U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Congressman Mike Johnson (R-04) announced Wednesday that eight regional economic development organizations across Louisiana are receiving a combined $3.2 million in federal COVID relief funds authorized by the CARES Act.
Each of the eight entities, including Shreveport’s Coordinating and Development Corporation, is receiving a $400,000 grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to support redevelopment and revitalization to diversify and strengthen their respective regions.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for workers and economic development. These federal funds assist regional responses to the pandemic, which eventually leads to recovery,” said Dr. Cassidy.
“Ensuring communities have the resources they need to enact pro-growth policies in the wake of the pandemic is critically important to putting our nation on the path towards recovery. This investment being made in the Coordinating and Development Corporation will help support efforts to reverse the economic damage COVID-19 has had in Shreveport. I want to thank the EDA and the rest of the Trump administration for their dedication to creating jobs and reigniting our economy,” Johnson said.
Those receiving funding include:
- New Orleans Regional Planning Commission.
- Capital Region Planning Commission in Baton Rouge.
- Acadiana Planning Commission in Lafayette.
- Coordinating and Development Corporation in Shreveport.
- North Delta Planning and Development in Monroe.
- Kisatchi-Delta Regional Planning and Development District in Alexandria.
- Imperial Calcasieu Regional Planning and Development Commission in Lake Charles.
- South Central Planning and Development Commission in Houma.
The CARES Act, supported by Cassidy and signed into law by President Trump in March, provided the EDA with $1.5 billion for economic development assistance programs to help communities prevent, prepare for and respond to coronavirus.
The scope of work requires the recipient to undertake one or more of the following pre-approved activities:
- The development of an economic recovery and resilience plan.
- The deployment of disaster recovery coordinators to orchestrate the region’s response to the pandemic.
- Providing technical assistance to local governments, businesses and other organizations.
- Funding of appropriate technology and staff support for pandemic response activities.