State and Federal Officials Celebrate the Return of the UNO Lakefront Arena

New Orleans (May 2, 2008) - The four-story, 300,000 square foot UNO Lakefront Arena will reopen its doors today for the first time since it was devastated two and half years ago by Hurricane Katrina, thanks in large part to over $15 million in FEMA Public Assistance funding that is administered by the state of Louisiana.

"The road to reopening the UNO Lakefront Arena has not been an easy one, but by working closely with our federal, state and local partners we were able to help restore this facility beyond its pre-storm condition," said Louisiana Recovery Authority Executive Director Paul Rainwater. "Tourism is one of the key economic sectors in this region and the return of this arena will provide more opportunities for people around the country to come see that we are open for business."

As repair payments have been submitted to the state, over 95 percent of the requested funds have already been paid to contractors to restore the UNO Lakefront Arena for its opening.

While the facility itself did not sustain major damage due to storm surge, the roof was destroyed causing water to enter and flood each level of the arena. The majority of necessary repairs fell into four categories; mold and asbestos remediation, sign and fence repair, upper roof repair and electrical system repair.

Once final repairs are completed the arena will have an improved, state-of-the art roofing system that will be able to withstand high winds and help prevent potential damages from future storms.

"FEMA is proud to have funded the rehabilitation of UNO's Lakefront Arena," Acting Associate Deputy Administrator for FEMA's Gulf Coast Recovery Office Jim Stark said. "It's exciting to see the community move closer toward recovery with this reopening. This is a great day for UNO and the residents of Southeast Louisiana."

This multipurpose facility was originally constructed in 1983 and is operated by the University of New Orleans. Prior to the storms of 2005 the UNO Lakefront Arena was considered the number one university venue of its size.

When project funds are obligated by FEMA through its supplemental Public Assistance grant, the funds are transferred to a federal Smartlink account. Once the funds have reached this account the applicant can request reimbursement from GOHSEP for eligible work completed. Obligated funds may change over time as the project is a living grant that is often adjusted as bids come in and scope of work is aligned.

"The UNO is a multi-purpose facility that hosts a number of events, which plays a major role in tourism industry for Louisiana," said Mark Cooper, Director, GOHSEP, "This day marks just another step for Louisiana in it's road to recovery."

In January, Governor Bobby Jindal issued an Executive Order directing the Louisiana Recovery Authority to oversee FEMA's Public Assistance program. The LRA is working in conjunction with GOHSEP and its federal partners to identify ways to streamline the Public Assistance process and improve efficiency.

The Public Assistance program works with state and local officials to fund recovery measures and the rebuilding of government and certain private nonprofit organizations' buildings, as well as roads, bridges and water and sewer plants. During the Public Assistance process, federal, state and local partners work together to prepare project plans, distribute funding and oversee completion of the project.

For more information about the UNO Lakefront Arena or to view a list of upcoming events visit their Web site at: http://arena.uno.edu/

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