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Among the many
organizations and individuals working to rebuild, restore and
reposition New Orleans East to prominence, Fast Forward Main Street,
a private national non-profit organization, has also brought New
Orleans East into its fold. As one of four selected project
cities, New Orleans met the criteria as a distressed community due
to the disaster of hurricane Katrina. With that, a small business
support initiative was launched providing one-on-one coaching and
group workshops aimed at improving business performance and net
profits. In the process an advisory committee comprised of
civic and business leaders was created to support the initiative and
enhance the overall business environment within the community.
The advisory committee also guides 'working groups' that have formed
and identified four specific goals to be obtained within the
two-year time frame.
Those goals are:
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Goal #1: |
Reduce abandoned and unsightly lots and
vacant commercial properties by September
2012. Team Members are Sylvia Scineaux-Richard
(Chair), Corinne Ducre, John Filostrat,
Tremekia Jones, Ed Washington, Greg Hamilton
and Barbara Johnson. |
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Goal #2: |
Attract three big box retailers by September
2011. Team members are Gary Silbert (Chair),
Greg Rigamer, Troy Henry, Igwe Udeh, Cynthia
Beaulieu, Andrea West, Wiley Barrett, and
Emile Paradis. |
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Goal #3: |
Create a partnership of technical colleges
and others to provide training for New
Orleans East businesses by December 2010.
Team members are Robin Barnes (Chair),
Carmen Sunda, Jason Burns, Mary Anne
Schmidt, and Nakisha Knott. |
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Goal #4: |
Develop and implement a branding and
marketing campaign that promotes New Orleans
East as a great place to live, work and play
by September 2012. Team members are Cliff
Robinson (Chair), Bryan Trosclair, Barry
Keegan, Bruce Brailsford, and Lisa Stafford. |
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Each of the working
groups are generating outputs and initiatives, individually and
collectively to further the goals of the committee. Most
importantly, the process has solicited and obtained participants not
only from within the New Orleans East area, but from across the city
as a whole. This broad base expertise, focused on the
revitalization of a community, is creating an important 'think tank'
and a model worthy of duplicating.
Interested in this project? Let us know
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