“We commend our entire Congressional delegation for being champions of this vital cause,” said Michael Hecht, President and CEO of Greater New Orleans, Inc. “Our delegation’s hard work and dedication in seeing the RESTORE Act through to passage has created a foundation for the long-term economic and ecological preservation of our region.”
“The Deepwater Horizon oil spill affected the businesses and culture of communities all along the Gulf Coast. The RESTORE Act now provides us with the opportunity to not only bring these communities back, but further, to secure their future. This is great news for the Gulf and for all Americans who depend on our region for commerce and security," said Hecht.
A report released in June by Greater New Orleans, Inc. and commissioned by the Walton Family Foundation states that coastal restoration projects, funded largely by the RESTORE Act, could generate 57,697 jobs across several industries within the first 10 years. The study, “Job Creation from Gulf Coast Wetlands Restoration,” found that such projects would create, on average, 29.54 jobs per million dollars of funding.
At the state level, Governor Bobby Jindal recently signed into law Act 805, directing all funding that the state receives from the RESTORE Act directly towards the 2012 Coastal Master Plan, which will guide coastal investments for Louisiana.
“This opportunity will allow us to hone and develop expertise in mitigation and restoration. With the guidance of our Coastal Master Plan, we will enhance our ability to preserve our natural resources and revive our economy for years to come,” said Dale Benoit, Chairman of the GNO, Inc. Board of Directors.
“GNO, Inc. was proud to support the RESTORE Act since its inception, and worked collaboratively with environmental and economic development partners across the Gulf Coast, including the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, Greater Houston Partnership, and Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, to advance this legislation,” said Hecht.
