"The $7 million, 18,750-square-foot building replaces temporary structures that were set up before and after Hurricane Katrina and was developed with input from the marine industry. It provides Delgado Community College with the ability to be responsive to current marine and industrial training needs."
Stanton F. McNeely III, Ed.D, vice chancellor for institutional advancement at Delgado Community College, speaking about the new Delgado Maritime and Industrial Training Center, which opened April 1 at 13200 Old Gentilly Road in New Orleans.
NASA Awards Xavier $5 Million
A research project devoted to improving the performance and safety of lithium batteries underway at Xavier University of Louisiana has just been awarded a five-year, $5 million grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The project also aims to improve diversity in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) workforce. Xavier is currently the premier institution in graduating African American undergraduates in biology, chemistry and physics.
Xavier hosted representatives from all five collaborating partners its National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)-funded lithium battery project. Among the participating principals/mentors and student scholars were: (sitting L-R) Concha Reid (NASA Glenn Research Center), Natalie Hughes, Bethany Tate, Melissia Porter, Jere Williams, and Joshua Hunter; (standing L-R) Dr. Candace Lawrence, Ke’La Kimble, Dr. Jeffrey Fergus (Auburn University), Corey Arnold, Dr. Lamartine Meda, David Phan, Joshua Adkins, Kayla Strong, Joshua Hunter, Dr.Oleg Borodin (US Army Research Laboratory), and Dr. Mehnaaz Ali.
Easiest places to sell a home
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Coming Soon
Pontchartrain Hotel
Originally opened in the 1920s, the Pontchartrain Hotel on 2031 St. Charles Avenue — owned by the city of New Orleans — will receive new life this month thanks to AJ Capital Partners and Besh Restaurant Group. BRG will spearhead the hotel’s food and beverage concepts within its historic Caribbean Room, Bayou Bar, Silver Whistle and new rooftop bar.
Sephora
National beauty-retail chain Sephora will open its fifth location in Louisiana June 17 at River Chase in Covington. The store will stretch over 2,100 square feet inside the current JCPenney Department Store.
Hotel and Lodging Industry Feeds the Hungry
The Greater New Orleans Hotel & Lodging Association (GNOHLA) has launched a new program to feed the city’s hungry. Feed the Need NOLA aims to have industry personnel join in serving approximately 200 meals per week through partnerships with The New Orleans Mission and St. Jude Community Center. The kickoff meal on May 10 at the New Orleans Mission saved the mission and St. Jude $1,000. Annual savings are estimated to reach over $50,000.
For more information, visit GNOHLA.com/feedtheneednola.
SOFAB Honors Tujague’s
Honoring the 160th anniversary of the second oldest restaurant in New Orleans, and third oldest continuously operating restaurant in the U.S., the Southern Food and Beverage Museum (SOFAB) unveiled its new exhibit, “Tujague’s: 160 Years of Tradition,” May 21. The exhibit features photos, awards and memorabilia from the restaurant, which is being added to the National Culinary Heritage Register.
Recent Openings
Next Generation Marine
Next Generation Marine — one of only two African-American-owned marine transportation companies in the country to own and operate its fleet of vessels — opened its global headquarters at 4728 Utica Street in Metairie. The company expects to hire an additional 60 employees by May 2017, bringing the total employees from 40 to nearly 100. Salaries range from $60,000 for deckhands to six figure salaries for captains.
Whole Foods Market — Mandeville
On May 18, Whole Foods Market opened its newest Southeast Louisiana store at 3450 Highway 190 in Mandeville. The opening of the 40,000-square-foot store kicked off five community giving days held over five weeks. One percent of net sales will go to the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation on June 8 and WWNO on June 15.
Moxy New Orleans
Marriott International’s new millennial-focused brand of boutique hotels, Moxy Hotels — first launched in Milan in 2014 — opened its newest location at 210 O’Keefe Avenue. Moxy New Orleans features 108 tech-enabled rooms that feature internet TV, abundant power and USB outlets, motion sensor lighting and mobile check in and check out, along with a host of amenities — including a public space loaded with games — all designed to appeal to younger customers.
Trinity Restaurant
The newest restaurant from Kingfish Development owner Hugh Uhalt, Trinity, opened May 11 at 1117 Decatur Street (formerly the home of Maximo’s). The 6,000-square-foot multi-level indoor/outdoor space includes an open-air kitchen, intimate upstairs dining room and balcony seating overlooking the French Quarter. The restaurant will serve New Orleans cuisine by rising chef, Michael Isolani.
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