Louisiana Will Receive $2.7 Billion for Levee Infrastructure Projects

 South Louisiana residents know the damage flooding can cause to the levee systems around the area during a hurricane. The Lousiana levee systems are very important to the area and its residents. Last month, it was announced that the area will receive $2.7 Billion towards completing the Morganza-to-the-Gulf hurricane levee system along with several dozen levees, flood control and other infrastructure projects.

Congress recently approved the two bills that provide the $2.7 billion, the Hurricane Ida Disaster Supplemental Appropriations bill approved in September and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act approved in November.

The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority has allowed $1.3 billion dollars in their annual 2023 budget which will be spent over 12 months beginning July 1. Included are 144 projects statewide, including $1 billion to be spent on the construction of 76 projects.

“After Louisiana suffered a direct hit from Hurricane Ida, I am pleased to see the Corps include over $1 billion for projects in Louisiana’s First Congressional District," Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, who originally opposed the bill, said. "As our state’s recovery continues, I am committed to pushing the Corps to ensure South Louisiana has the resources necessary to restore and improve protection for our citizens and communities.”

"The federal funding released today builds on years of work by Congressman Scalise on these flood protection projects," replied spokesman Hunter Lovell. "Congressman Scalise, along with Congressman Garret Graves, secured the language in a House bill that allowed the Morganza-to-the-Gulf project to receive federal construction funding for the first time in its history."

The Morganza levee system already has received $12.5 million in 2020 and $19 million in 2021. The $378.5 million from the infrastructure bill is the largest federal contribution towards the level system. The Morganza levee is a 92-mile levee system. Because the state requires 35% to be matched for the federal funding, Louisiana, Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes have given $1 billion towards the construction.

The money allotted by the bill will also help pay to improve several floodgates which include Minors Canal Floodgate, Humble Canal Floodgate, and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway East and West floodgates. It will also help redo the Lockport to Larose levee reach and the Reach A South levee.

The Southwest Coastal Louisiana Hurricane Projection will be allotted $125 million to help raise structures in Calcasieu, Cameron and Vermilion parishes. The program's goal is aimed at reducing flooding problems and restoring wetlands in areas south of Lake Charles.

Another $783 million will be given to the Corps to allow the hurricane levels in Plaquemines Parish to be elevated to levels able to withstand overtopping from storm surges with a 2% chance of occurring in any year. The West Shore Lake Pontchartrain levee will also receive $453 million which is slated to be completed by end of 2025.

The remaining funds will go to improvements to the Atchafalaya Basin floodway, repairs to levee slides at two Atchafalaya Basin locations, and for dredging of a shoaling area in the basin near Morgan City, build the Bayou Sale East-West tie-in, design and partially build drainage projects in Algiers and repairs to Mississippi River levees and channels throughout the state.

The New Orleans area will also get some of the money to help raise the area's levees. In the Corps budget for the area, the proposed to spend $3 billion over a 50 year period. This will help keep the levees raised to the 100-year surge protection level.

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Airborne X Adventure Park Now Open on the West Bank

 Harvey has a new multi-million dollar entertainment complex that has just opened, Friday, February 4, 2022. The 30,000 square-foot amusement center is located at 901 Manhattan Boulevard in Harvey on the West Bank and is called Airborne X Adventure Park.

The new Airborne X is in the building that once housed Bed Bath & Beyond in the Westbank Village Shopping Center. This will be the second Airborne X location as the first location opened in Denham Springs in 2018. Owner Alex Xiao decided to open the trampoline park after seeing the success the Denham Springs location has had.

The entertainment complex has over twenty arcade games, a cafe, and five birthday party suites. It also includes sky riding over the trampoline park, obstacle courses, freestanding climbing structures, a rope course, and a three-level soft play area for the younger kids. It will employ around 80 employees both part-time and full-time.

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2022 Kitchen Trends To Use In Your Home

The new year has brought new trends and design ideas for your kitchen. Here are 15 unique ideas to use in your kitchen this year.

Glazed Tile Backsplashes

This is all the rage in 2022 for your kitchen. Glazed tiles are covered with enamel or liquid glass before they are fired in a kiln. This process gives the glazed tile a nice shiny look. These tiles come in all different colors, sizes, shapes and designs. They can be incorporated into any style of home.

Mixture Of Modern And Vintage

This is like a sweet and salty delicacy. A modern farmhouse design has used this platform but this year it has bumped up a bit. Now modern materials, cabinets and appliances are mixed with a couple of large vintage elements. An example would be taking a modern kitchen space and adding a vintage-style kitchen island.

Statement Range Hoods

This trend has been around and is still going strong. Homeowners love a statement range hood because they are sleek and eye-catching. They definitely create a focal point in the kitchen. If you have a range hood, a budget-friendly idea would be to cover the existing hood with inexpensive untreated wood.

Statement Lighting

Kitchen lighting is always a great way to add a designer dynamic touch. Statement lighting is a great way to do this. It adds an artistic element as well as creates an eye-catching look.

Natural Elements

Using natural elements in the kitchen is a big trend this year. Natural elements not only bring the outdoor elements indoors, they also give a calming refreshing feel. These materials include stone, greenery/plants, wood and natural light colors.

Wire Mesh Cabinetry

Glass cabinets have been a nice touch in an upscale kitchen. This year the trend is now wire mesh panels. The wire mesh panels give a nice rustic and vintage feel without giving up a sense of sophistication. Wire mesh panels can be brass, gray or black and can be made out of all types of wire.

Captivating Color Combinations

Color combinations that are well thought out and planned can make a huge impact in the kitchen. This year, black and dark blue combined with white and gold accents are popular. This gives a stunning look because of the balance between light/warm colors and dark colors.

Eye-Catching Statement Marble

A big trend in solid countertops this year is strongly veined marble. It comes in all colors and levels of veining. Marble has always given a space a luxurious and upscale look. To be even more dramatic, designers are taking the marble up making it the backsplash.

Wood Finishes

Just like the natural look, natural wood finishes are back in style. A great way to incorporate this is using a butcher block countertop. Natural wood tones are warm and inviting.

Mixed Wood Finishes

Using a mix of wood finishes and colors is a great option for this year. Thinking outside of the box is the way to go this year. A great example is to mix different colored cabinets such as a mix of brown, black and white cabinets.

The Green Trend Continues

Green is a popular color this year. A great way to do this is using green cabinets in your kitchen. Green is calming and gives a simplistic and subtle look to the kitchen. Using olive green cabinets with white counters is in demand.

Natural Light

Like natural wood and natural elements, natural lighting is always a must. This year this is used in a designer's tool belt. Natural lighting gives the kitchen an open and bright eye-catching feel.

Tuxedo Kitchens

Last year the trend was all-white and now it is using dark and light. The new trend is called the tuxedo kitchen. This is where two colors are incorporated in a light tone and a dark tone.

Pet-Friendly Accents

Pets are a big part of many homeowners' lives. Adding pet-friendly accents to the kitchen is a no-brainer for animal lovers. These can include built-in water and food bowls or a built-in pet bed. This not only is a convient idea but is also a great way to save space.

Glass Partitions

A glass partition is an awesome option especially when you have an open living space. A glass partition will help keep noise and odors down from the kitchen and give a nice stylistic element to the kitchen. These can come in many different styles and colors.

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Boost Your Curb Appeal By Painting Your Shutters

 A great way to update your curb appeal is to paint the exterior of your home. This can be a huge expense and might not be in your financial plan right now. If you have a smaller budget in mind, think about just painting your shutters to update your home's look and curb appeal.

If your shutters are dated, you might want to think about updating them to make sure the shutters fit your home. "Having an accurate ratio of shutter to window is pretty critical," says Greenville, South Carolina-based interior designer Taylor Hill. "You want to make sure your shutters are architecturally correct, meaning if they were to close, they would actually cover the window." Once this is achieved, follow these professional tips.

Play with Color…Correctly

Even if your favorite color is purple, you would not want to paint your shutters purple unless you live in a tropical area or an eclectic home. Remember to consider what type of home you live in. Many neighborhoods have HOA rules and regulations, so you have to be mindful of the HOA's color palette.

Consider a More Modern Monochromatic Look

Even a traditional home can have a nice clean modern look. One way to accomplish this is to paint your shutters the same hue as the exterior of your home. "It delivers a very chic look without being trendy," Hill says.

Take a Tone-on-Tone Approach

"If I'm starting with a neutral-colored house, I'll often look at the undertones present in the exterior paint color to help us determine a shutter color," Hills says. Hill confirms that this will add both contrast and balance to your curb appeal.

Embrace Classic Contracts

"I love a glossy black pop against a pretty red brick house," Chelsea Robinson, a Nashville interior designer, says. "Painted white brick might be really trendy right now, but you don't have to fall into a trend to make a big impact."

Keep it Natural

If you live near the coast, a natural-looking shutter is perfect for you. A natural wood shutter adds instant character with low maintenance. When you have a natural wood shutter, natural elements can improve their look by oxidating the wood and giving it a green or copper hue color.

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Bywater To Open in New Orleans in 2022

 Bywater is a 93-room poshtel that is opening this year in New Orleans. This project was originally to be built in 2018 but was delayed due to securing funding and the start of the pandemic.

"We had to put the capital together to make it all happen," Kelso said. "I said [to investors], 'We can build during the downturn and open at the finish, and New Orleans is resilient.'"

A poshtel is a new concept that has become popular in the hotel industry. Some call them a "posh" hostel. They are usually in unique buildings and offer many perks and freebies. They offer services and amenities that hostels do not especially privacy. These accommodations have both private rooms and shared rooms.

The $25 million poshtel will be located on the riverfront at the intersection of Chartres and Mazant. The project is being built by developer Ted Kelso and hotel brand ARRIVE by Palisociety. Originally the building would include 43 upscale hostel-style rooms targeting travelers in their 20s and 30s. New Orleans residents gave a lot of push back so the team came up with a solution.

"We transitioned from a hostel model to more of a traditional hotel. That made sense after talking to neighbors about what was right for the neighborhood," Kelso said. "ARRIVE is perfect. Their [properties] are all in neighborhoods similar to Bywater, demographically, so that's what sparked the transition to a hotel."

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Freddie Mac Wants To Help Renters Build Up Their Credit Through

 Renters now have a chance to use their rental payments to help build their credit scores. Freddie Mac has a new program that allows renters to use their on-time monthly rent payments to build up their credit. This is good news for the renters but also for the owners or managers of rental properties as an incentive. Property owners or rental managers can now report on-time rental payments to the credit bureaus.

This new program's purpose is to help those who do not have a credit score. It is reported that 45 million U.S. adults have no credit score. In fact, less than 10% of renters currently see their on-time rental payment history reflected in their credit scores. This is preventing many U.S. adults from getting some of the best mortgage rates in order to purchase a new home.

“Rent payments are often the single largest monthly line item in a family’s budget, but paying your rent on time does not show up in a credit report like a mortgage payment,” says Michael DeVito, CEO of Freddie Mac. “That puts the 44 million households who rent at a significant disadvantage when they seek financing for a home, a car, or even an education. While there remains more to do, this is a meaningful step in addressing this age-old problem.”

Esusu Financial Inc. technology is used by Freddi Mac to report rental payments and rental data to all three credit bureaus. When a renter misses a payment, it will automatically unenroll renters. As an incentive, Freddie Mac will allow closing cost credits on multi-family loans to those who chose to use the Esusu platform.

“At present, the most common way for rents to be reported to the credit bureaus is when there is a missed payment that has gone to a collections agency,” says Alexis Sofyanos, senior director of Equity in Multifamily Housing at Freddie Mac. “Freddie Mac wants to flip that script, so that renters who pay their rent on time and in full each month get credit for doing so, while also putting in safeguards for the most vulnerable.”

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The Homebuying Process Made Easy

 Buying a home is can be a stressful and complicated process. Homes.com reported that 40% of people say that purchasing a home is one of the most stressful events. This is a life-changing event and homeowners should be excited about it.

Now is an awesome time to purchase a home with low-interest rates. In fact, in the past 18 months, the low-interest rates have pushed homeownership up by 2.1 million in 2020. If you are in the market for a new home becoming familiar with the steps you must take can help smooth out the obstacles that might come your way.

Determine How Much Home You Can Afford

This is the first basic step. A homeowner needs to know how much house they can afford. It is important to become familiar with the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The DTI is the percentage of your income required to pay down existing debt.

Professionals in the industry advise keeping your housing expenses around 30% or less of your annual income. So if you have an annual income of $50,000 your expenses should not be over $15,000 a year. These expenses include your mortgage payments, property taxes, and homeowners insurance.

Get A Pre-Approval Letter

Once you have established how much you can afford, then you need to get a pre-approval letter. Having a pre-approval letter lets agents and sellers know that you are a serious buyer. Just remember that each pre-approval letter you obtain will put a hard inquiry on your credit report.

Some leaders in the industry suggest getting more than one pre-approval letter. If you do decide to do this. Get them within a 30-day period so that it will count as just one hard inquiry.

Explore Your Mortgage Options

You will want to shop around to find the best rate and the best mortgage option for you. There are two mortgage types that leaders suggest. The fixed-rate mortgage loan has a rate that stays the same so the payment throughout the loan will be the same. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARMs) begins with a fixed rate but does change every so often. If you are planning to stay in your home for a shorter period of time, then this loan might best suit you.

Another thing to consider is mortgage points. If you want to reduce your long-term costs you can purchase mortgage points to save. You can purchase these at closing and each point is worth 1% of your mortgage amount and each point will reduce your rate by .25%.

Take these steps into consideration before you start on your homebuying journey. Remember to choose a Realtor who can help you through the whole process.

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