CHALMETTE, La. – From the St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation:
Earlier this year, SBEDF was invited by the Greater New Orleans Foundation to pitch its vision for a more resilient St. Bernard while competing in GNOF’s Next 100 Years Challenge. SBEDF presented a wish list of projects that would significantly improve the parish’s ability to bounce back after disasters. The proposed initiatives caught the eye of the contest judges, who selected SBEDF as a runner-up in the competition and are awarding SBEDF a $40,000 grant to build capacity and apply for additional funds for infrastructure and nature-based resiliency projects.
“SBEDF’s efforts in economic development go hand-in-hand with efforts to mitigate disasters, build greenspace, add parish amenities, restore our coast, and improve quality of life,” said Meaghan McCormack, CEO of SBEDF. Investments like this from GNOF and the current federal administration are crucial to building the St. Bernard of tomorrow, and SBEDF is committed to leading the charge.”
The Next 100 Years Challenge was a regional competition designed to inspire and attract plans for community-centered and cost-effective infrastructure improvements, including nature-based solutions, in 13 parishes of Southeast Louisiana that will reduce the threat from storms and other disasters.
“We want to thank GNOF for this grant funding,” said Guy McInnis, St. Bernard Parish president. “We are looking forward to working with our partners at the St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation to leverage this grant to bring in additional resources to implement our key resiliency projects.”
SBEDF will use this award to fund the pursuit of major federal grant opportunities that would impact a range of much-needed improvements for the community it serves, from modernizations of St. Bernard’s energy infrastructure, to expanding the parish’s network of stormwater mitigating parks and trails.
“This win is just the beginning, and the funding could not have arrived at a better time,” said Will Davis, economic development manager at SBEDF. “There are more federal grant dollars available to our community today than ever before. The only obstacle standing between St. Bernard and potentially millions of dollars in federal funding is our collective grant-writing capacity. This award from GNOF will empower us to pursue some of the most significant funding opportunities our community has ever seen.”
