“We are excited to bring top transportation industry leaders from across the country and around the world to New Orleans. Our President and CEO, Brandy Christian, will open the conference by sharing her vision for the port and introduce the director of the largest container port in Cuba, Charles Baker, from the Port of Mariel.”
Janine Moreau Mansour, commercial director, Port of New Orleans
Speaking about the Cargo Connections Conference (CCC) to be held April 4-6 at the New Orleans Downtown Marriott at the Convention Center. The conference focuses on supply chain and transportation issues relevant to the container, breakbulk and heavylift industries.
Education
Enrollment for Grow St. Bernard Open Now
Emerging and growing small businesses are invited to attend a series of seminars presented by the St. Bernard Chamber of Commerce. Participation is open to all and program tuition of $50 per person includes access to all seminars — which run Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Special recognition will be given to businesses that complete the program. Locations are TBD. To register, or for more information, call (504) 277-4009 or email contact@sbedf.
Grow St. Bernard 2017 Seminar Schedule
April 4
Perfect your elevator pitch!
Win new clients and engage your audience.
April 18
Start and grow your biz!
Get the help you need with small business resources and alternative funding
May 2
Build your brand!
Strategies for social media and reaching customers in a digital age
May 16
Hire, fire, and retain your team!
Create a strong office culture with the right staffing decisions.
May 30
How to handle the money!
Basics to small business bookkeeping
June 13
Changing the gameplan!
How to utilize your business plan to make smarter decisions about new directions.
RECOVERY
Since the August 2016 flooding:
$304,315,474 – amount FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program will reimburse for the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities and infrastructure as of March 1, including…
$60 million – repairing schools in Ascension, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Lafayette, Livingston, St. Landry, Tangipahoa and Vermillion.
Business
Most New and Expanded Corporate Facilities
Site Selection magazine’s annual Governor’s Cup rankings has placed Louisiana No. 4 in the U.S. — up from No. 6 last year — for states with the most new and expanded corporate facilities on a per capita basis in 2016. Louisiana ranked No. 2 among all Southern states, trailing only Kentucky on a per capita basis. New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Alexandria were cited among high–performing metropolitan areas, with New Orleans ranking No.3 for total projects along the Mississippi River corridor.
The Top 10 States by Corporate Projects per Capita:
1. Nebraska
2. Kentucky
3. Ohio
4. Louisiana
5. Illinois
6. Iowa
7. North Carolina
8. Alabama
9. Georgia
10. Virginia
Qualifying projects must meet one or more of these criteria for inclusion in the database: a minimum capital investment of $1 million, 20 or more new jobs created, and 20,000 or more square feet of new space.
Source: GNO, Inc.
Education
World’s Largest Leadership Conference
On May 5, Leadercast, the world’s largest one-day leadership conference will broadcast live from Atlanta and simulcast to hundreds of locations in more than 20 countries around the world. For the third year, St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce will host a simulcast at the Movie Tavern in Covington, sponsored by Chevron. The full-day event, themed “Powered by Purpose” will include a long lineup of keynote speakers, from director/producer Tyler Perry to Jim McKelvey, co-founder of Square and founder of LaunchCode. Tickets are on sale now for $110 for chamber members and $125 for non-members. StTammanyChamber.org.
Food
Waitr Secures $10 million
On-demand food delivery restaurant platform Waitr has secured $10 million in funding from a group of Gulf South-based investors led by New Orleans Saints Quarterback, Drew Brees. “It’s almost unheard of to obtain this much funding outside of Silicon Valley…” said Chris Meaux, Waitr’s CEO and founder. The company is planning to more than double in size by the end of the year.
Growth
Digital Health Startup receives $250,000
New Orleans-based RDnote will receive a $250,000 seed investment from the Lafayette General Foundation (LGF). The funding will allow the digital health startup to pilot its product, a unique nutrition care practice model to manage and customize interventions for patients at high-risk for chronic conditions.
Recent Openings
Delgado Maritime
On April 1, Delgado Community College announced the completion of the new Delgado Maritime and Industrial Training Center at 13200 Old Gentilly Road in New Orleans. The $7 million, 18,750-square-foot center was funded by state bonds and includes new firefighting, navigation and virtual reality simulations.
District Donuts. Sliders. Brew
The company’s first location in Jefferson Parish, and third total, District Donuts. Sliders. Brew began serving its handmade donuts and sliders at 1126 S. Clearview Pkwy, Suite D in Elmwood mid-February. The company is slated to open a new restaurant in Baton Rouge later this year, which will bring their total employee count to 145 across the state.
tasc Performance
Lifestyle and performance apparel brand tasc Performance opened its flagship store March 9 at 3913 Magazine St. The family-run company started in 2010 and is headquartered in Metairie. The company’s 2017 spring collection was unveiled at the opening, along with an exclusive new Gleason Foundation shirt.
Country Club
In celebration of 40 years in New Orleans’ Bywater neighborhood, The Country Club unveiled the results of its year-long renovation in March. Upgrades include a complete revamp of the food and wine selections spearheaded by Executive Chef, Chris Barbato, formerly chef de cuisine at Commander’s Palace. Additional touches include hand-painted murals by local artist Cindy Mathis and artwork by Louis St. Lewis.
Bridge House/Grace House Thrift Store
In time to celebrate its 60th anniversary, nonprofit Bridge House/Grace House opened a new 7,000-square-foot thrift store and used car lot at 4243 Earhart Blvd., right across from its corporate offices and men’s residential facilities. Nearly 40 percent of the nonprofit’s operating budget comes from donations to its now two thrift stores — the other is at 7901 Airline Dr. — and car lot.
COMING SOON
Modern Acupuncture
Modern Acupuncture, a new national franchise concept focused on making acupuncture accessible, is coming to New Orleans by the end of the year. Modern Acupuncture is actively selling franchise licenses now, with a plan to open a minimum of eight locations across the state. The first location opened in Scottsdale, Arizona in January 2017. The company estimates that 150 locations will be operating by 2020.
COMING SOON
Down the Bayou
Commander’s Palace, Café Adelaide, Swizzle Stick Bar and Bacobar alumnus, Chef Carl Schaubhut, will open his own restaurant, DTB, (Down the Bayou) at 1801 Oak St. this spring. Inspired by Schaubhut’s Cajun roots and childhood in Des Allemands, Louisiana — known as the “catfish capital of the universe” — the DTB menu will focus on modern interpretations of Southern Louisiana’s coastal cuisine.
