LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT PLANS

MQVN CDC, with the aid of national and local partners, seeks to implement a comprehensive plan to assist Katrina families rebuild their lives and communities. Key projects to achieve these goals are:

Project 1: Develop affordable housing for low-income seniors and working families

- Assist home-owners in accessing financial assistance to repair/rebuild their homes

- Work with Providence Community Housing to continue in developing a senior housing project located on a parcel of land owned by and located right across from the Mary Queen of Viet Nam Church

- Conduct on-going research and explore opportunities for purchasing land and developing new affordable rental housing

Project 2: Develop urban agriculture program to preserve cultural food heritage

- Develop a community farm to support cultural foods demand

- Encourage Vietnamese American gardeners to engage in organic food production

- Develop an open market to provide public space for gardeners to sell their products

- Increase and encourage cultural food sharing

Project 3: Promote ethnic business district revitalization and business development

- Assist Vietnamese-American business owners access business technical assistance, capital, and other business resources to rebuild and expand their businesses

- Provide mutual support for its members, and promote collective marketing and promotion of the business district

Project 4: Promote environmental justice

- Increase awareness of the benefits of a long-term recycling plan through educational programs, environmental forums, and discussions

- Organize Vietnamese-American residents to participate in neighborhood-wide planning process to ensure that they have a voice in the recovery and rebuilding of New Orleans East

Project 5: Facilitate community access to human services and protect quality of life

- Conduct feasibility analysis for a community center to provide structured recreational and after-school programs for neighborhood youth, computer centers, pre-school and child care facilities, and day programs for senior citizens

- Facilitate community access to social services, health services, child care, job training, etc.

- Establish a charter school that is culturally competent to the New Orleans East community.