objective:
Low/Mod


  This Report Period To Date
Total Projected Budget from All Sources N/A 28,500,000
Total CDBG Disaster Recovery Grant Funds Budgeted N/A 28,500,000
Obligated CDBG DR Funds 0 0
Expended CDBG DR Funds 0 0
Match Contributed 0 0
Program Income Received 0 0


Performance Measures
 
This Report Period
Cumulative Actual Total / Expected
  Low Mod Total Low Mod Total
# of buildings (non-residential) 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/16
# of Persons benefitting 0 0 0 0/2,500 0/0 0/25,000
# of Permanent Jobs Created 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/250


Activity Description:
The purpose of the Research Commercialization and Educational Enhancement program is to help restore the ecomomic impact of scientific and technology research facilities within higher education institutions in the most severely affected areas of Louisiana.


Location Description:
Disaster affected parishes.


Activity Progress Narrative:
HUD approved Action Plan One Amendment 5 on January 3, 2007;OCD is currently awaiting a HUD waiver that would allow CDBG funding to be used for research activities in higher education. Eligible applicants would be limited to institutions of higher education in southeastern Louisiana. Action Plan One Amendment 5 declares eligible applicants are limited to institutions of higher education in the southeastern Louisiana: Baptist Theological Seminary, Delgado Community College, Dillard University, LSU Agricultural Center (hurricane-impacted facilities), LSU Health Sciences Center-New Orleans, Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, Loyola University New Orleans, McNeese State University, Nunez Community College, Our Lady of Holy Cross College, Southern University-New Orleans, Sowela Technical Community College, Tulane Health Sciences Center, Tulane University, University of New Orleans, and Xavier University of Louisiana.


Activity Location:
Address City State Zip
No Activity Locations Found


Other Funding Sources Budgeted - Detail
Match Sources Amount
No Other Match Funding Sources Found


Other Funding Sources Amount
No Other Funding Sources Found



Grantee Activity ID:
Env Contract (HENV)

Activity Category:
Planning

Activity Status:
Planned

Responsible Organization:
OCD in coordination with contractor - Environ 		Projected Start Date:
04/23/2007

Projected End Date:
05/30/2010

National Objective:
N/A


  This Report Period To Date
Total Projected Budget from All Sources N/A 4,283,475
Total CDBG Disaster Recovery Grant Funds Budgeted N/A 4,283,475
Obligated CDBG DR Funds 0 0
Expended CDBG DR Funds 0 0
Match Contributed 0 0
Program Income Received 0 0


Performance Measures
 
This Report Period
Cumulative Actual Total / Expected
  Low Mod Total Low Mod Total
No Performance Measures Found


Activity Description:
As prescribed by program rules, the State must adhere to HUD’s regulations with respect to oversight of compliance with environmental statutes and authorities. The State has developed comprehensive procedures to ensure compliance with HUD’s CDBG program regulations for each funded project. The State will verify that each project that requires it has been environmentally cleared prior to any construction activity. In order to ensure that this responsibility is fulfilled, the services of an environmental consulting firm, Environ, will be engaged to evaluate and provide written analysis for a broad range of environmental studies. These evaluations will follow applicable laws and regulations, which may include the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) environmental review procedures relating to “HUD-CDBG” activities, and/or other local, state or federal environmental laws. Once the contract is signed, Environ will be responsible for the environmental review for approximately 2000 state buildings, as well as site-specific review of approximately 2,950 small rental units (from 1-4 units) to determine if historic preservation issues, such as historic structures and archaeological artifacts, are cleared before any new construction or reconstruction begins. These will be handled through the Environmental Section of OCD-DRU through the use of work orders and regular updates that are sent to the Agency by Environ.


Location Description:
N/A


Activity Progress Narrative:
Contract with environmental consulting firm, Environ, is still undergoing negotiations. Once the contract is signed, Environ will be responsible for the environmental review for approximately 2000 state buildings, as well as site-specific review of approximately 2,950 small rental units (from 1-4 units) to determine if historic preservation issues, such as historic structures and archaeological artifacts, are cleared before any new construction or reconstruction begins. These will be handled through the Environmental Section of OCD-DRU through the use of work orders and regular updates that are sent to the Agency by Environ.


Activity Location:
Address City State Zip
No Activity Locations Found


Other Funding Sources Budgeted - Detail
Match Sources Amount
No Other Match Funding Sources Found


Other Funding Sources Amount
No Other Funding Sources Found



Grantee Activity ID:
Homeless (HLMS)

Activity Category:
Rehabilitation/reconstruction of public facilities

Activity Status:
Under Way

Responsible Organization:
OCD and Department of Social Services 		Projected Start Date:
05/09/2006

Projected End Date:
05/09/2010

National Objective:
Low/Mod


  This Report Period To Date
Total Projected Budget from All Sources N/A 25,900,000
Total CDBG Disaster Recovery Grant Funds Budgeted N/A 25,900,000
Obligated CDBG DR Funds 25,900,000 25,900,000
Expended CDBG DR Funds 68,535 68,535
Match Contributed 0 0
Program Income Received 0 0


Performance Measures
 
This Report Period
Cumulative Actual Total / Expected
  Low Mod Total Low Mod Total
# of Persons benefitting 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/0


Activity Description:
In hurricane-impacted areas, many organizations serving the homeless lost facilities, housing capacity, shelter beds, and staff: Thirty-six shelters sustained considerable damage, and capacity to house up to 1,759 homeless individuals (i.e., 1,759 residential “beds” operated by “Continuum of Care” organizations serving the homeless) was lost. In hurricane-impacted areas, there are reports that an increased number of persons are living on the streets or in parks, cars, and abandoned or uninhabitable buildings. Many of these persons were not homeless prior to the storms. The proposed $25.9 million will support the State’s goal to immediately restore and expand capacity in hurricane impacted areas and provide permanent supportive housing and assistance for persons and families who are homeless and persons at-risk of becoming homeless who are low wage workers, unemployed, victims of domestic violence, low-income seniors, and/or low-income persons with any type of substantial disability (including physical or sensory disability, cognitive disability, chronic health problems, mental illness, or addictive disorders). The proposal allows for funding to be prioritized as follows: The highest priority for the use of these funds will be to repair and restore shelter capacity, transitional housing and permanent supportive housing that existed prior to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The cost of restoring this capacity is estimated to be $3 million to $5 million. Priority for these funds will be given to members of the Continuums of Care. Non-member organizations may apply for funding but should document prestorm homeless efforts in the community and indicate a commitment to coordinating with the local Continuums of Care upon receipt of these funds. A second priority will be the acquisition and rehabilitation of new permanent supportive housing and services by non-profits in the hurricane-affected areas. This priority also includes the option of funding rental assistance (i.e., “bridge funding”) linked to permanent supportive housing. The prioritization of non-profits is based on the understanding that some non-profit groups working with homeless and at-risk populations will not have the capacity to apply for tax credits and supportive services funds through the “piggyback” program


Location Description:
Disaster affected parishes.


Activity Progress Narrative:
The state entered into an interagency agreement with the Department of Social Services (DSS) effective March 27, 2007. The first priority for use of the $25.9 million in CDBG funds is to restore storm-damaged homeless shelters in the most heavily impacted parishes. A Request for Proposals was advertised in January, 2007. Proposals submitted by March 2, 2007 were evaluated for awards. DSS announced that $2.1 million would be awarded to three local entities for repairs at 25 homeless facilities in the parishes of Orleans, St. Tammany, and Calcasieu. The repairs will restore 547, or approximately 32%, of an estimated 1,700 beds lost during the storms. The awards are to Unity of Greater New Orleans ($1,400.490 for 433 beds at 11 facilities), South West Louisiana Homeless Coalition ($399,966 for 60 beds at 13 facilities) and St. Tammany Parish ($254,818 for 54 beds at one facility). The second priority is to initiate the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing portion of the program. Total funding for this program is $6.2 million. Of that, $4 million is being allocated to impacted parishes and the balance to the remainder of the state. Additionally, $2.5 million is being made available in PSH Interim Rental Assistance for the most vulnerable population including the homeless, disabled homeless, children aging out of Foster Card and other groups targeted by DSS. These funds are being allocated to Local Continuums of Care organizations or local governments to address homeless prevention and move-in expenses, Housing First supportive services and Housing First rental assistance. The RFP for the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing program is scheduled to be released March 30, 2007.


Activity Location:
Address City State Zip
No Activity Locations Found


Other Funding Sources Budgeted - Detail
Match Sources Amount
No Other Match Funding Sources Found


Other Funding Sources Amount
No Other Funding Sources Found



Grantee Activity ID:
Land (HLAS)

Activity Category:
Disposition

Activity Status:
Planned

Responsible Organization:
OCD and the Road Home Corporation 		Projected Start Date:
11/01/2006

Projected End Date:
11/01/2009

National Objective:
Slums and Blight


  This Report Period To Date
Total Projected Budget from All Sources N/A 2,070,000
Total CDBG Disaster Recovery Grant Funds Budgeted N/A 2,070,000
Obligated CDBG DR Funds 2,070,000 2,070,000
Expended CDBG DR Funds 0 0
Match Contributed 0 0
Program Income Received 0 0


Performance Measures
 
This Report Period
Cumulative Actual Total / Expected
  Low Mod Total Low Mod Total
# of Properties 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/0
# of Households benefitting 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/0
# of Persons benefitting 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/0
# of Permanent Jobs Created 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/0


Activity Description:
As an additional way to jump-start development in the communities that lost the most housing, the Land Assembly component of the housing program will provide seed money to acquire multiple properties in good locations for replacement housing and package them for sale or grant to maximize further affordable housing development for example, to developers using CDBG-supported LIHTC tax incentives to develop rental housing, to supportive housing developers, to self-help ownership housing developers, etc. This program component will operate only in those jurisdictions where: 1. These activities are requested or supported by local governments; and 2. Local governments have substantially engaged in the planning work required to target areas that are suitable for the development of replacement housing. A total of $2,070,000 of CDBG funds are budgeted for capital to purchase residential properties as well as operating costs. The capital used to purchase properties will be recycled through sales of properties to developers. As a related activity, properties assembled through buy-out programs, funded through the State's homeowner assistance program, might be offered at below-market costs to developers of affordable or special needs housing. One of the targets of these sales of State-purchased properties would be to encourage the development of mixed income developments that include renters with incomes below 40% of area median income. If such assembled properties were not purchased and developed by affordable developers in accordance with strict income requirements, they still might carry an inclusionary housing redevelopment requirement that a certain percentage of the units developed on CDBG assembled land would be affordable with less stringent income and pricing requirements, but still ensuring that mixed-income developments occur in redevelopment areas. However, the $2 million Land Assembly fund is fundamentally different from and should not be confused with the buyout provisions of the Homeowner Assistance Program. This budget line item is not intended for purchases of single-family homes. Instead, the intention is to contract out to one or more qualified organizations that can identify suitable sites for housing development in the most distressed parishes and obtain options on them. The intention is to address a complicating barrier to housing developments: the lack of and high asking prices for suitable sites that are near functioning infrastructure and services (public services, retail etc.). The State intends, through contractual arrangements, to fund a small team of property acquisition experts who will scout out, analyze and obtain options on suitable sites that are not currently on the open market. These could include surplus properties held by government agencies, nonprofits, churches and businesses. Some might be brownfield sites that could be cleaned up quickly and at feasible costs. This Land Assembly operation would result in assignable options in the name of the State of Louisiana or some designated quasi-public entity. These options, in turn, would be offered to developers on an open, competitive basis.


Location Description:
Disaster affected parishes


Activity Progress Narrative:
The Land Assembly Operations program is combined contractually with the Housing Development Loan Fund program. A meeting is scheduled with Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and Enterprise Community Partners Inc. for April 13 to finalize programmatic details and DRU requirements. Launch of this program is planned for late April.


Activity Location:
Address City State Zip
No Activity Locations Found


Other Funding Sources Budgeted - Detail
Match Sources Amount
No Other Match Funding Sources Found


Other Funding Sources Amount
No Other Funding Sources Found



Grantee Activity ID:
Local Infra-LMI (ILOC)

Activity Category:
Rehabilitation/reconstruction of public facilities

Activity Status:
Planned

Responsible Organization:
Local governments 		Projected Start Date:
05/09/2006

Projected End Date:
05/09/2010

National Objective:
Low/Mod


  This Report Period To Date
Total Projected Budget from All Sources N/A 1,045,000,000
Total CDBG Disaster Recovery Grant Funds Budgeted N/A 95,000,000
Obligated CDBG DR Funds 0 0
Expended CDBG DR Funds 0 0
Match Contributed 0 0
Program Income Received 0 0


Performance Measures
 
This Report Period
Cumulative Actual Total / Expected
  Low Mod Total Low Mod Total
# of Public Facilities 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/0
# of Non-business Organizations benefitting 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/0
# of Persons benefitting 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/0


Activity Description:
Of the $1,187,500,000 set aside for infrastructure activities, $95 million was initially set aside for the Local Government Emergency Infrastructure activity. Because of consultations with local governments and comments received from the local governments, the State allocated an additional $500 million to this activity. In addition to the match for eligible FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds. Also included in the expansion is ability to pay for repairs that are ineligible under the FEMA PA grant program, including but not limited to uninsured and underinsured damages, insurance deductables and improvements for code compliance, if they are determined to be critical to continued delivery and or protection of vital public services by state and local government entities in accordance with criteria established by the LRA. $200,000,000 of the $595,000,000 has been budgeted for primary and secondary education infrastructure and is being reported as a separate activity.


Location Description:
Disaster affected parishes.


Activity Progress Narrative:
Action Plan One, Amendment 10, which includes $100 million for match of Category A&B FEMA Public Assistance (PA) grants, was submitted to HUD on March 23, 2007. The application forms for PA match and FEMA-ineligible repairs at schools have been tested and will be available to all potential applicants next quarter. A Request For Proposal to procure services to aid in outreach and assistance to local governments and in processing applications has been published.


Activity Location:
Address City State Zip
No Activity Locations Found


Other Funding Sources Budgeted - Detail
Match Sources Amount
No Other Match Funding Sources Found
 
Subtotal Match Sources 0


Other Funding Sources Amount
FEMA Public Assistance 950,000,000
 
Total Other Funding Sources 950,000,000



Grantee Activity ID:
LTLoan (ELTR) - UN

Activity Category:
Econ. development or recovery activity that creates/retains jobs

Activity Status:
Planned

Responsible Organization:
OCD and Louisiana Economic Development 		Projected Start Date:
09/15/2006

Projected End Date:
09/15/2009

National Objective:
Urgent Need


  This Report Period To Date
Total Projected Budget from All Sources N/A 38,000,000
Total CDBG Disaster Recovery Grant Funds Budgeted N/A 38,000,000
Obligated CDBG DR Funds 27,200,000 27,200,000
Expended CDBG DR Funds 0 0
Match Contributed 0 0
Program Income Received 0 0


Performance Measures
 
This Report Period
Cumulative Actual Total / Expected
  Low Mod Total Low Mod Total
# of buildings (non-residential) 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/0
# of Businesses 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/0
# of Persons benefitting 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/0
# of Permanent Jobs Created 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/0


Activity Description:
The Long Term Recovery Loan Guarantee Program would be targeted to small firms that meet any of the following criteria: • Were rejected or deemed ineligible for SBA loans; • Did not apply for an SBA loan for good cause; or • Are in need of long-term loans for permanent repair or replacement of buildings, repair or purchase of replacement equipment and inventory. Louisiana will seek to use the infrastructure already in place through the Bridge Loan Program, a cooperative agreement with quasi-public organizations and local banks in the affected parishes to deliver the loans that will be guaranteed through this program. Under the Bridge Loan Program, there have been 22 participating banks throughout the affected parishes.


Location Description:
Disaster affected parishes


Activity Progress Narrative:
The Long Term Recovery(LTR) Loan Guarantee Program was approved by HUD via Action Plan One, Amendment 2 on September 15, 2006. Preliminary discussions were conducted with commercial lenders participating in the current bridge loan program. No program activity occurred before approval of Action Plan One, Amendment 8; which was for the purpose of transferring $27 million to the Small Firm Recovery Loan and Grant (SFLG) program. Subsequently the LRA has approved a resolution to transfer the remaining balance of $68 million to the SFLG program and abolish the LTR Loan program.


Activity Location:
Address City State Zip
No Activity Locations Found


Other Funding Sources Budgeted - Detail
Match Sources Amount
No Other Match Funding Sources Found


Other Funding Sources Amount
No Other Funding Sources Found



Grantee Activity ID:
LTLoan (ELTR)-LMI

Activity Category:
Econ. development or recovery activity that creates/retains jobs

Activity Status:
Planned

Responsible Organization:
OCD and Louisiana Economic Development Department 		Projected Start Date:
09/15/2006

Projected End Date:
09/15/2009

National Objective:
Low/Mod


  This Report Period To Date
Total Projected Budget from All Sources N/A 57,000,000
Total CDBG Disaster Recovery Grant Funds Budgeted N/A 57,000,000
Obligated CDBG DR Funds 40,800,000 40,800,000
Expended CDBG DR Funds 0 0
Match Contributed 0 0
Program Income Received 0 0


Performance Measures
 
This Report Period
Cumulative Actual Total / Expected
  Low Mod Total Low Mod Total
# of buildings (non-residential) 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/0
# of Businesses 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/0
# of Persons benefitting 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/0
# of Permanent Jobs Created 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/0


Activity Description:
The Long Term Recovery Loan Guarantee Program would be targeted to small firms that meet any of the following criteria: • Were rejected or deemed ineligible for SBA loans; • Did not apply for an SBA loan for good cause; or • Are in need of long-term loans for permanent repair or replacement of buildings, repair or purchase of replacement equipment and inventory. Louisiana will seek to use the infrastructure already in place through the Bridge Loan Program, a cooperative agreement with quasi-public organizations and local banks in the affected parishes to deliver the loans that will be guaranteed through this program. Under the Bridge Loan Program, there have been 22 participating banks throughout the affected parishes.


Location Description:
Disaster affected parishes.


Activity Progress Narrative:
The Long Term Recovery(LTR) Loan Guarantee Program was approved by HUD via Action Plan One, Amendment 2 on September 15, 2006. Preliminary discussions were conducted with commercial lenders participating in the current bridge loan program. No program activity occurred before approval of Action Plan One, Amendment 8; which was for the purpose of transferring $27 million to the Small Firm Recovery Loan and Grant (SFLG) program. Subsequently the LRA has approved a resolution to transfer the remaining balance of $68 million to the SFLG program and abolish the LTR Loan program.


Activity Location:
Address City State Zip
No Activity Locations Found


Other Funding Sources Budgeted - Detail
Match Sources Amount
No Other Match Funding Sources Found


Other Funding Sources Amount
No Other Funding Sources Found



Grantee Activity ID:
Piggyback (HTXC)

Activity Category:
Construction of new housing

Activity Status:
Under Way

Responsible Organization:
OCD in partnership with the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency 		Projected Start Date:
05/09/2006

Projected End Date:
12/31/2045

National Objective:
Low/Mod


  This Report Period To Date
Total Projected Budget from All Sources N/A 353,250,000
Total CDBG Disaster Recovery Grant Funds Budgeted N/A 353,250,000
Obligated CDBG DR Funds 605,305.5 605,305.5
Expended CDBG DR Funds 605,305.5 605,305.5
Match Contributed 0 0
Program Income Received 0 0


Performance Measures
 
This Report Period
Cumulative Actual Total / Expected
  Low Mod Total Low Mod Total
# of housing units 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/0
# of Households benefitting 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/0


Activity Description:
The LIHTC-CDBG program (referred to as the “Piggyback” program in the Louisiana Recovery Authority Action Plan) supports affordability for especially low-income Louisianans in properties receiving Gulf Opportunity Zone Low Income Housing Tax Credits. The Program also supports the production of three types of eligible properties through four types of funding mechanisms. The OCD/CDBG funds will be awarded to sponsors who apply for and receive GO Zone Credits under the QAP. LHFA’s application form for the QAP will include the ability to apply for the OCD / CDBG funding discussed herein. GO Zone Credit funding and CDBG funding will be based on a self-scored application verified by LHFA, and using the scoring formula contained in the Qualified Allocation Plan developed by the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency to allocate the GO Zone Low Income Housing Tax Credits. In order to be eligible for CDBG funding, applications must meet all requirements and must achieve a minimum score that varies according to project type. Applicants under the QAP are not required to apply for any OCD / CDBG funds.


Location Description:
Disaster affected parishes that are in the Gulf Opportunity Zone


Activity Progress Narrative:
The State's CDBG funds will provide about $440M in gap financing and Project Based Rental Assistance in order to assist 33 projects that will create more than 5,700 new or restored rental units in storm damaged areas. The LIHTC-CDBG Piggyback Program will combine the resources of Gulf Opportunity Zone Tax Credits, CDBG funding, Section 8 project based housing vouchers, and leveraged private investiments to generate the rental units. The program will support the development of mixed-income communities and ensure the restoration of rental housing in the most heavily impacted parishes. Eligible applicants were developers who applied for Low Income Housing Tax Credits. The primary method of award was to sponsors who applied for the received GO Zone credits under the 2007/2008 LIHTC allocation rounds administered by the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency. The CDBG funds were allocated among three pools identified as Mixed-Income, Additional Affordability, and Public Housing Authority Redevelopments. In most cases, these mixed income developments contained at least 60% market rate units and at least 20% deeply targeted units - affordable to households earning less than 40% of the Area Median Income. Funding was available in the form of either project based rental assistance, gap financing, or a combination thereof. All 33 developments assisted with Tax Credits and CDBG will provide at least 5 percent of their units for Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH). Many will provide more PSH units than the required set aside. This effort represents the first major development of PSH in the State of Louisiana and the very first PSH units to be provided in mixed income settings. The program was available with the rollout of the 2007/2008 GO Zone LIHTC Qualified Allocation Plan. The Program Description was approved by OCD and the LRA. The plan was presented to developers at a series of LHFA Developers Meetings in August and September of 2006. The application deadline for the 2007 Tax Credit Applications was October 20, 2006 with reservation of credits made on December 13, 2006. Award Acceptance Agreements were mailed to the 33 projects receiving the Piggyback awards on December 21, 2006 and all were returned to OCD by the January 5, 2007 deadline. OCD is in the process of conducting environmental reviews on all projects and initial loan closings are expected to begin in early May. All expenditures to date are for consulting fees paid to ICF International.


Activity Location:
Address City State Zip
No Activity Locations Found


Other Funding Sources Budgeted - Detail
Match Sources Amount
No Other Match Funding Sources Found


Other Funding Sources Amount
No Other Funding Sources Found



Grantee Activity ID:
Planning (PLAN)

Activity Category:
Planning

Activity Status:
Under Way

Responsible Organization:
OCD, Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) 		Projected Start Date:
05/09/2006

Projected End Date:
05/09/2008

National Objective:
N/A


  This Report Period To Date
Total Projected Budget from All Sources N/A 14,875,341
Total CDBG Disaster Recovery Grant Funds Budgeted N/A 9,500,000
Obligated CDBG DR Funds 607,003.96 3,851,194.21
Expended CDBG DR Funds 607,003.96 1,851,194.21
Match Contributed 0 0
Program Income Received 0 0


Performance Measures
 
This Report Period
Cumulative Actual Total / Expected
  Low Mod Total Low Mod Total
No Performance Measures Found


Activity Description:
In the wake of the devastation wrought by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Governor Blanco established the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) to plan the recovery and rebuilding of Louisiana. The LRA was established by Executive Order KBB 2005-63 on October 17, 2005. Due to the unprecedented scale of destruction to southern Louisiana, the Governor determined that a single state agency should coordinate the resources committed by various state, federal, and private entities toward disaster recovery. The LRA coordinates, leverages, and targets these newly committed resources with existing state and federal resources to improve their efficiency and effectiveness and to avoid duplication of efforts. In accord with the scale of the disaster, LRA’s planning responsibilities are broad in scope. The LRA is charged with securing funding and other resources for recovery efforts. The LRA has established priorities and continues to develop strategies for disaster recovery. The LRA leads long-term community and regional planning efforts and works to ensure transparency and accountability. It also assists coordination of resource allocations as it pertains to issues that may include, but are not limited to the following: 1) economic and workforce development; 2) environmental quality and review; 3) temporary and permanent housing; 4) healthcare; 5) infrastructure and transportation; 6) education; 7) fiscal stability; 8) family services; and 9) law and order.


Location Description:


Activity Progress Narrative:
Through the work of its various committees and task forces, the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) has developed a series of strategic priorities and recovery plans in the areas of housing, infrastructure and economic development. The LRA has led the development of recovery policy and initiatives in the areas of housing, infrastructure, and economic development. These initiatives overlap with policy and planning in areas of health care, social services, education, and other subjects. The majority of LRA’s work on the development, passage, submission and implementation of CDBG action plans has been tied to policies on housing, infrastructure and economic development -- the bedrocks of recovery. During this most recent quarter, the LRA has focused heavily on economic and workforce development program development and implementation; infrastructure recovery programs and implementation issues, including education infrastructure design considerations; homeowner and rental housing program policy and implementation oversight issues; and community and regional planning efforts related to recovery priorities. Regarding the long-term planning process, the LRA collaborated with the AIA and APA to develop rebuilding principles, upon which the LRA initiated a planning effort called Louisiana Speaks. This is a multifaceted planning initiative designed to address planning at every level. This extends from community planning such as the Unified New Orleans Plan (the LRA has supported UNOP through the recruitment of $3 million in private funding from the Rockefeller Foundation and the commitment of $2 million in CDBG funds for outreach, including communications and input with the New Orleans diaspora) to other parish-wide comprehensive, long-term recovery strategies in collaboration with FEMA in the most severely impacted parishes. Lastly, Louisiana Speaks has engaged a team of top local and national planning experts to gather public input and support the development of a regional vision for South Louisiana that will guide recovery and long-term growth. Over the last year, Louisiana Speaks has surveyed more than 2,500 Louisiana citizens, including residents who are back home and those who are displaced, and brought together nearly 1,000 stakeholders for a series of hands-on workshops. During day-long sessions, participants provided critical and creative input for shaping policy on coastal restoration and storm protection; community growth and transportation infrastructure; and economic development and equity. During the most recent quarter, Louisiana Speaks has launched for