FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  John Hall, 504-862-2201

March 9, 2001

Corps, GCR win 'Outstanding Federal Planning Project' award involving Industrial Canal Lock

NEW ORLEANS - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and its contractor, GCR & Associates Inc., won a national planning award today involving the $585 million Industrial Canal Lock replacement in New Orleans.

The community planning process developed by the Corps and Metairie-based GCR was cited by the Federal Planning Division of the American Planning Association as the "Outstanding Non-Military Federal Planning Project" of 2001.

The award was presented at a luncheon at the Radisson Hotel during the Federal Planning Division's annual conference in New Orleans. A copy of the award nomination is available at www.gcr1.com.

The Corps' New Orleans District hired GCR to involve people of the affected area in shaping a $35 million community impact mitigation plan to offset the effects of 10 to 12 years of lock construction.

A coordinated planning approach was used by GCR and its subcontractors, Metro-Source LLC of New Orleans, the University of New Orleans' College of Urban and Public Affairs, and New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity.

A volunteer citizens' committee, the Community-Based Mitigation Committee, was formed to represent the neighborhoods and offer the Corps comment and direction on the project and mitigation. 

Chief objectives of the mitigation committee are to seize an opportunity for urban revitalization and to provide ways to continue the gains after the lock is completed.

Lock project information: http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/prj/ihnc/index.htm