Planning & Program Management
Local and regional governments must continually attract business, industry, tourism and new residents in order to improve the community’s quality of life. The key to success is careful planning and preparation. Our planning team has helped communities form public / private partnerships, obtain new jobs and improve quality of life. The team assists governments in creatively positioning themselves to attract employers of all sizes, from small businesses to industrial mega sites.
At Waggoner, we understand the difficulties of implementing innovative yet realistic technical solutions that improve quality of life, along with the challenges of securing state and federal funding for projects that have broad positive influences. Working side-by-side with our clients, Waggoner’s program management professionals have extensive experience managing all aspects and phases of a program, from start to finish. We have managed a variety of complex housing, infrastructure and economic development programs throughout the Southeast, including programs with construction values up to $640 million.
Grant Management
In recent years, Waggoner has grown from a 30 year history of enabling local governments to implement federally-funded improvements, to program management of those programs, for state agencies, especially in the recovery from natural disasters such as floods and hurricanes.
Mississippi Gulf Region Water and Wastewater Plan
Waggoner Engineering, Inc. was the lead firm among three principal firms that developed the Mississippi Gulf Region Water and Wastewater Plan, and has been responsible for the implementation and CDBG program management of the plan. The Plan included a comprehensive evaluation of water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure for the six county Mississippi Gulf Region consistent with CDBG program guidelines. The Plan recommended CDBG eligible regional and local infrastructure of over $600 million. The Waggoner team has lead the Plan implementation and monitoring effort which encompasses the following tasks:
more
- Providing specialized CDBG program support to DEQ in developing the administrative components of the HUD/CDBG funded program and to assist DEQ in monitoring the program for compliance with HUD/CDBG regulations and proper use of the funds.
- Support formation of 5 County-wide Utility Authorities and provide support of day to day CDBG program management.
- Develop CDBG grant applications, budgets and schedules for each project and work with the grant recipient to execute and submit the completed CDBG applications to DEQ.
- Develop in conjunction with the local engineer, a conceptual engineering design (thirty percent design) for each of the 65 CDBG projects with a total value of $665 million. The conceptual design will then be used by the local engineer to complete the final design.
- Obtain CDBG program environmental clearance for each project by performing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review for each project and obtain a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).
- Monitor the CDBG projects through completion of construction and assist DEQ with close out of the projects and audit review, consistent with CDBG program requirements.
less
Louisiana Disaster Recovery Program CDBG Office of Community Development, State of Louisiana
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the State of Louisiana was the recipient of over $1 billion in CDBG grant funds from the Federal Government. The State of Louisiana selected as its grant administration program manager for the hardest hit 3-parish region around New Orleans, the firm of Louisiana Solutions, LLC, a partnership of Waggoner Engineering, Inc. and Camp Dresser McKee Inc.
more
As a partner in the entity, Louisiana Solutions, LLC, Waggoner Engineering Inc. (Waggoner) is currently assisting the State of Louisiana with an unprecedented program that is setting new standards for streamlining a federally-funded disaster recovery programs and getting results at the local government level, all under the proactive management of the responsible state agency.
Since October of 2007, Waggoner Engineering, Inc. has maintained a specialized staff in New Orleans consisting of Grant Managers, Engineers, GIS Analysts, and Planners. Over the contract period of 3 years, the team is assisting local government agencies and school districts with planning for, applying for, and implementing Long-Term Community Recovery projects. At the same time, Waggoner Engineering is serving the Louisiana Office of Community Development both in the capacity as extension of their staff and as advisor on CDBG compliance and administration.
The Louisiana Solutions team has assisted the state to establish program guidelines and systems, and has assisted each of the 15 grant applicants to identify and prioritize over 100 projects, and completed over 200 grant applications. All of this activity and results have been achieved while maintaining complete compliance with the federal program guidelines and regulations.
Grant recipients include parish governments, municipalities, school boards, hospitals, and utility companies.
The opportunity to improve “quality of life” is a center point of the project. New green space areas, recreational opportunities, environmental restoration, rebuilding of new schools, economic development, and revitalization of run-down or abandoned areas in the community, all work to improve the quality of life for area citizens.
less
Mississippi Gulf Region Water and Wastewater Plan Mississippi Gulf Coast
Louisiana Disaster Recovery Program CDBG Office of Community Development, State of Louisiana