Our Work

Strategic Neighborhood Development

Supporting business growth at the intersection of community intention and market analysis.

Through Strategic Neighborhood Development we are focusing NOLABA resources and economic development in neighborhoods that have endured historic disinvestment. Our SND team begins by working with existing residents and business owners who have sustained communities, centering them in shared learning and prioritizing strategies. We inform decisions with leading-edge data and design projects for future-focused economic growth and ongoing expansion.

Where We Focus

  • Tremé: Claiborne Corridor Cultural Innovation District
  • Algiers
  • New Orleans East
  • Lower 9th Ward
  • Gert Town & Hollygrove
  • Gentilly

Gentilly

  • Ongoing Technical Assistance to Small Businesses and Gentilly Development District
  • Capacity Building: Partnership with UNO for a Community Development Finance Course: NOLABA provided scholarships to 40 residents to participate.
  • Community Engagement: Ongoing Neighborhood Convenings with Stakeholders

Gert Town & Hollygrove

  • Ongoing convenings with neighborhood stakeholders to address transportation, connectivity, business attraction, narrative correction, creative placemaking and more. 
  • Ongoing support for increasing economic vitality for businesses along Earhart Blvd. with the establishment of the Business and Merchant Association (Spring 2021).

Lower 9th Ward

  • Ongoing convenings with neighborhood stakeholders to address transportation, connectivity, business attraction, narrative correction, creative placemaking and more. 
  • Ongoing support for increasing economic vitality for businesses along Claiborne Ave. and St. Claude Ave.
  • Providing ongoing technical assistance and support for the Lower Ninth Ward Economic Development District to facilitate the revitalization of the residential and commercial areas and support implementation of the St. Claude Main Street project.

Algiers

  • In partnership with Algiers Economic Development Foundation, implementing Activation of Vacancy via Art which proposes temporary and permanent art interventions in the heart of Algiers. 
  • Ongoing convenings with neighborhood stakeholders to address transportation, connectivity, business attraction, narrative correction, creative placemaking and more. 
  • Ongoing support for increasing economic vitality for businesses along General De Gaulle, Meyers and Newton Street.
  • Providing ongoing technical assistance and support to partner organizations such as Algiers Development District and Old Algiers Main Street Corporation on place-based initiatives.

New Orleans East

  • Creative Placemaking: Public Art in New Orleans East - Altering the Perception of a Vital Corridor through Art and Engagement
  • Ongoing Technical Assistance to Small Businesses, New Orleans Regional Business Park and Lake Forest Blvd. Business Association (Spring 2021)
  • Louisiana Development Ready Project
  • Community Engagement: Ongoing Neighborhood Convenings with Stakeholders

Tremé: Claiborne Corridor Cultural Innovation District

  • Supported the establishment Claiborne Avenue Merchant and Business Association which connects businesses along key commercial corridors to customers and support opportunities
  • Capacity Building: Ongoing Technical Assistance to Small Businesses and Claiborne Ave. Merchant and Business Association
  • CID Marketplace: In 2020 which assisted 24 neighborhood-based businesses, over 100 culture bearers earned $160,000; 44 entrepreneurs earned over $370,000 and Adjacent businesses reported a 10% to 30% increase in sales on event days.
  • Community Engagement: Ongoing Neighborhood Convenings with Stakeholders

  • Gentilly

    • Ongoing Technical Assistance to Small Businesses and Gentilly Development District
    • Capacity Building: Partnership with UNO for a Community Development Finance Course: NOLABA provided scholarships to 40 residents to participate.
    • Community Engagement: Ongoing Neighborhood Convenings with Stakeholders

  • Gert Town & Hollygrove

    • Ongoing convenings with neighborhood stakeholders to address transportation, connectivity, business attraction, narrative correction, creative placemaking and more. 
    • Ongoing support for increasing economic vitality for businesses along Earhart Blvd. with the establishment of the Business and Merchant Association (Spring 2021).

  • Lower 9th Ward

    • Ongoing convenings with neighborhood stakeholders to address transportation, connectivity, business attraction, narrative correction, creative placemaking and more. 
    • Ongoing support for increasing economic vitality for businesses along Claiborne Ave. and St. Claude Ave.
    • Providing ongoing technical assistance and support for the Lower Ninth Ward Economic Development District to facilitate the revitalization of the residential and commercial areas and support implementation of the St. Claude Main Street project.

  • Algiers

    • In partnership with Algiers Economic Development Foundation, implementing Activation of Vacancy via Art which proposes temporary and permanent art interventions in the heart of Algiers. 
    • Ongoing convenings with neighborhood stakeholders to address transportation, connectivity, business attraction, narrative correction, creative placemaking and more. 
    • Ongoing support for increasing economic vitality for businesses along General De Gaulle, Meyers and Newton Street.
    • Providing ongoing technical assistance and support to partner organizations such as Algiers Development District and Old Algiers Main Street Corporation on place-based initiatives.

  • New Orleans East

    • Creative Placemaking: Public Art in New Orleans East - Altering the Perception of a Vital Corridor through Art and Engagement
    • Ongoing Technical Assistance to Small Businesses, New Orleans Regional Business Park and Lake Forest Blvd. Business Association (Spring 2021)
    • Louisiana Development Ready Project
    • Community Engagement: Ongoing Neighborhood Convenings with Stakeholders

  • Tremé: Claiborne Corridor Cultural Innovation District

    • Supported the establishment Claiborne Avenue Merchant and Business Association which connects businesses along key commercial corridors to customers and support opportunities
    • Capacity Building: Ongoing Technical Assistance to Small Businesses and Claiborne Ave. Merchant and Business Association
    • CID Marketplace: In 2020 which assisted 24 neighborhood-based businesses, over 100 culture bearers earned $160,000; 44 entrepreneurs earned over $370,000 and Adjacent businesses reported a 10% to 30% increase in sales on event days.
    • Community Engagement: Ongoing Neighborhood Convenings with Stakeholders

Strategic Neighborhood Development Goals

Create, support, and promote community and economic development activities within commercial corridors and in focused impact areas

Develop/Convene community partnerships and help neighborhood stakeholders clarify shared priorities and develop a pipeline of projects and investment opportunities to achieve shared goals

Promote designated commercial zones/small businesses for retention, attraction and expansion efforts during COVID-19

Annual Impact:

717

stakeholders / residents engaged in strategic neighborhood development initiatives

63

neighborhood organization and community partners

$400,000

linked to projects that directly support community-driven development and revitalization

$100,000+

leveraged to support Creative Placemaking initiatives within impact neighborhoods

37

businesses supported to ensure growth and ongoing expansion

Strategic Neighborhood Development Initiatives

Resilient Corridors Initiative

The City of New Orleans and the New Orleans Business Alliance (NOLABA) launched a $350,000 pilot program to support businesses and commercial corridors within the following seven neighborhoods identified as part of the NOLABA Strategic Neighborhood Development (SND) Strategy: New Orleans East, Lower 9, Hollygrove, Gert Town, Gentilly, Treme, and Algiers. These communities have experienced decades of disinvestment, leaving surrounding businesses more vulnerable to economic and environmental disasters, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Each selected business receives $5,000 in funding and technical support to sustain the current economic downturn. In addition to this direct business support, NOLABA also invested $100,000 in projects that advance commercial revitalization efforts through partnerships with 10 community organizations.

Learn more

NEW ORLEANS EAST PUBLIC ART PROJECT

In partnership with the City's Office of Cultural Economy and Arts Council New Orleans, NOLABA was awarded $75,000 through the NEA: Our Town grant to support public art and creative placemaking projects in New Orleans East. This represents one of 63 grants the agency awarded nationwide to support projects that integrate arts, culture, and design activities into efforts that strengthen communities by advancing local economic, physical, and/or social outcomes, ultimately laying the groundwork for sustainable systems change. 

NEA funds will support a range of community engagement activities to guide the design and creation of new public art investments in Joe Brown Park and along commercial corridors in the East. Our team is proud to be part of the collaborative bringing this powerful visual art to New Orleans East, one of the city's most visually attractive neighborhoods and a core focus of our SND strategy.For more information on the projects included in the Arts Endowment grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.

In partnership with the Office of Cultural Economy and Arts Council, NOLABA was awarded $75,000 from the NEA: Our Town grant to support Public Art and creative placemaking projects in New Orleans East. In addition, NOLABA raised another $90,000 for a total of $165,000, to be used for the first sculpture installation and 3 youth-driven murals in Joe W. Brown Park. This represents one of 63 grants the agency awarded nationwide to support projects that integrate arts, culture, and design activities into efforts that strengthen communities by advancing local economic, physical, and/or social outcomes, ultimately laying the groundwork for sustainable systems change. 

STRATEGIC NEIGHBORHOOD CONVENINGS

Last year, the team began hosting a series of convenings within impact neighborhoods (shifted to virtual due to COVID-19) with stakeholders to assist neighborhoods in clarifying their shared objectives, develop and prioritize pipelines of projects and investment opportunities to achieve common goals. Through the convenings the team is working across the impact neighborhoods to address the following priorities:

  • 1. Transportation, Way Making and Connectivity
  • 2. Business Attraction for Economic Development and Improved Quality of Life
  • 3. Narrative Correction and Improving How the Community is Perceived
  • 4. Creative Placemaking that revitalized historic commercial corridors

The Arts Council is delighted to partner with NOLABA to bring to fruition the New Orleans East community's vision for iconic and large-scale works of public art. Through our partnership with their SND team, we have connected with community leaders and arts advocates, local businesses, funders, and community organizations such as the public library, hospital, and NORDC to lay the groundwork for commissioning public art that speaks to the unique identity and rich culture of the East.”

— Joyce Reynolds, Interim Director, Arts Council New Orleans

The New Orleans Business Alliance has been a major ally and partner to the Algiers Economic Development Foundation. Their Strategic Neighborhood Development program has centered Algiers as a diverse, vibrant New Orleans community with strong existing business communities and potential for sustainable, equitable growth. We look forward to a continued partnership with NOLABA and the SND program to bring investment and prosperity to the Algiers community."

— Kelsey Foster, Executive Director, Algiers Economic Development Foundation

Thanks to you and your colleagues for today’s meeting in New Orleans East. I must admit, many residents were a bit skeptical going into today’s meeting. However, I think just about everyone left excited about next steps and the future of our beloved community. You all did something today that doesn’t happen often—you all took time to authentically LISTEN and didn’t attempt to talk over residents or dismiss their ideas, concerns, and even frustrations. You all also laid out a clear timeline and path forward which is commendable. Most importantly, you all committed to developing a plan that will largely be driven by residents. For all of the aforementioned, I simply say THANK YOU!”

— State Representative Jason Hughes

THANK YOU to our neighborhood and community-based partners!

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Greg Lawson

Assistant Vice President, Strategic Neighborhood Development

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1250 Poydras St., Suite 2150
New Orleans, LA 70113
info@nolaba.org | 504.934.4500