ROUND 1 FUNDING FOR FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS IN LWI WATERSHED REGION 6

HOUMA, La. – As part of the Louisiana Watershed Initiative’s first round of funding for local and regional projects, the state is awarding $3.8 million to fund three projects in Watershed Region 6, which includes the bayou region of south Louisiana. The projects, which will help reduce flood risk throughout the region, and requested funding amounts are as follows:

• $1.9 million for emergency backup pumps for pump stations in Lafourche Parish
• $1.25 million for Bonadona-Cataldo subdivision drainage pump in Ascension Parish
• $659,500 for Maringouin drainage improvements in Iberville Parish

“The funding of eight additional new backup pumps in Lafourche Parish will have a tremendous effect on our ability to consistently maintain water levels and drain the most vulnerable areas of our parish during rain and flooding events.  With the increased amount of rain that our parish and state has seen in the last few months, the funding for this project could not have come at a better time.”
-Archie Chaisson III, Lafourche Parish President

In total, the state announced $60 million in statewide projects today through the Watershed Projects Grant Program: Local and Regional – Round 1, which is part of the state’s Action Plan to spend $1.2 billion in federal mitigation funds. The goal is to fund low-risk, high-impact projects that can immediately reduce regional flood risk and improve the natural functions of floodplains without adversely impacting surrounding communities.

Participating state agencies of the LWI Council on Watershed Management scored and awarded projects through a competitive process based on publicly shared and reviewed evaluation and scoring criteria and program policies and procedures.

Round 1 projects that were not awarded funding this week will move on to the regional selection process. As part of this process, each region may select up to $5 million in projects to recommend for funding this summer.

LWI’s goal is to reduce statewide flood risk through a coordinated, regional, watershed-based approach. The state has designated eight provisional watershed regions to facilitate collaboration, coordinate watershed management among parishes and align project funding with regional flood risk priorities.

For more details on Round 1 projects, click here. To learn more about LWI, visit watershed.la.gov.

For more information contact Pat Gordon at pat@scpdc.org or 985.851.2900.

Public Notice: Region 6 Regional Steering Committee Meeting

The Regional Steering Committee of Watershed Region 6 will hold a meeting on October 28, 2020 at 10:00 am. This meeting is in accordance with Louisiana Watershed Initiative activities and is integral to providing a sustainable, institutional basis to increase continuity, improve flood resilience, and enable more effective flood prevention within our region.

The full notice and agenda are included below.

Watershed Meeting Notice and Certification Meeting 7- October 28

Region 6 Steering Committee Meeting 7 Agenda

Public Notice: Region 6 Regional Steering Committee Meeting

Notice and Certification to Hold Public and Video Conference Meeting

Region 6 Regional Steering Committee Meeting

August 26, 2020

The Regional Steering Committee of Watershed Region 6 will hold a meeting on August 26, 2020 at 10:00 am. This meeting is in accordance with Louisiana Watershed Initiative activities and is integral to providing a sustainable, institutional basis to increase continuity, improve flood resilience, and enable more effective flood prevention within our region.

In an effort to reduce and limit the spread of COVID-19 in Louisiana, and to preserve the health and safety of all members of the public, the Governor has declared the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and ordered that it is necessary to limit public gatherings in a single place in an effort to avoid individuals being in close proximity to one another.

As a result of the public emergency, the limitations imposed on public gatherings and personal interactions, and the need for a number of members to travel to any physical meeting location from parishes where confirmed cases of COVID-19 have occurred, South Central Planning and Development Commission does hereby certify that in order to protect the lives, property, health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Louisiana, it is giving the option to conduct the Regional Steering Committee Meeting on August 26, 2020 by teleconference or video conference in order to assure the presence of a quorum of the steering committee members along with the availability to attend in person at the SCPDC Office located at 5058 West Main Street, Houma LA 70360

Therefore, in accordance with Section 4 of Governor’s Proclamation Number 30 JBE 2020: Additional Measures for COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, the Regional Steering Committee of Watershed Region 6 will hold its August 26, 2020 meeting in-person and virtually. Regional Steering Committee of Watershed Region 6 who participate virtually will utilize the online platform “Zoom” and livestream the meeting.

To participate in the web based meeting, please follow link below or you may dial in using your phone.

LA Watershed Initiative: Region 6 Steering Committee Meeting
Wed, August 26, 2020 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM (CDT)

Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://zoom.us/j/97434208292

You can also dial in using your phone.
Meeting ID: 974 3420 8292

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Meeting ID: 974 3420 8292

Agenda: Click Here

Documents pertaining to the meeting will be posted online: Click Here

Meeting & Public Comment Procedure: Click Here

Public comments will be accepted during the livestream of the meeting. To submit a comment, you can call in with the number provided or type comments in the livestream.

Loan Board Meeting Notice

Due to the inability to meet quorum requirements in person, the Loan Board for South Central Planning & Development Commission, Inc., will meet on Tuesday, August 18, 2020 at 8:30 AM via video conference call (info on website) in direct response to Governor Edward’s proclamation (JBE-2020-27 Section 5) allowing softened open meeting considerations amidst the declared COVID 19/Corona “Stay Home Order and Business Closures”. Anyone requiring reasonable accommodation is requested to contact South Central Planning & Development Commission, Inc. three days in advance of the meeting at (985) 851-2900 to discuss the particular accommodations needed and insure no more than ten (10) people attend.
If a member of the public would like to issue public comment on any agenda item, please do one of the following:
1) Send an email, prior to the meeting, to the Secretary (emma@scpdc.org) stating the agenda item you want to submit a comment upon, along with your full name, address, and your written comments which will be read into the record of the meeting; or
2) Dial into the teleconference line at:
Register in advance for this meeting: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwpdumsqzMjGtag5w_JP35EDF_bVilcF7jZ

2020-08-18 Loan Board Agenda

SCPDC to receive $400,000 EDA CARES Act Funding to Assist with COVID-19 recovery efforts

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $3.2 Million in CARES Act Funding to Boost
Economic Development Programs Critical to Helping Louisiana Respond to Coronavirus

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding $3.2 million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants to eight EDA Economic Development District organizations across Louisiana to update economic development plans and fortify programs to assist communities in responding to the coronavirus pandemic.

“The Trump Administration is eager to allocate these essential CARES Act funds and deliver on our promise to help American communities recover from the impact of COVID-19,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “I am proud of the perseverance and strength shown by our communities coast to coast throughout this pandemic, and these funds will help provide Louisiana with resources to make a swift and lasting economic comeback.”

“These investments come at a crucial time to help Louisiana’s and our nation’s economy come roaring back and provide hard-working Americans with new opportunities,” said Dana Gartzke, Performing the Delegated Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “We are pleased to make these investments in Louisiana’s EDA Economic Development Districts to help them prevent, prepare, and respond to coronavirus.”

“We’re grateful to the U.S. Department of Commerce for providing these funds to Louisiana at a critical time in our COVID-19 response,” said Governor John Bel Edwards. “Our planning and development districts will capitalize on these resources to stimulate recovery and employment in the tourism, oil and gas, retail, restaurant, seafood, agriculture, transportation and other sectors. By focusing on strategies to reskill our workers, expand our broadband capacity and make our communities more competitive, we can advance the work of making Louisiana more resilient.”

“Louisiana’s economy didn’t sputter on its own—government shut it down, and now it’s time to help it reopen,” said Senator John Kennedy. “Louisianians are some of the most resilient people on earth, and it’s good to see the Commerce Department recognize that by helping workers and job creators in Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Houma, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe, New Orleans and Shreveport.”

“I applaud the Trump Administration for their continued investment in Southeast Louisiana, including these Economic Development Administration (EDA) funds to boost our economic response to the Coronavirus,” said Congressman Steve Scalise (LA-01). “These investments are critical for strengthening our workforce, creating opportunity, and supporting our recovery from the Coronavirus pandemic.”

“Rebuilding our economy and getting Americans back to work are top priorities for my office,” said Congressman Clay Higgins (LA-03). “These investments support our recovery efforts and help ensure Louisiana’s long-term economic health. We will continue working closely with President Trump’s administration and our state partners to deliver the necessary resources.”

The EDA investments announced today are:

• Acadiana Planning Commission, Lafayette, Louisiana, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by providing technical assistance to business and community partners to support long-term recovery strategies.
• Coordinating & Development Corporation, Shreveport, Louisiana, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by ensuring that local business and community partners have the resources to respond to local needs and prepare for future economic disruptions.
• Capital Region Planning Commission, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by hiring additional staff to prepare a regional broadband plan to guide unserved and underserved communities to achieve readiness for expanded and improved service.
• Imperial Calcasieu Regional Planning and Development Commission, Lake Charles, Louisiana, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by enhancing electronic communication with local governments and business entities; hiring additional employees; and re-evaluating and re-prioritizing the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) to effectively respond to pandemic adjustments in the oil and gas, seafood, timber, agriculture, tourism, and air and water freight transport industries.
• Kisatchie-Delta Regional Planning and Development District, Alexandria, Louisiana, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by implementing economic development strategies to bolster the region’s businesses and industries.
• North Delta Regional Planning and Development District, Monroe, Louisiana, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by serving as a liaison for local, state, and federal partners in identifying economic development projects that will help speed the recovery process.
• New Orleans Regional Planning Commission, New Orleans, Louisiana, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by providing emergency response, recovery, and resilience resources; assisting local governments with defining their labor outlook; identifying new economic opportunities; and providing technical assistance to eligible entities across the New Orleans region.
• South Central Planning and Development Commission, Houma, Louisiana, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by working to create a more diverse and sustainable economy through strategic planning and implementation efforts, including those that support a more competitive and resilient workforce.

These entities, all EDA-designated Economic Development Districts (EDD), are some of the more than 850 existing, high-performing EDA EDD, University Center, Tribal, and Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) grant recipients invited to apply for supplemental funding under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

The CARES Act, signed into law by President Donald J. Trump, provides EDA with $1.5 billion for economic development assistance programs to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

On May 7, Secretary Ross announced that EDA is accepting applications for CARES Act Recovery Assistance funding opportunities.

EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance, which is being administered under the authority of the bureau’s flexible Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) (PDF) program, provides a wide-range of financial assistance to communities and regions as they respond to and recover from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. For complete information, please visit our recently updated EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance page.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.