To the people and businesses of New Orleans,

Thank you for your support of the New Orleans Business Alliance (NOLABA) in our successful efforts to unite a diverse community of stakeholders to catalyze job growth, create wealth and build an equitable and sustainable economic future for New Orleans. 

As part of our ongoing review of NOLABA operations, long-term sustainability, and current economic development efforts and resources in New Orleans, the NOLABA Board of Directors has voted to begin transitioning the organization’s initiatives to trusted local partners.   

This decision, while difficult for NOLABA’s board, staff and partners, represents a positive step toward streamlining economic development, providing greater effectiveness, and ensuring economic development funds are utilized as efficiently as possible with the goal of maximizing the impacts for New Orleans residents and businesses.

Over the last 14 years, NOLABA has had the honor of serving as the only independent non-profit partnership and accredited economic development organization working exclusively for the benefit of New Orleans and its citizens–a job of critical importance that we have not taken lightly.

Formed in 2010 as a public-private partnership between the City and the local business community, NOLABA has worked diligently to show that New Orleans is the best American city for business investment, quality of life and economic opportunity.

Since our founding, the organization has yielded incredible results for the people of this city, including: 

• Generated $37M+ value for economic development, using city support as leverage to triple total funding available for programming benefiting New Orleans businesses and workers 
• Secured a historic $5M investment into blue-green infrastructure, small business opportunities and career pathways through the JPMorgan AdvancingCities initiative
• Created the Gig Economy Relief Fund at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, raising over $1M in funding for local gig workers facing unemployment
• Launched the InvestNOLA initiative to fill critical funding gaps and directly address the needs of entrepreneurs of color with high-growth potential, generating $43M in procurement contracts to diverse suppliers and $4M in capital investments for entrepreneurs of color through CDFI partnerships
• Developed and produced the New Orleans Health Innovators Challenge (NOLAHI) and other unique programming to attract investments and encourage growth of the bio sector, capitalizing on recent historic investments in our healthcare delivery and research infrastructure 
• Launched the Resilient Corridors Initiative to support neighborhood businesses in seven targeted corridors identified as part of NOLABA’s Strategic Neighborhood Development efforts (New Orleans East, Lower 9, Hollygrove, Gert Town, Gentilly, Treme & Algiers)
• Directly supported 100+ business retention & expansion projects citywide, including Propel Park, DXC, and Big Easy Bucha 

Our collective accomplishments would not have been possible without the support and generosity of our many partners, such as the City of New Orleans, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Mastercard, Louisiana Economic Development, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Downtown Development District, Surdna Foundation, Kresge Foundation, Aspen Institute, LISC, U.S. Economic Development Association, Delta Regional Authority, United States Economic Development Administration, and International Economic Development Council, among many others. We would also like to acknowledge all of our dedicated past and present board members for their service to the New Orleans community.

NOLABA is currently working with multiple economic development partner organizations, including the City of New Orleans, Thrive, Louisiana Economic Development, Downtown Development District, The Beach at UNO, New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, GNO, Inc., BioDistrict New Orleans, and Greater New Orleans Foundation, to transition its initiatives in early 2025 and identify career opportunities for staff. More information regarding the transition of its workstreams will be available on our website in the coming weeks.

We are immensely grateful to the countless partners who have helped further equitable economic development in the city of New Orleans over the last decade and look forward to a bright and prosperous future under their leadership.

Sincerely,

Louis David
President & CEO

Gilbert Montaño
Board Chairman