THIBODAUX, LA (AP) — Grant money for the Lafourche Parish Office of Community Action has been put on hold but officials say that won't hinder the agency's aid to low-income residents.
The Louisiana Workforce Commission told parish officials in mid-December that money from a grant of more than $253,000 was suspended because of the department's unsatisfactory performance between October 2012 and this past September.
Commission spokesman Tom Guarisco, described the problem as a procedural matter that will not affect services the agency provides. He told The Daily Comet’s Meredith Burns that parish officials did not provide all the necessary information in paperwork it sent to the state.
Guarisco said parish officials have since sent the needed information to the state and he believes the matter will be resolved soon.
"It has nothing to do with the services themselves," Guarisco said. "It's more about complying with the rules that we have to follow to administer the grant."
The federal Community Services Block Grant pays for housing, nutrition, health care and other services for low-income residents. When money is spent locally, the parish is reimbursed through the state.
The parish already has another $266,383 Community Services Block Grant lined up for next year.
Lafourche Parish Administrator Archie Chaisson said assistance programs will continue to operate with money from the general account until the suspension is lifted.
"The grant wasn't taken away. They just said we just need these errors fixed and we'll get the reimbursements again," he said.
