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State of La. Details Programs to Aid Fishermen

Posted on: Monday, 9 June 2008, 03:00 CDT

By Anonymous

The state today outlined programs involving grants, loans and direct aid that fishermen recovering from hurricanes Katrina and Rita may be eligible for.

Studies conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimate that Katrina alone generated more than $1.3 billion of economic loss to Louisiana's fishing industry, the state said.

"Getting Louisiana fishermen back on the water is a top priority to the state. Not only is the fishing industry a huge economic sector in Louisiana but it is also a way of life for many of our residents," said Paul Rainwater, executive director of the Louisiana Recovery Authority. "Working with our state partners we have been able to commit millions of dollars to the fishing industry. However, we realize that this is just the tip of the iceberg. We will continue to keep this recovery a top priority and find creative ways to commit more funds to this critical industry."

Last week Louisiana Economic Development and the LRA announced the launch of the second phase of the Louisiana Business Recovery Grant and Loan program designed to support businesses recovering from the hurricanes. In the first phase of the program, about 1,000 fishermen received grants totaling more than $15 million.

LED and LRA officials developed the second phase with input from local fishermen and made adjustments to help the fishing industry, the state said. Businesses now have the option to substitute a $20,000 tangible loss in place of the revenue decline requirement from the first phase of the program. Many fishermen who worked to get back in business after the hurricanes did not meet the revenue decline requirement in the first phase because they instead took on personal and business debt to get back on the water, the state said.

For more information on the program, go to www.louisianaforward.com or call (877) 610-3533.

Fishermen may also be eligible for direct aid through $27.6 million in assistance available to the state's commercial fishing industries through a $41.3 million federal fisheries economic assistance grant. The grant, from NOAA, is available through the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission being administered by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Louisiana residents, commercial fishermen, certain commercial fishing vessel license holders and wholesale/retail seafood dealers with trip ticket recorded sales or purchases of seafood from Sept. 1, 2004, through Aug. 31, 2005, may qualify for assistance. LDWF requires trip tickets to collect commercial landings and associated information by trip.

More than 8,000 information packets were mailed during the week of May 12 to individuals and entities that LDWF has been able to identify from pre-storm trip ticket records. Those who receive packets must return the required forms using the business-reply envelope provided by the Oct. 31 deadline.

The South Central Planning and Development Commission and affiliated planning districts will receive and process all information about this assistance program on behalf of LDWF. For more information, contact SCPDC by at (800) 630-3791 or (985) 655- 1051.

Credit: CityBusiness Staff

(Copyright 2008 Dolan Media Newswires)

(c) 2008 New Orleans CityBusiness. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

Source: New Orleans CityBusiness

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