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just rebuilding of
the gulf coast
Background | Faith Perspective | Take Action | Resources | Programs and Organizations
Background
 No region of the United States has a greater need for rebuilding its infrastructure, restoring its environment and providing opportunity to its residents than America’s Gulf Coast. The Gulf Coast Civic Works Act funds “green” resident-led recovery projects, building on the success of community organizations in recovery, to help meet the overwhelming unmet needs of the individuals families, and communities devastated by hurricanes Katrina, and Rita.
This pilot project would partner with communities in planning, overseeing and administering recovery projects to assist the survivors of these disasters, providing communities with tools to build resilience against the impact of future disasters and climate change and while revitalizing the region economically and socially. The bill would create a minimum of 100,000 prevailing wage jobs and training opportunities for local and displaced workers on projects reinvesting in infrastructure and restoring the costal environment utilizing emerging green building techniques and technologies to address remaining recover challenges, especially those still faced by residents with disabilities, women, internally displaced, minority and immigrant communities.
Further information about the Gulf Coast Civic Works Act (HR 2269):
- Rebuilds Vital Public Infrastructre and Restores the Environment
- Rebuilds and repairs vital infrastructure including schools, police and fire stations, hospitals, parks, roads, water and sewer systems, workforce housing, and cultural centers.
- Builds equitable flood protection and restores natural flood protection such as barrier island, marshes, and wetlands that defend the livelihood of costal families and billions of dollars of Gulf Coast commerce, including a majority of our nation's energy infrastructure.
- Enhances energy efficiency and conservation to save on energy costs and eliminate carbon emissions to better protect vulnerable populations from the effects of climate change.
- Serves as a national model for building on the strength of community action and engaging residents in disaster recovery and sustainable economic development.
- Creates Good "Green" Jobs and Provides Job Training
- Creates 100,000 good wage jobs and training opportunities for Gulf Coast residents and encourages contractors to provide opportunities for apprenticeship and on-the-job training.
- Encourages cutting edge green building techniques and technologies to minimize carbon emissions and energy needs, preparing workers and businesses for this growing industry.
- Creates a Civic Conservation Corps for young workers to train a new generation to restore the coastline and provide much needed economic opportunities for area youth.
- Spurs Equitable and Sustainable Community Development
- Engages community leaders and local officials to determine projects based on community needs.
- Focuses benefits locally through first source hiring provisions for locals and displaced.
- Engages community organizations in federal development and recovery projects.
- Strengthens workforce by providing jobs, much needed skills training and additional funding for community colleges and training facilities.
- Creates contracting opportunities for local businesses.
- Requires Accountability and Community Oversight
- Works with the Office of Gulf Coast Recovery and Rebuilding to provide oversight and transparency, give logistical and administrative assistance, and allocate funding to the local communities through a resident-driven grant-making process.
- Involves communities in overseeing contractors to avoid waste and fraud.
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The Poverty Initiative
is part of the Justice and Advocacy Commission of the