City Coordinating Unified Response to Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Targeting Billions in Funding for the Region
NEW ORLEANS — Today, the City of New Orleans announced work underway by a multi-departmental team that is analyzing infrastructure needs from city departments and related agencies within New Orleans and the region. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Task Force is evaluating approximately 300 projects from three dozen entities that could lead to billions of dollars in funding for the region.
“The IIJA is a once in a lifetime opportunity that can help ensure New Orleans will flourish for the next 300 years,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “These funds will enable us to deliver on catalytic projects that reduce urban heat and flood risk and slow subsidence, as well as improve air, earth and water quality. The work of the IIJA Task Force will ensure the agencies within this city and region speak with one voice on the most critical existential issues we face. Our best chance of successfully competing for these federal dollars is to do this in a holistic and coordinated way.”
The IIJA Taskforce includes a multi-departmental team of City Hall staff:
• Ramsey Green, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Infrastructure
• Sarah McLaughlin Porteous, Director, RoadworkNOLA
• Jonathan Rhodes, Director, Mayor’s Office of Utilities
• Jeanie Donovan, Deputy Director, Population Health & Disease Prevention, Health Department
• Dan Jatres, Policy and Program Manager, Mayor’s Office of Transportation
• Josh Zuckerman, Innovation Manager, CAO’s Office
The IIJA Task Force will be working alongside a group of community and business leaders who are providing valuable assistance in connecting with regional and state partners about the infrastructure needs of Southeast Louisiana and public engagement process around this effort.
With the strong foundation of projects identified and compiled, the IIJA Taskforce is now:
• Linking the approximately 300 projects that have been identified to specific opportunities within the IIJA;
• Thoroughly analyzing the IIJA Programs to identify other potential opportunities for local needs;
• Expanding coordination and engagement with regional partners to identify projects that would benefit the region and/or state;
• Prioritizing projects based on the shared goals of the Cantrell and Biden administrations: Equity, Resilience, Economic Development and Sustainability; and
• Engaging with federal partners so that we are ready and prepared to respond once funding is available.
Over the next several weeks, IIJA Task Force members will be meeting with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, the Regional Planning Commission, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, the Port of New Orleans, GNO Inc., Louisiana Railroads, neighboring parish leaders, and other federal leaders to discuss
priorities and the prime project candidates that will most benefit the Southeast Louisiana region.
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