New Orleans: Recovery Wednesday, September 07, 2005 I pass along a note that Pat Levine from of Development Counsellors International. DCI is a public relations firm that works with economic development organizations across the country. DCI helped us out enormously in Oklahoma City after the bombing. (I was working as a consultant designing their economic development strategy when the bombing took place.) Now DCI is working with Greater New Orleans Inc. The influx of people out of New Orleans is going to strain resources and infrastructure in other parts of the state. Friends of mine in Ascension Parish between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, are struggling with the influx of people looking for temporrary or permanent housing. (This creates another danger. For six years, we worked to enact a development code in Ascension Parish that would create a buffer between residential development and the big chemical plants along the Mississippi. The pressure of people coming into the parish may erode these buffers and create long term public safety problems.) Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish are also struggling. We are quick to turn the channel on national disasters. This one, though, will be with us for a very long time. Hopefully, we will not turn away. Here is the note from Pat about assistance offered through the Baton Rouge Area Foundation: Our client Greater New Orleans Inc. (GNO,INC.) is now operating out of offices of The Baton Rouge Area Foundation (BRAF). BRAF has established two funds victims of Hurricane Katrina. My co-worker Tracey Foster is working with the media to get the news out. Below is background and the official release--I hope that among your continuing coverage of Katrina you can include an item on this local charitable approach --an example of one economic developer helping out another. Any questions it is best to contact Tracey (tracey.foster@dc-intl.com) or her associates Michael Egbert (michael.egbert@dc-intl.com or Maria Mantz (maria.mantz@dc-intl.com) or by phone at 212-725-0707. BRAF is the largest community foundation in the state of Louisiana with a long history of philanthropy throughout the state. What distinguishes this fund from the Red Cross is that it is DIRECT and LONG TERM solution which allocates resources in the most effective way to reach people in need. This could be through municipal organizations, through the Red Cross, etc. Many people have been complaining that they aren’t sure where their money will go, and this fund addresses that concern. This foundation is best positioned to help New Orleans refugees as this tragedy continues in the coming months, as they are a neutral party, with the proper infrastructure to administer long-term aid in the right way. We know that other funds are being developed and announced by people ranging from Mark Moriale to Bill Clinton, but this is available NOW for citizens who wish to contribute to a long-term direct fund. Greater New Orleans, Inc.(GNO, Inc.), a regional economic development organization is working with BRAF to help Louisiana residents in need. Early indication is that more than 500,000 New Orleans regional residents will be displaced in Baton Rouge for anywhere up to six months. Baton Rouge is looking to offer shelter for the majority of those displaced, which could more than double the size of the city. WITH STORM FAR MORE CATASTROPHIC THAN FIRST BELIEVED, BATON ROUGE AREA FOUNDATION ESTABLISHES KATRINA DISASTER FUNDS Baton Rouge, Louisiana, August 30, 2005-The Baton Rouge Area Foundation announced today the establishment of two new funds in response to the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Katrina to southeast Louisiana. Donations are now being accepted. The Hurricane Katrina Displaced Residents Fund will benefit those individuals and families evacuated to Baton Rouge from the hurricane impacted areas in Greater New Orleans, who are now unable to return for what may be an extended period. Early official estimates suggest that as many as 500,000 individuals may be required to remain in our area for up to six months, and they will face numerous challenges related to housing, food, education, healthcare and basic survival necessities. This fund will support those entities and programs in our area that endeavor to meet these critical needs, as well as address the impact this influx of residents will have on our community. The Hurricane Katrina New Orleans Recovery Fund will focus on the rebuilding of infrastructure to provide basic human services to residents of these devastated areas. The Baton Rouge Area Foundation will coordinate closely with federal, state and local officials in an attempt to provide resources to programs and efforts that positively and immediately impact the quality of life of these individuals, and contribute to the overall rebuilding of critical service delivery mechanisms in the Greater New Orleans area. Tax deductible donations to one or both of these funds are now being accepted online at www.braf.org. Donations by check should be made out to the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and the designation of the fund noted on the memo line. Checks should be mailed or delivered to 402 North Fourth Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802. Toll-free (877) 387-6126 "We are just beginning to discern the magnitude of destruction and human loss that is unfolding in southeast Louisiana. This is a human tragedy on a massive level that will have a much greater local impact than many may realize. The Baton Rouge Area Foundation and the Baton Rouge community must stand ready to assist the many thousands who are displaced from their homes through evacuations to our community," said John G. Davies, President and Chief Executive Officer, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. The Baton Rouge Area Foundation is a community foundation, a nonprofit organization composed of over 300 charitable funds with over $375 million in assets established by individuals, families, corporations and organizations. In 2004, the Foundation has made $9.6 million in grants in the areas of Arts & Humanities, Community Development, Education, Environment, Human Services, Medical/Health, Religion and Scholarships. For more information about the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, please visit www.braf.org. posted by Ed Morrison |		This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. links Some Background on EDPro Weblog The purpose of this weblog is to help economic development professionals -- EDPros -- keep up with the changes sweeping our profession. Strap on your goggles. It's a whole new game. There are no experts any more. The only place to learn about economic development is from other EDPros who are doing it. One other point: the prevaling approach (paradigm, if you like) in economic development is shifting from competition to collaboration. There are a lot of reaasons underlying this shift, but here's the important insight: You, your community, and your region will do better by collaborating and sharing information. So, spread the word...Share the knowledge. Tell a friend about EDPro Weblog. If you are using a news reader, here is the link to syndicate this site: Here's the link if you are a bloglines subscriber: Speaking and workshops on Open Source Economic Development As the idea of Open Source Economic Development starts spreading, more people are asking about it. Visit the I-Open web site to learn more. My colleagues and I are happy to explain the basic concepts in a talk or a workshop. E-mail Susan Alshuler if you'd like to learn more about workshops and speaking. Background on Ed Morrison Download some background information on me here.

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