The Governor’s Office of Community Development Executive Director Pat Forbes appeared at the Baton Rouge Press Club on Monday, Jan. 9 to outline the state’s plan for spending a $1.2 billion flood-recovery appropriation approved by Congress in December.
Forbes’ presentation is available here on the Restore Louisiana Task Force website, restore.la.gov.
Within the next several weeks, the federal government is expected to publish a Federal Register Notice that includes its guidelines for the appropriation. At its Jan. 20 meeting, the task force is expected to approve one of the three approaches OCD has proposed for expanding homeowner assistance, as well as additional dollar amounts for rental assistance, economic development help for small businesses and help for parishes in meeting match requirements for additional assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Meanwhile, on Jan. 6 OCD submitted the final version of its action plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for an initial $437.8 million appropriation. The action plan was submitted more than six weeks ahead of HUD’s deadline.
Gov. John Bel Edwards has requested that both action plans include at least some level of reimbursement to homeowners who have already completed their rebuilding. His administration continues working with the state’s congressional delegation to secure at least $2 billion more that flood-impacted residents and communities need for recovery.
Last modified: January 9, 2017