Vol. 3 No. 10 August 2006

Gulf Coast Recovery Progress Report

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Benjamin Erulkar presents a $500,000 Economic Development Administration (EDA) investment check to the Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District of Gulfport, Miss. The investment will support local governments' implementation of economic recovery strategies in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Picture L-R are: Johnny Burnett (Jones Co. supervisor and SMPDD board member), Les Newcomb (SMPDD, Executive Director), Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Benjamin Erulkar, Ben, Lynn Cartlidge (Forrest Co. supervisor and SMPDD president).



The Economic Development Administration (EDA) is committed to the economic recovery of the Gulf Coast since the devastation experienced by 2005 hurricanes. Following Katrina's landfall on August 29, 2005, EDA has awarded 34 investments totaling $19.3 million to the Gulf Coast region, and currently is reviewing approximately $4 million in additional 2006 investments. This funding is expected to generate more than $170 million in private investments and create over 1,500 jobs.

These investments are funded from EDA's regular program budget (approximately $250 million for FY06), not supplemental monies, representing almost ten percent of the FY06 program budget.

In addition to providing funding, EDA has worked closely with the Commerce Department's Office of Business Liaison to assist and staff the recent Gulf Coast Business Investment Mission and the follow-up briefing in Washington. EDA also serves as chair of the Economic Development Working Group at the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding.

In addition to the selected economic recovery projects shown in the following tables, EDA has funded the Gulf Coast Economic Recovery Volunteer Program coordinated by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). The IEDC volunteer program deploys technical assistance volunteers to economic development organizations (EDOs) located in areas that suffered heavy damage from hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Between December 2005 and March 2006, the volunteer program deployed more than 30 IEDC members to chambers of commerce, EDOs and business assistance centers in the Gulf Coast region. Volunteer services have included:

• One-on-one counsel to more than 120 businesses in seven communities.
• Business retention and expansion technical assistance to EDOs in four communities.
• Policy analysis; research regarding available financing opportunities, workforce development, and target industry opportunities; strategic economic development planning; grant writing assistance; and general support to help seven EDOs increase their capacity to serve businesses.

EDA will continue to fund this program through 2006 and 2007 with the goal of sending nearly 100 more economic development professionals to volunteer at organizations in the Gulf Coast region. If you are interested in serving as a Gulf Coast Economic Recovery Program volunteer, please visit the volunteer program website.

Louisiana

Location	Project Description & Funding
State of Louisiana	Rebuilds business and investor confidence; provide technical assistance to business; build capacity and develop long-term recovery strategy. Amount: $4 million
Desoto Parish Police Jury	Supports the construction of infrastructure for the Desoto Parish Airport Industrial Park. Amount: $700,000
New Orleans Medical District	Formulates master revitalization plan for New Orleans Medical District. Amount: $300,000
Greater LaFourche Port Commission	Upgrades infrastructure supporting industrial airport. Amount: $800,000
Terrebonne Parish Port Commission	Improves shipbuilding infrastructure. Amount: $900,000
New Orleans Bio-Innovation Center	Support construction and equipment for biotech incubator in New Orleans Medical District. Amount: $1.25 million
RLF Recapitalization	Recapitalizes four revolving loan funds to disburse additional development loans to storm-affected firms. Amount: $2 million
Economic Development Districts	Funds disaster preparedness programs emphasizing economic preparedness in seven districts. Amount: $350,000
International Economic Development Council (IEDC)	Supports volunteer organizations. Amount: $85,000
LA Hurricane Recovery	Amends earlier EDA investment to Governor's Office for Economic Development. Amount: $500,000

Mississippi

Location	Project Description & Funding
Mississippi Development Authority	Supports comprehensive economic recovery planning, specifically the Governor's Commission on Recovery, Rebuilding, and Renewal. Amount: $4 million
Southern MS Planning and Development District - Gulfport	Technical assistance and capacity building. Amount: $500,000
City of Pearl	Highway infrastructure improvements to support Bloomfield development. Amount: $1 million
Harrison County Development Commission	Supports master plan and design of inland seafood industrial park. Amount: $180,000
City of Pascagoula	Develops comprehensive plan for design and redevelopment of waterfront areas. Amount: $180,000
Pearl River County	Updates strategic plan responding to influx of evacuees and impact of disaster. Amount: $27,000
Economic Development Districts	Funds disaster preparedness programs emphasizing economic preparedness in four districts. Amount: $152,000

Alabama

Location	Project Description & Funding
State of Alabama economic recovery	Supports creation of statewide recovery strategy and inventory and assessment of commercial facilities. Amount: $450,000
State of Alabama image restoration	Facilitates state's "Open for Business" campaign. Amount: $390,000
Clarke County and City of Thomasville	Infrastructure for industrial park. Amount: $1.5 million
South Alabama RPC	Part of Planning Grant. Amount: $39,000

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EDA Update is brought to you as a benefit of a partnership among the Economic Development Administration (EDA), the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC), to provide information about economic development practices and programs to economic development practitioners who serve distressed communities throughout the United States. This partnership also provides six telecasts and a quarterly magazine. For more information, visit the EDA Web site.

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