In New Orleans, New Life by the River

For residents of the blue-collar Bywater-Marigny area of New Orleans, access to the Mississippi River has been blocked for years by decaying industrial buildings. But it won’t be much longer, thanks in part to R. Allen Eskew, an architect whose firm has been hired to turn a mile and a half of piers and wharves into a riverfront park to open in fall 2011, Step 1 in the nearly $300 million Reinventing the Crescent plan.

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Innovation with Crawfish Sauce: What a New Orleans Nonprofit Can Teach the Rest of the Country

Earlier this month, I joined the President in New Orleans for his first visit there since the election.  A key part of the President’s message was that the Gulf Coast’s recovery didn’t flow just from government programs and policies:

Posted by Melody Barnes at WhiteHouse.gov

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GOOD WORK NETWORK AND FDIC PRESENT 2ND ANNUAL SOUTHEAST SMALL BUSINESS CONFERENCE: ACCESS TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES

(NEW ORLEANS, LA)- Good Work Network and FDIC are co-hosting the 2^nd annual Southeast Small Business Conference: Access to New Opportunities on November 12 at the Lindy Boggs Center at the University of New Orleans beginning at 8:30 a.m.

“Building on the success of last year’s conference, this year’s topics will move beyond the recovery and will instead focus on the rebirth and development of small businesses in southeast Louisiana,” said Phyllis Cassidy, president and CEO of Good Work Network.

Access to New Opportunities will focus on a variety of topics which will assist in the start up or expansion of small businesses. Conference highlights will include topics on financial advice, job opportunities, marketing, and technical assistance for small businesses. The conference will also feature local and nationally recognized experts on a variety of small business development issues, the financial community, entrepreneurs and government officials.

At the end of the conference, nearly 40 regional small business resource providers, lenders and small businesses will exhibit their services. During this session, conference participants will be able to meet with area contractors, developers and organizations interested in doing business with area small businesses. These participants include the New Orleans Archdiocese, Urban League, RSD, OLPSB, Seedco, Newcorp, local banks, HANO, GNOHA, Make it Right, Port of New Orleans, Levee Board, Aviation Board, S & WB, Uniforms Certification Process, Stay Local!, Jefferson Parish, St. Tammany Parish, City of New Orleans, LAMBDA and corporate partners, Harrah’s, Entergy Freeport, Shell, Gibbs Construction, and McCormack. There will also be on-site SEBD certification and vendor registration necessary to do business with the state of Louisiana.

Anyone interested in participating in the conference can sign up online at www.aeiconference.org. The participation fee is $35.

Good Work Network would like to thank their sponsors: FDIC, Capital One, etc. If anyone is interested in a sponsorship opportunity, please contact Toni Antrum with Good Work Network at 504- 309-2073.


About Good Work Network: Good Work Network, a 501(c) (3) organization, was established in the fall of 2000 in New Orleans to help economically disadvantaged individuals and businesses increase their income and wealth by acquiring the skills and resources necessary to participate more fully in self-employment and micro-enterprise opportunities available in the mainstream local economy. For more information, visit www.goodworknetwork.org or call 504-309-2073.

About AEI: The Southeast Louisiana Alliance for Economic Initiatives (AEI) was formed to address key economic issues and other disaster recovery problems facing the small businesses of the region. AEI represents over 70 financial institutions, affordable housing advocates, small business development resource groups, Small Business Association, government officials, faith-based groups and federal bank regulatory officials. Collectively, AEI work on strategies and solutions to bring more of the underfunded businesses or businesses not able to receive funding into the financial mainstream.

New Orleans area gains 700 jobs in August

The New Orleans area gained 700 jobs last month, even as the state’s unemployment rolls continued to swell, according to data released Friday by the Louisiana Workforce Commission.

By Jen DeGregorio at Nola.com

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Tulane University library to get $16 million from FEMA

Tulane University will receive $16 million from FEMA to replace mechanical, plumbing and electrical equipment that drowned under 8 feet of Hurricane Katrina's floodwater in the Howard-Tilton Memorial Librarybasement.

From Nola.com by John Pope

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New Orleans, Back on its Feet, Finds a New Entrepreneurial Spirit

Before Katrina, New Orleans was known more for the free-wheeling atmosphere of its streets than the free-thinking of its business leaders. The economy was largely controlled by manufacturers and the oil and gas industries, with a business culture that valued seniority and lineage over raw talent. In stark contrast to that commercial stodginess was the city’s intrinsic creative energy — something any visitor can feel the moment they set foot there.

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Local Arts Organizations Join Forces to Host CULTURE COLLISIO

NEW ORLEANS – For one night only and under one roof, local arts lovers are invited to attend a celebration to kick off the 2009-2010 cultural season. Culture Collision will be held on Wednesday, September 2, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the New Orleans Museum of Art.

This unique event brings together New Orleans’ cultural organizations for a one of a kind happy hour designed to encourage participation and involvement in the New Orleans art scene.

Admission to the event is free to Louisiana residents, and attendees will have the opportunity to scope out upcoming events, take advantage of exclusive ticket promotions, and meet like-minded arts lovers. There will be performances by vocal trio Bon Operatit!, interspersed with the musical stylings of DJ Matty.  Light appetizers will be provided, and guests will also enjoy a cash bar.  Giveaways courtesy of participating organizations will be ongoing throughout the evening.

Participants

· Contemporary Arts Center

· Friends of the Cabildo

· Louisiana ArtWorks

· Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra

· Louisiana State Museum

· New Orleans Ballet Association

· New Orleans Film Society

· New Orleans Museum of Art

· New Orleans Opera Association

· Ogden Museum of Southern Art

· Southern Food and Beverage Museum

· Southern Rep

The event is sponsored by WWNO and organized by the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, New Orleans Ballet Association, New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans Opera Association and Southern Rep.

About the Organizations



Contemporary Arts Center

Since 1976 the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) has been home to artists’ bold experiments in painting, theatre, music, performance art, video, dance, photography, sculpture, and more – all celebrating the art of now. More at: www.cacno.org.



Friends of the Cabildo

Since its incorporation in 1956, Friends of the Cabildo has grown into a large statewide membership organization that serves as a dynamic and motivating force in broadening and supporting the aims of the Louisiana State Museum.  We provide daily, year-round walking tours of the French Quarter with well-trained, qualified volunteer guides for tourists and special groups.  We host educational and cultural events such as the Spring Home Tour, Ghostly Galavant and Creole Christmas, which raise monies for the Museum and various projects of the Friends.  We have also published a series of distinguished award-winning architectural books on the historic districts of the city of New Orleans.



Louisiana ArtWorks

The mission of Louisiana Artworks is to inspire artistic growth, enhance technical skills, and provide marketing and economic development for Louisiana artists in a unique arts environment, while offering the public opportunities to see, enjoy, and explore the processes involved in the creation of the visual and applied arts. Louisiana ArtWorks creates an infrastructure for the growth of the creative industry by providing needed workspace and equipment for artists while attracting the public as a premier cultural destination.



Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra

The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, founded in 1991 by musicians from the former New Orleans Symphony, is the only musician-owned and collaboratively managed professional symphony in the United States. The members of the LPO are dedicated to creating live symphonic music and maintaining a resident full-time orchestra that serves as an integral part of the cultural and educational life of New Orleans and the Gulf South region. The LPO, led by Music Director, Carlos Miguel Prieto, performs a full 36 week concert season featuring an array of Classics, Casual Classics, Spotlight, Family, Education, and Outreach concerts. The members of the LPO are honored to be home-based in New Orleans and serving the Gulf South region.

Louisiana State Museum

Founded in 1906, The Louisiana State Museum collects, preserves and interprets Louisiana’s rich cultural heritage from pre-historic times to the present through more than 450,000 objects and works of art. The Museum is part of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, which is overseen by Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu. For more information, please call 800.568.6968 or visithttp://lsm.crt.state.la.us.



New Orleans Ballet Association

NOBA is the Central Gulf region’s premiere presenting and service organization dedicated solely to the art of dance.  NOBA’s dynamic Main Stage season annually features a diverse array of world-class companies and artists.  Each year NOBA provides concerts, classes, workshops and lectures to more than 25,000 area dance enthusiasts of all ages.  In addition, NOBA’s nationally recognized award-winning education programs provide the youth of our community access to quality arts programs with 2,500 free dance classes and workshops annually at ten sites throughout the Greater New Orleans area.  Season subscriptions are currently on sale, and single tickets for NOBA events go on sale September 8. For more information on the upcoming season or to subscribe, call NOBA at 504-522-0996, Ext. 201 or visit www.nobadance.com.



New Orleans Film Society

The New Orleans Film Society (NOFS) is dedicated to providing all audiences access to a diversity of local, national, and international film and video. The mission of the New Orleans Film Society is to engage, educate and inspire through the art of film.  A non-profit 501(c)3 organization founded in 1989, the NOFS presents year-round film programming including the annual New Orleans Film Festival, French Film Festival, New Orleans International Children’s Film Festival and screenings and special events designed to benefit local film and video audiences, artists and professionals.

New Orleans Museum of Art

The New Orleans Museum of Art, founded in 1910 by Isaac Delgado, houses more than 30,000 art objects encompassing 4,000 years of world art. Works from the permanent collection, along with continuously changing temporary exhibitions, are on view in the Museum’s 46 galleries Wednesdays from noon to 8 p.m. and Thursdays to Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission to the adjacent Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, featuring work by 58 artists, including several of the 20th century’s great master sculptors, is always free during public hours.



New Orleans Opera Association

The City of New Orleans is America’s First City of Opera. The first documented production on the North American continent is André Ernest Grétry’s Sylvain which was performed on May 22, 1796.  The “modern” New Orleans Opera Association (NOOA) was founded in 1943.  This, NOOA’s 67^thseason, is the first full season with performances in the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  The season is as follows: Puccini's Tosca - October 9 & 11, 2009; Gounod's Romeo and Juliet – November 20 & 22, 2009; The Verdi Requiem – January 22 & 24, 2010; Wagner's The Flying Dutchman – March 19 & 21, 2010. Tickets can be purchased online atwww.neworleansopera.org or by calling the box office at (504) 529-3000 and range in price from $43 - $136.



Ogden Museum of Southern Art

The Ogden Museum of Southern Art is home to the largest and most comprehensive collection of Southern art in the world, and includes the Center for Southern Craft and Design. Artists in the collection include Benny Andrews, William Eggleston, Hunt Slonem, Ida Kohmeyer, George Ohr, Linda Benglis, among others. Every Thursday night, the Ogden hosts “Ogden After Hours,” which presents Southern music in a variety of genres. The museum also has special art, literary, film and educational programs throughout the year.



Southern Food and Beverage Museum

The Southern Food and Beverage Museum is a living history museum dedicated to the discovery, understanding and celebration of the food, drink and culture of the American South. Programs and educational events pay tribute to all the cultures that have come together through the centuries to create a unique culinary heritage. A collaboration of many, the museum allows food lovers of all stripes – Southerners and non-Southerners, locals and tourists, academics and food industry insiders – to explore the food and drink history of the South.



Southern Rep

As New Orleans' premiere professional theatre, Southern Rep features world-premiere productions and the best of Broadway and off-Broadway. With Academy SRT, the Annual Backstage Bash, PlayLab, the Crosstown Reading Series, the New Play Bacchanal and Schmiggle Parties, Southern Rep is your ticket to dramatic fun. Now entering its 23rd season, Southern Rep's intimate 144-seat theatre is located on the third floor of The Shops at Canal Place.

Louisiana, New Orleans Has New Economy Chance With Tax, Digital Media Laws

Today, I again feel like a proud father, thanks to the Louisiana legislature, Governor Bobby Jindal, the Louisiana Economic Development, and organizations such as the Greater New Orleans Inc.

Yesterday, Governor Jindal signed the digital media bill which has the potential of greatly expanding information-oriented businesses many times over. The bill allows for healthy tax credits for digital media production and is designed to take advantage of a developing industry of interactive media such as video games, social media and similar type of technologies.
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Essence Music Festival Provides Economic Boost

An estimated 250,000 people visited New Orleans over the Fourth of July weekend to celebrate the 15th Annual Essence Music Festival, giving the city’s economy a well-desired boost.
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