The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced Tuesday an allocation of $450 million in Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery funding to aid Southwest Louisiana in the ongoing rebuilding from Hurricanes Laura and Delta.

The money is part of the remaining $3 billion in CDBG-DR funding included in the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act for the 2022 fiscal year. Just over $600 million in federal disaster recovery funding for Hurricanes Laura and Delta was allocated last September, but officials said this additional funding will help the region bounce back even faster.

“I know it’s been a long road, but we have to acknowledge wins when we get them,” Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter said. “I believe this is an equitable response. This community is very solidly and assuredly on the road to recovery.”

While housing remains the greatest post-hurricane need, Hunter said he wants some of the funding to be spent on infrastructure and revitalizing small and minority-owned businesses that are still struggling.

Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President Tony Stelly said in a statement that the $450 million “finally brings us to a fair and equitable level of federal recovery dollars.”

Gov. John Bel Edwards said during a virtual press conference that $1 billion in federal disaster funding is enough to help Southwest Louisiana secure low- to moderate-income housing for renters and homeowners.

“People in Southwest Louisiana are still hurting from August 2020,” he said. “This will not just help them recover, but they will know they haven’t been forgotten.”

HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge said an established fund appropriated by Congress is needed to get disaster recovery assistance delivered quicker. While FEMA has a law in place to swiftly address first responses to disasters, HUD must secure authorization from Congress, she said.

“Going through that process takes us significantly longer,” she said.

Members of Louisiana’s congressional delegation released statements on the additional funding being allocated. U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Port Barre, called it welcome news, while U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said the money is “hard-earned relief for Southwest Louisiana.” U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said the resilient residents of Louisiana are finally getting the relief needed to meet ongoing needs, the biggest being housing.

The state has published a proposed action plan on how to spend the initial $600 million in CDBG-DR funding and has received feedback during public hearings hosted earlier this month. The plan should be submitted to HUD for approval soon, Edwards said.

The Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act also includes $1.27 billion for Hurricane Ida recovery in Southeast Louisiana.