P.O. Box 24378  New Orleans, LA 70184   504.324.2270
 

Group D – Resources and Finances Preliminary Recovery Plan

 The current mission of our group is essentially twofold:

 Our first objective is to consolidate the many financial resources available to individual homeowners into a concisely worded and easy to understand booklet.  This booklet will serve two distinct purposes: 

 1)  Helping residents better understand all funding options available to them, while providing vital information regarding specific issues they are likely to confront during the decision making process. 

 2)  This booklet will also be used as an educational tool comprised of appropriate contact information, as well as any relevant information the committee feels should be included.

 It is also our intention to establish a one-stop resource center to help each individual make the best possible decisions they can for their families.  At this time the most efficient way to establish this center in an expeditious manner is to facilitate it via an email box center.  Each member of Group D will have access to this mailbox, and can respond to each individual inquiry as it pertains to their specific sub-committee.  It is of vital importance that the purpose of this resource center be to INFORM and not to advise individuals as it pertains to any of the information gathered.

 Our second objective is to aggressively pursue all available sources of funding for the recovery of the neighborhood itself.  At present we see two primary sources of such funding in which we intend to focus the majority of our efforts.  First and foremost will be the massive amounts of federal dollars that are presently working their way down to the state and local levels.  Second we will seek to engage both non profit and corporate entities in an effort to finance those areas of the rebuilding process that are not being addressed by the federal funding.

 It is our contention that at the present time the source that poses the most significant challenges will ultimately be the federal recovery dollars.  Therefore we are presently compiling a list of contacts at all levels of government, as well as seeking out the assistance of professional lobbyists to assist us in our efforts.

 In regards to the second funding source previously mentioned, we have recently formed The District 5 Recovery Fund through the Greater New Orleans Foundation.  We envision non profit and corporate philanthropy funding to be available and commence, and be sent into the recovery fund.  This fund will be overseen by the President of each civic association within the District 5 Neighborhood.  Through the immediate creation of this fund, our group can immediately commence our fund raising efforts, and begin engaging those entities that already have funds available for such causes.

 Finally, the road to a successful recovery will certainly be a challenging one, and it will not be easy.  Nothing significant ever is.  The following are quotes that you might wish to reflect on as we embark on this difficult task. 

 “We succeed only as we identify in life, or in war, or in anything else, a single overriding objective, and make all other considerations bend to that one objective.”

            -Dwight D. Eisenhower

 “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.  Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”

            -Helen Keller