Let’s Make Everyone Count – National Street & Shelter Point-in-Time Count

During a 24-hour period in the last ten days of every January, homeless advocates across the nation seek to count the sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons within their coverage areas. The Point in Time (PIT) Count greatly affects funding, both private and public, for homeless services and affects the methodology of those services. A thorough count is crucial in identifying and understanding both the progress we’ve made and the gaps within our services. Collecting data on homelessness increases public awareness and attracts resources that will lead to the eradication of the problem. The Houma Region count will be held the night of January 28, 2019.

The Houma Region count which will encompass Terrebonne, Lafourche, Assumption, St. John, St. Charles and St. James parishes will greatly affect the federal funding made available to the Houma Region.

Federally funded homeless shelter and transitional housing agencies are mandated to count all sheltered persons that are homeless. The more difficult task is counting unsheltered persons. If unsheltered homeless persons are not included in local point-in-time counts, their needs could be under-represented as governments, nonprofits, and key stakeholders at the federal, state, and local level plan to respond to the problem.

When is the PIT reference period?
The night of January 28, 2019 through the morning of January 29, 2019
How long can the surveys be conducted?
January 28, 2019 through February 1, 2019 (persons counted must have been homeless on the night of the 28th)
Who do we count?
Homeless persons that are sheltered (emergency shelter or transitional housing clients) and unsheltered (living in place not meant for human habitation)

If you know of any homeless hot spots within our community, have any questions or would like to be a PIT volunteer, please contact Kelli Cunningham, Community Development Administrator for Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government at 985-873-6591 or kcunningham@tpcg.org.

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Calling All Entrepreneurs: Delta I-Fund Seeking Entrepreneurs to Build Start-ups

The Delta I-Fund is seeking entrepreneurs to participate in a 12-week virtual course that will help launch start-up companies in our region. The I-Fund will match entrepreneurs with a mentor, and the organization will provide funding for your team’s proof of concept. The cohort begins March 9 and you can sign up now to participate in the program, which is modeled after the National Science Foundation’s successful I-Corp program.

The I-Fund program will teach participating entrepreneurs about Lean Start-up methodology, including how to document a business model and how to improve your business by seeking customer input. DRA supports the I-Fund mission of improving low-to-moderate income communities throughout our eight-state region. The program seeks to provide a platform for the creation and launch of high-growth companies, spurring economic development and job creation in the region. For more information, visit https://www.deltaifund.com/.

APPLY TODAY through DRA.

SCPDC Contact Person: Stephanie Brüning

We are applying for FY 2019 EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant!

SCPDC is pleased to announce the agency is applying for a FY 2019 EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant that would allow it to take inventory of brownfield properties within the region, complete environmental assessment and raise awareness. If awarded, the $300,000 grant may be used to address sites contaminated by hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants (including hazardous substances co-mingled with petroleum) and petroleum. In South Central’s region are Lafourche, Terrebonne, Assumption, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist and St. Mary parishes. For more information, please contact our Brownfields Program Director – Lesley Long at 985-851-2900 or lesley@scpdc.org.

PORT OF TERREBONNE – ROAD EXTENSION RIBBON CUTTING

The Terrebonne Port Commission officially opened the Rome Woodward Street improvements with Parish President Gordy Dove, Councilman Al Marmande and Executive Director David Rabelais. The project is located on Main Port Court off of Industrial Boulevard.

Port Commission members, Parish Council, representatives from T. Baker Smith (Engineering) and South Central Planning and Development Commission (Grant Administration) were present for the official dedication. The $425,706.00 project was a funding partnership between U.S Economic Development Agency (EDA) and the Port with $312,320 from EDA and $113,386.00 in port funds.

The 800-foot infrastructure project, completed by Byron E. Talbot Contractor, Inc., included a 10-inch 24-foot-wide industrial class concrete pavement with 10-foot-wide aggregate shoulders and the addition of associated drainage pipe and catch basins.  The extension finished the work started in January 2014 and provides improved access to the Port property allowing for an additional 52 acres of the property to be developed with Port related tenants.

Aligning with many of EDA’s funding priorities, the Rome Woodward Street extension embodies public/private partnerships, national strategic priorities and global competitiveness. Terrebonne Port Commission’s 680-acre site located near LA Highway 57, the Houma-Terrebonne Airport, the Houma Navigation Canal and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway puts it in a strategic position for future economic growth and benefits to the region. For more information about the Terrebonne Port Commission please go to www.terrebonneport.com.

From Left to Right: Stephanie Brüning (SCPDC); Philip Chauvin (T.B. Smith); Amber Plessala (T. B. Smith), David Rabalais (Port Executive Director), Al Marmande (Parish Councilman), Eddie Rome (Port Commissioner), Andrew Blanchard (Port Commissioner), Dan Davis (Port Commissioner), Gordy Dove (Parish President), Pat Gordon (SCPDC)