Office of the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding Events

2008 Events

Federal Coordinator Powell Delivers Keynote Address at Annual Disaster Conference
Thursday, February 14, 2008

The President’s top official for Gulf Coast Rebuilding, Donald E. Powell, delivered the keynote address at the Mississippi Voluntary Organizations Active In Disaster (MS VOAD) 2008 Annual Conference on Thursday, February 14, 2008 in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. The objective of MSVOAD is to foster more effective service to people who have been, or may be in the future, affected by disaster through communication, coordination and outreach. Powell emphasized the importance of volunteers, faith-based groups and national service responders in the rebuilding effort.

Federal Coordinator Powell Addresses Greater New Orleans, Inc. Regional Forum
Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Donald E. Powell, the President’s top official for Gulf Coast Rebuilding addressed the Greater New Orleans, Inc. (GNO, Inc.) Southeast Regional Forum on Wednesday, February 13, 2008. Powell discussed key economic improvements that have taken place in the region since Hurricane Katrina.

Federal Coordinator Powell Participates in Community Revitalization Project
Sunday, January 6, 2008

Donald E. Powell, the President’s top official for Gulf Coast rebuilding, participated in a community wide service project in the B.W. Cooper community with KBK Enterprises, OSU and LSU alumni to rebuild two baseball fields destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. The B.W. Cooper project is a $250 million initiative, among the largest, in the city’s redevelopment efforts.

2007 Events

Powell Addresses Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute Forum: Inventing & Competing in a Brave New World: Winning Globally by Playing Smarter
Thursday, December 13, 2007

Federal Coordinator Donald E. Powell addressed the 2007 Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institutes forum on Innovation and Competition by giving remarks on “Using Your Last Twelve Months In Office to Their Fullest.” 

National Press Club Event to Highlighting Civic Leadership  
November 29, 2007

Federal Coordinator Powell addressed an audience of 80 representatives of national and local media, national and local stakeholders, Congressional staff, think tanks, businesses and insurance groups at the National Press Club event. The focus of the hour-long panel discussion was “Challenging the Status Quo to Build a Better New Orleans” which demonstrated that grass-roots organizations are truly spearheading recovery efforts

National League of Cities Annual Congress of Cities and Exposition
November 17, 2007

Powell addressed approximately 400 locally elected officials from across the country and highlighted the critical partnerships between federal, state, and local governments in rebuilding the Gulf Coast, as well as the unprecedented federal investment in the area. 

KaBoom Playground Rebuild
Friday, November 16, 2007

Powell participated in a KaBoom playground rebuild project to support the organizations contribution to improving communities and the well-being of youth in New Orleans. KaBoom has built over 80 playgrounds in the region following the storm.

Tour with Karen Desalvo, Executive Director of the Tulane University Community Health Center at Covenant House
November 15, 2007

Powell met with Dr. Karen Desalvo to explore how community health clinics are meeting the primary care needs of residents in New Orleans. They also discussed federal support of more than $1.3 billion to cover Louisiana’s health care costs funds, including $100 million to support community clinics, to serve its poor and uninsured residents, provide mental health services, support primary care clinics and hospitals, and help New Orleans recruit and retain more doctors, nurses, and mental health professionals.  

Tour of New Affordable Housing with Harvard Kennedy School Delegation
November 15, 2007

Powell led a tour of a newly built affordable housing unit in New Orleans with 25 members of the Harvard University Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation Fellowship in Social Entrepreneurship.  The developer utilized federal low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC), made available through the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act, and Powell highlighted how these tax incentives have contributed to approximately $1.7 billion in financing for Louisiana.

Chief Executive Network Innovation Conference
November 1, 2007

Powell spoke at the Chief Executive Network’s (CEN) 4th Annual Innovation Conference using the opportunity to focus on how the Office of the Federal Coordinator is supporting local workforce development efforts to ensure the workers are available and trained to meet new opportunities. 

Journal of Commerce Breakbulk Transportation Conference
October 30, 2007

Powell participated in the 18th Annual Journal of Commerce Breakbulk Transportation Conference and Exhibition.  Powell stressed the critical roles the Port of New Orleans and the transportation and shipping industries play in the nation’s economy and security.  Powell emphasized that the federal government recognizes the importance of the port and committed nearly $40 million in infrastructure repair and replacement to its facilities following the devastating hurricanes in 2005. 

Met with Members of Gulf Coast Workforce Development Initiative
October 24, 2007

Powell met with members of the Gulf Coast Workforce Development Initiative (GCWDI) to learn about their efforts to recruit and train skilled construction laborers for rebuilding in the Gulf Coast.  The GCWDI was conceived by the Business Roundtable following the destruction of the recent hurricanes. Its primary goal is to train 20,000 displaced and/or disadvantaged workers to at least apprentice level by the end of 2009, with public/private partnerships.

Louisiana Film and TV Graduates at the New Orleans Video Access Center (NOVAC) address
October 20, 2007

Powell addressed graduates of the New Orleans Video Access Center’s (NOVAC) workforce training program.  NOVAC received funds through the CDBG, LRA, OCD, HUD, the Recovery Workforce Training Program and the Louisiana Workforce Commission to develop and implement a job training and placement program for resident students affected by Katrina and Rita. 

Powell and SAMHSA Administrator Terry Cline Hold Roundtable to Discuss Mental Health
October 19, 2007

Federal Coordinator Donald E. Powell and Administrator Terry Cline of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) met with clinicians and community mental health providers in New Orleans to discuss the needs and challenges facing the community, including inpatient and crisis response capacity, workforce issues, and children’s mental health.  Powell and Cline highlighted the significant resources provided by the Federal government to support state and local leaders in meeting these challenges—more than $338 million since 2005.

Federal Coordinator Convenes Roundtable with New Orleans Community Leaders and Faith Based Organizations
October 19, 2007

Powell hosted a forum among community and faith-based leaders to provide an update on progress in the region and to solicit direct feedback on what types of assistance would be helpful in their efforts to support their local communities.  Participants included, Catholic charities, the Hispanic Apostolate, urban pastors, relief and economic development organizations, and education stakeholders.

John Alford, Principal, Langston Hughes Charter Academy
October 19, 2007

Powell met with John Alford, who started the Langston Hughes Charter Academy, previously Langston Hughes Elementary School.  While touring the school Powell received first hand accounts of how education redesign in New Orleans is positively influencing the lives of the children and families in the community. 

Powell met with property insurers to provide a critical update on hurricane protection
September 19, 2007

Powell met with executives from nine major national property insurance companies to share information on improvements to hurricane protection systems and update the industry on the status of rebuilding in the Gulf Coast. Powell described the vast and continuing safety improvements to the Gulf Coast since the hurricanes.  This included a detailed briefing by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the Interagency Performance Evaluation Task Force’s (IPET) Risk and Reliability Report, with a description of IPET’s risk assessment tools which characterize current and future annual flood risk in the area. 

Powell Briefed New Orleans Advocacy Group
September 14, 2007

Powell met with the Friends of New Orleans, a private, non-profit, non-partisan membership organization focused on advocating for the city and its surrounding parishes and informing people of key issues that are shaping the national debate and decision making of the rebuilding effort. Powell’s briefing included issues ranging from levees and flood maps to public housing, public assistance and education. 

Powell tours Louisiana National Guard Headquarters and is Briefed on Rebuilding Plans
September 13, 2007

Federal Coordinator Donald E. Powell met with Major General Hunt Downer and officials from the Louisiana National Guard (LANG) on recovery progress at Jackson Barracks.  Powell applauded General Downer and LANG for their remarkable vision in developing a master plan that identifies and utilizes various funding avenues from both federal and state partners.