At the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, we’re in the business of community. Our work centers on the connections, collaborations and conversations that transform businesses into a thriving economic ecosystem, sparking innovation and growth across our region.
In 2025, the New Orleans Chamber offered over 113 events, reaching more than 10,000 attendees. We represent almost 1,400 member businesses employing more than 140,000 residents. That’s 140,000 reasons why business advocacy matters and 140,000 New Orleanians whose livelihoods are directly connected to our work together.
As a bipartisan group, we are doubling down on vital advocacy that ensures our members a seat at the table. We kicked off the year with our annual welcome reception at Washington Mardi Gras, greeting more than 300 business, civic and government leaders in D.C. We also featured Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick and District Attorney Jason Williams at our spring luncheon where we explored their unprecedented collaboration that is contributing to a decline in crime rates.
In a pivotal moment for our city, we convened the top three candidates before October’s mayoral election for a candid conversation about economic development, one-stop-shop, population growth, wealth creation and priority projects.
Through our Chairman’s Council Roundtables, we facilitated intimate meetings with elected officials to discuss current issues and share ideas for stronger community collaboration. These discussions shaped priorities at our D.C. Fly-In, where we gathered chamber of commerce leadership from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida for a congressional breakfast and individual meetings with U.S. senators across all four states.
Responding to rising concerns about the permitting and licensing process in Orleans Parish, we partnered with MDRG, Inc. to initiate a comprehensive survey to better understand these issues and play a direct role in driving improvements. This process included detailed meetings with each member of New Orleans City Council and outreach to hundreds of businesses. We’re currently reviewing the results, which will help quantify barriers and offer informed recommendations for improvement. This initiative underlines our commitment to support elected officials and our membership while honoring our role as a key resource and leader in driving growth.
One of our most exciting partnerships has been with Celebrate Canal! Coalition, a citizen-led advocacy group executing strategic plans to revitalize Downtown New Orleans’ most significant thoroughfare. Together, we’re working to restore Canal Street to its former glory as a must-visit destination for residents and millions of visitors alike. This collaboration illustrates our broader mission: When we invest in community infrastructure and cultural assets, we create environments where businesses thrive and residents prosper.
We also recently announced the revival of 504ward, which has served for years as the primary engine of connection for young business professionals in Orleans Parish.
As we approach 2026, New Orleans stands at an inflection point. We’ll welcome new leadership to City Hall and continue building on the momentum we’ve created together. Save the date for Friday, Dec. 12, for our annual meeting, when we will explore a new era of leadership for the city, along with its challenges and opportunities. Right now is the time to roll up our sleeves and work together to build the next chapter of New Orleans’ economic future.
This year has delivered hope, commitment and tangible results. At the New Orleans Chamber, we don’t just observe change, we drive it. This is what it means to be in the business of community, and we are proud to serve as the voice of the New Orleans business community as we step boldly into a new era of growth and leadership.
Sandra Lombana Lindquist is president and CEO of the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, where she has developed multiple community-wide events and organizations that benefit the region and seen membership grow from 500 members in 2011 to more than 1,300 today. She may be reached via email at slindquist@neworleanschamber.org.
