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Section: Community

Councilmember-at-Large Fielkow
Introduces Disaster Relief Legislation Assisting Local Businesses

Contact:
Kate Schneiderman
krschneiderman@cityofno.com

City Council Vice President Arnie Fielkow today introduced legislation designed to support local businesses when disaster strikes. Councilmember-at-Large Fielkow, Chair of the Special Projects & Economic Development Committee, introduced Resolution R-08-542 to call on the Louisiana Economic Development Department and Greater New Orleans, Inc. (GNO, Inc.) to create a coalition of business, government and academic leaders charged with developing a comprehensive business disaster continuity program to assist local businesses in advance disaster preparation to lessen hardships, including financial and labor force issues, resulting from mandatory evacuations and short term closures caused by curfews, power outages and other hardships resulting from disasters.

Council Vice President Fielkow said, "I am very concerned about the financial burdens facing our local businesses in the aftermath of Gustav. Currently, there are some programs in place for businesses to deal with equipment replacement and property repairs, but there is no pro-active policy in place that addresses the finance and labor force costs that many businesses now have to absorb. This is an issue that has been present for many years, but we are at a critical point in time for our City, and we need to assure our local businesses that they will be able to operate in the face of future storms and evacuations."

The State Department of Economic Development estimates that Hurricane Gustav caused roughly a $2.5 billion to $5 billion loss of economic activity in the state, including the loss of revenues, inventory, and property damage. Additionally, the State Department of Labor reports that Gustav has caused over 25,000 new unemployment claims - 10 times the normal average number. Nearly 380,000 Louisiana households, as estimated by the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services, are eligible for disaster food benefits - an increase of twenty percent prior to Hurricane Gustav.

The Resolution requests that a broad coalition of government, business and civic groups be involved in the development of the business disaster continuity program. Specifically, the legislation asks that the consulted groups include, but not be limited to, the Mayor's Office of Economic Development, New Orleans City Council Special Development Projects & Economic Development Committee, New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, The New Orleans Black Economic Development Council, New Orleans Business Council, and the business schools of local universities. If you are interested in more info, email cbrylski@aol.com

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