SPONSORS

FLORIDA BUILDING MATERIALS ASSOCIATION

Louisiana Factory Building Systems Symposium
Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco
June 12, 2006

Good morning and thank you, Secretary Olivier.  I want to thank our Department of Economic Development, the Louisiana Recovery Authority and Louisiana's Home Builders Association for hosting today's event. 

Here in Louisiana, we are on a MISSION.  Our mission is to return people to their homes.  We have over 90,000 homeowners registered for our housing program - 90,000.  We are growing this number every day.  Never before in American history has any community been forced to rebuild so many homes so quickly.  This is the position we are in.  And I know you are here to help us fulfill our mission.
You are here during a week of good news for Louisiana - $4.2 billion dollars worth of good news.  I just returned from Washington and one last push to secure the federal funding needed to complete our housing program. 

In spite of last minute efforts by Congress to cut our $4.2 billion, our funding survived intact.  This allows us to offer homeowners up to $150,000 to repair, rebuild, or sell their homes.   We will be able to provide homeowners with real options.  And it allows us to restore affordable rental housing.   

Today, the House votes to approve our funding.  The Senate will soon follow. 
By the end of this week, Congress will have given final approval of the funding needed to rebuild our neighborhoods and restore our communities. 

Over 200,000 homes were destroyed by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  First, it was our job to secure the funding, and we did.  With the additional $4.2 billion in place, people will be newly energized to build and move home. 

Now, it is our job to bring back our homes, and we will.  I believe we are entering one of the largest construction economies this nation has ever seen.   I hope you will be a part of it. 

I asked the LRA and Louisiana's Department of Economic Development to pull together today's symposium to pool your expertise. 
You see, our task is not only to build the greatest number of homes in the shortest time possible.  We must rebuild in a cost effective manner.  And we must rebuild safer, stronger and better than before. 

I made it a priority to push the first ever statewide building codes through our legislature in the weeks after the storm.  The new building codes will require us to rebuild the strongest and safest homes possible.    This is no small task. 

You come from all over the country.  You bring with you new insight into cutting-edge technology.  You know of new designs and techniques that can better withstand future storms. 
Today's symposium shows our commitment to fully explore the innovations offered by Factory Building Systems technology.  Our success in many ways depends on our ability to utilize new technologies to give our people safe options. 

I often say that Katrina and Rita washed away a lot of good in our communities, but with the good they also washed away the bad.  Mother Nature has given us a blank slate to start over.  Rarely does a state have such a clear opportunity to do it right.  We can rebuild the most competitive communities of the 21st Century.  Rebuilding our homes with the best technology has to offer lays the groundwork for this competitiveness.   

I want to take a minute to thank the many businesses represented here that have made a personal commitment to our recovery.  Simply being here signifies a commitment. 

Let me give you just two examples of companies represented here that have gone above and beyond the norm in an effort to help Louisiana. 

First, let me salute Dow for their generous donation of 37 modular units to the affected parishes.  Kevin Weir, Dow's new Business Development Manager, is here with us, and has a unit on display.  Thank you. 

84 Lumber is also represented here today.  This company is donating 10 houses to Habitat for Humanity's rebuilding program.  And they have already pledged to build more.  I want to thank these companies - and all of you who have been so generous - for your investment in our people. 

I want to add my thanks to our Platinum sponsor - Windstorm from Norbord Industries - and all of you who have sponsored today's event.

Restoring our housing is a key part of our economic recovery.  It is impossible to have a strong recovery without secure places for workers to live.  And we don't just want our workers back - we want our families back. 

All of the groups represented here - construction suppliers, insurance and finance, among others - have a key role to play in our coming economy.  You can be a part of an exciting recovery that is sure to generate new ideas and innovations. 

Secretary Olivier and I have been on a road tour of sorts - reaching out to new businesses. 
We took our message to Wall Street, and we welcomed a trade delegation of US companies to the Gulf Coast.  This traveling duo will go anywhere to bring business to Louisiana.  You show us an opportunity, and we will be there with a clear message:

Louisiana is open for business.  There has never been a better time to invest in our state than now. 
We sit at the epicenter of this nation's trade with our strategically placed ports.  We are a promising zone for new technologies, with I-T companies springing up in great numbers.  We are attracting new manufacturing at a time when too many manufacturing jobs are going overseas.  We boast a skilled workforce.  And we are on the forefront of the nation's energy economy. 
Our oil and gas industry fuels the nation. 

The entire state of Louisiana is ripe with opportunities.  And there is nothing more important to the economic security of this nation than rebuilding the Gulf Coast.

We were making great progress before the storm, and we will make even greater progress now. 
Secretary Olivier has outlined for you the incredible federal and state incentive packages we can offer businesses.  Almost all of our parishes are covered by the federal tax savings offered by the Go-Zone and Renewal Communities.  Our state tax incentives also invite new investment. 

We are aggressively pursuing new companies that can offer our people good jobs.  And we want to offer our people the best in technology and advice as they rebuild the affected areas.

Thank you again for being here.  Thank you for your interest in playing a part in our recovery. 
You have a lineup of interesting panels in front of you, and I wish I could be here to take part in the discussions. 
There is hard work ahead of us, but this is an exciting time for Louisiana.  We are entering a season of hope and renewal.  I encourage everyone to be a part of it.  Thank you.              

 

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