WASHINGTON -- United States Senator Mary Landrieu, D-La., today announced that the Downtown Development District of New Orleans will receive a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA) to develop and implement a strategy to bolster the city's workforce. In New Orleans, Hurricanes Katrina and Gustav have disrupted the workforce because the storms forced many residents to relocate. Sen. Landrieu was instrumental in securing this investment for New Orleans in the Supplemental Appropriations bill that passed the Senate last June.

"This grant will allow our city to smartly address deficiencies in our workforce and plan for the future," Sen. Landrieu said. "In New Orleans, our challenges are not just the result of the current economic crisis — they have stemmed from the hurricanes that have wrecked havoc on our communities, businesses and infrastructure."

"The Downtown Development District is grateful for the extraordinary vision demonstrated by the federal government through its support of this strategy to energize New Orleans' economy," said Kurt Weigle, President and CEO of the Downtown Development District of New Orleans. "Downtown New Orleans has a unique opportunity right now to create one of the best environments in the world to attract and retain Industries of the Mind like digital media, biomedical, and arts-based businesses. This grant will help us to do just that."

This grant will fund a study to identify the issues hampering the city's competitiveness and facilitate physical improvements, amenity development, social networks, and place branding that will attract diverse worker populations and new entrepreneurial growth companies.

The EDA supports the economic development needs of distressed communities throughout the Unites States. Its mission is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness and preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy.