NEW ORLEANS, La. — The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced today approximately $1.9 million in public assistance funding for St. Paul’s Episcopal School in New Orleans in support of their post-Katrina rebuilding plans.

Located in the city’s Lakeview community, St. Paul’s campus for infants through eighth graders sustained significant damages during Hurricane Katrina. The damages to three classroom buildings in particular were so considerable that FEMA previously deemed them each eligible for replacement funding.

“Our current grant approves St. Paul’s request to utilize previously obligated FEMA dollars to expand their main campus building, versus building back the three classroom buildings exactly as they stood pre-Katrina,” said FEMA’s Louisiana Recovery Office Deputy Director of Programs Andre Cadogan. “This recovery project will allow the school to rebuild based on their determined needs while still supporting the community in the same educational capacity as before.”

The new building project will incorporate the functions of the three, Katrina-damaged buildings and is slated to be a 7,547 square-foot, two-story addition to St. Paul’s campus. The addition will house six large classrooms, two multi-purpose common areas, five restrooms and more.

“We are so excited and grateful for the support from FEMA and its hardworking representatives. The new lower school building, specifically designed for grades pre-K through second, will be an incredible space for our young learners. The school will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology and purposeful common areas for multi-age level learning,” said St. Paul’s Interim Head of School Charleen Schwank.

Construction work is expected to begin in early 2012, with an anticipated completion date in early 2013.

To date, including this recent grant, FEMA has provided approximately $6 million in funding to St. Paul’s Episcopal School for recovery efforts related to hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

When FEMA approves projects through its supplemental Public Assistance grant, the funds are made available to the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness, who disburses them to the applicant for eligible work completed.

The Public Assistance program works with state and local officials to fund recovery measures and the rebuilding of government and certain private nonprofit organizations’ buildings, as well as roads, bridges and water and sewer plants. In order for the process to be successful, federal, state and local partners coordinate to draw up project plans, fund these projects and oversee their completion.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.