NEW ORLEANS — Mayor Mitch Landrieu announced the City of New Orleans, in partnership with the Greater New Orleans Foundation (GNOF), will donate $82,000 in grants through the NOLA Pay It Forward Fund to community organizations that are helping those affected by the major flooding that occurred in Louisiana in August 2016. Previously, Mayor Landrieu announced two rounds of grants totaling in $170,000 to more than 15 community organizations providing immediate response and relief support. On Aug. 15, Mayor Landrieu reactivated the NOLA Pay It Forward Fund for New Orleanians to contribute to early recovery efforts following major flooding that started in early August 2016 across 22 parishes.
“The people of New Orleans know what it’s like to suffer through a disaster and we will never forget those who helped us when we needed it most,” Mayor Landrieu said. “We hope to pay it forward to other communities that have begun the processes to recover and rebuild their communities. We are grateful to those who generously contributed to the NOLA Pay It Forward Fund, but there is more work to do. We ask our residents to continue helping our neighbors affected by this devastating event.”
“These grants are helping with the long-term recovery process,” said Andy Kopplin, president & CEO of the Greater New Orleans Foundation. “The work continues and the needs are great, so we’re extremely grateful to all the donors who continue to support our neighbors in the nearby parishes.”
Through the NOLA Pay It Forward Fund, five community organizations will receive grants supporting longer term recovery needs including community development, housing and education:
• Center for Planning Excellence – to help leaders in towns of impacted parishes access and interpret data and information as they receive federal and state funding to understand what tools, resources, and policies are available to them as their communities rebuild in partnership with the Louisiana Municipal Association
• Greater New Orleans Housing Alliance – to carry out listening sessions that will inform the development of housing plans in impacted parishes working with the LA Office of Community Development
• Impacted School Systems – to provide $5,000 each to the following systems to expedite the ability of schools to rebuild damaged facilities and offices: Ascension Parish School System, Central Community School System, City of Baker School System, Livingston Parish School System, Foundation for East Baton Rouge Parish Schools, and Recovery School District
• Tipitina’s Foundation – to replace instruments and band equipment lost during flooding at schools in impacted parishes
• Additional impacted faith-based organizations
The City and GNOF will play a continuous role in supporting the long-term recovery needs of the communities affected by the major flooding, City reps said. Subsequent rounds of funding will be used to fund organizations that are mobilizing volunteers and resources to assist in rebuilding efforts and grassroots organizations driving community rebuilding in the affected parishes.
