In January, GNO, Inc. celebrated its 20th anniversary with a record-setting 1,500 business and civic leaders from across the Greater New Orleans region attending the 2024 annual luncheon. With the theme “20 Years of Impact,” the event featured remarks by outgoing Chairman Susan Bonnett Bourgeois, incoming Chairman Chris Kane, and a presentation by President and CEO Michael Hecht.
In February, economic development leaders celebrated the opening of ADVANO’s new silicon battery materials pilot plant at the New Orleans Regional Business Park in New Orleans East. The facility will enable the company to deliver ton-scale volumes of its proprietary technology and enter electric vehicle qualification programs in 2024.
GNO, Inc. President & CEO, Michael Hecht, spoke at the FEMA National Flood Insurance event in Arizona. Joined by FEMA NFI Administrator David Maurstad in a fireside chat, they discussed collaborative strategies to ensure accessible and affordable flood insurance for all like the need for a multi-year reauthorization, an affordability program, and NFIP debt forgiveness to focus investments on mitigation.
Michael Hecht, GNO, Inc. President and CEO, provided testimony before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs regarding the National Flood Insurance Program. GNO, Inc. has been a leader in the Coalition for Sustainable Flood Insurance since 2013. During his testimony, Michael emphasized the urgent need for program reform, specifically addressing FEMA’s administration of Risk Rating 2.0 and the associated impacts.
Last year we partnered with OHUB to support climate-tech entrepreneurs. Five startups from the first cohort of Opportunity Hub’s New Energy Technology Incubator (NETI) earned $275,000 in equity investment at New Orleans Entrepreneur Week.
GNO, Inc. and Bank of America released the 2023 Greater New Orleans Jobs Report, which offers a thorough review of the region’s key occupations. This is the fifth installment in an annual series of reports that examines current and anticipated trends in employment across both established and emerging industries. The findings from this year’s report not only help policymakers and businesses understand the evolving economic landscape but also ensure that educational and training programs are aligned with the region’s employment needs.
Nieux Society hosted our January ecosystem meetup, Startup NOLA Now! The event was a fantastic blend of networking opportunities and engaging discussions, featuring insightful conversations led by local executives from Meta, Adobe, and Google.
