Gov. Bobby Jindal has signed into law legislation that seeks to better fold Acadiana into coastal protection and restoration efforts, and has also tapped a local name to help oversee the money side of the initiative. Frederick Prejean Sr. of Lafayette, president of Empire Management, has been appointed to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Financing Corporation. The corporation is a major player, as it has the authority to carry out the financing, purchasing, owning and managing of the offshore royalty money the state receives from the feds, which is already earmarked for coastal efforts.
The corporation also works closely with the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, which is likewise about to pick up a new member from Acadiana — Act 545 requires Jindal to appoint an additional member from southwest Louisiana to the state’s guiding coastal board.
Bringing flood control, coastal restoration and hurricane protection under one umbrella for the first time in the state’s history, the CPRA was created in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita to help guide recovery efforts and implement long-term strategies.