Louisiana Disaster Recovery Alliance Announces Inaugural Grant Awards
Grants will fund recovery efforts in housing, water management, mental health support, legal services, and other community needs throughout Louisiana
Baton Rouge, La. — The founding members of the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Alliance (LDRA) have awarded seven grants totalling $175,000 from the Joint Fund for Recovery & Resilience to meet pressing recovery needs and rebuild healthy and resilient communities throughout Louisiana. The LDRA is a first-of-a-kind public-private partnership that was established to address issues of disaster recovery and resilience, and reduce levels of risk and vulnerability in the face of repetitive events.
“On behalf of my fellow board members, I am pleased to announce these inaugural grants from the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Alliance,” said LDRA Board President Lori J. Bertman, CEO & President of the Baton Rouge-based Irene W. and C.B. Pennington Foundation. “The grants will provide deserving nonprofit organizations the resources they need to continue to help Louisiana become healthier, economically stronger, and ultimately, more resilient.”
The seven grantees include:
Catholic Services of Acadiana to expand and extend the development of a Disaster Data Management System as established by the Acadiana Long Term Recovery Committee following the August 2016 floods. The system will benefit several Louisiana communities, including Vermilion, Acadiana, St. Mary, Lafayette, and St. Martin.
The Center for Planning and Excellence (CPEX) to expand programming based on two community workshops in a Lafayette-based pilot that shifts water management from a drainage focus to a comprehensive water management approach. The programming includes green infrastructure, low-impact development, and smart growth solutions.
The Family Tree Center Information, Education, and Counseling Center to continue mental health support services for those in the Lafayette parish and surrounding eight parish region who don’t have the resources to receive care elsewhere.
The Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana to pilot a sustainable Community Food Hub that prioritizes a long-term, disaster recovery model that addresses the needs of communities in Shreveport and Northwest Louisiana.
The Mid City Redevelopment Alliance for the Housing FIRST Alliance of the Capital Area which is creating a city-wide Housing Plan that addresses the unmet housing needs of East the Baton Rouge parish by building cross-sector partnerships between rebuilding organizations, community development corporations, neighborhood associations, and government agencies. A second grant will fund a sprinkler system in a much-needed Volunteer House in Baton Rouge.
Save the Children for their Journey of Hope program that addresses the psychosocial needs of children affected by natural disasters in the State of Louisiana.
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services to support the Flood Proof Project that continues efforts to clear property titles—a hurdle that often prevents individuals from receiving benefits through FEMA, CDBG, or other programs, as well as insurance benefits or loans. The program serves 22 parishes in southeast Louisiana, 13 of which were involved in the federal declaration for August 2016 floods.
About the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Alliance
The Louisiana Disaster Recovery Alliance is a cross-sector collaboration that uses its collective power to raise awareness and leverage resources from many sectors to meet pressing community resilience and recovery needs and build the capacity of all partners involved in the rebuilding process.
Representing LDRA founding member organizations, elected officers include President Lori J. Bertman from the Irene W. and C.B. Pennington Foundation, Vice President Flozell Daniels, Jr. of the Foundation for Louisiana, and Secretary/Treasurer Mark Stewart of The UPS Foundation. Other founding members of LDRA are the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation, Center for Disaster Philanthropy, and The Community Foundation of North Louisiana. The LDRA also enjoys close working relationships with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOSHEP), and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
The LDRA is seeking additional philanthropic organizations interested in joining the Alliance or supporting the Alliance’s work. Like-minded donors are encouraged to find out more about this effort by visiting the LDRA website at www.louisianarecoveryalliance.org, by sending an email to info@louisianarecoveryalliance.org, or by calling (225) 806-9109.
The Center for Disaster Philanthropy mobilizes philanthropy to strengthen communities’ ability to withstand disasters and recover equitably when they occur. It provides expert advice and resources while managing domestic and international disaster funds on behalf of corporations, foundations and individuals through targeted, holistic and localized grantmaking. Find out more at disasterphilanthropy.org and on Twitter @funds4disaster.