A Historic opportunity is available to help in the rebuilding of New Orleans and the greater Gulf Coast, according to Douglas O'Dell of the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding.
Toward that effort, the federal government has provided more than $126 billion for rebuilding. When tax credits are added in, that total rises to more than $140 billion. Funding will be applied to repairs for critical public infrastructure such as roads, bridges, water and sewer systems, and public buildings.
The federal program also will support business investment through tax relief and simplification, regulatory flexibility and other incentives, and provide support for small business throughout the region through disaster loans and other relief.
The Office of the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding was created by President George W Bush to help devise a long-term plan for rebuilding the region devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
“This is a long-term recovery and we need to take a long-term view,” O'Dell said earlier to investors, builders, and key leaders attending a conference sponsored by the World Trade Center-New Orleans and the Latin Builders Association. “The resources are there to make your efforts pay off both from the state and the federal government and through the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority.”
The goals of the program include:
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Rebuilding the region's water management system to world-class standards, including the creation of a new governance structure (controlling quantity, such as levees and canals, as well as quality).
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Improving the planning of emergency services, such as emergency first response, and new evacuation plans.
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Restoring and protecting the environment, including balanced development of new towns and wetlands restoration.
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Reconstituting the justice system, restoring police departments, courts, district attorney systems, and prisons.
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Rebuilding the health care delivery system, through a network of private/public hospitals and clinics.