Description
The regions economy has not only rebounded from its darkest days following Hurricane Katrina, but has proven resilient and innovative in the face of devastation.
Recovery & Business Development: the
highest economic rankings in city history
Hurricane Katrina shone a spotlight on the major challenges the greater New Orleans
region had been facing for decades – high poverty, structural unemployment, ma-
jor population declines, a non-diversi?ed economy, and migrating businesses, which
meant that in the forty years preceding, the area underperformed the nation by more
than 40 percent in job creation.
The region’s economy has not only rebounded from its darkest days following Hurri-
cane Katrina, but has proven resilient and innovative in the face of devastation. Weath-
ering the Great Recession remarkably well, Greater New Orleans boasts above-average
growth and employment statistics.
Today, New Orleans is diversifying its economy, creating jobs in digital media and bioscience, and fostering an emerging environmen-
tal industry focused on coastal restoration and sustainability, while sustaining foundational industries like energy, international trade,
advanced manufacturing and hospitality. This growth will be guided by the local leadership of Greater New Orleans as demonstrat-
ed through Prosperity NOLA (nolaba.org/prosperityNOLA), the ?rst, comprehensive development plan in the City of New Orleans’
recent history and similar plans found in surrounding parishes.
Post-Katrina New Orleans has reversed decades of economic instability and transformed the area from worst to ?rst on many lists –
the region is at the highest point of economic rankings in its history. Richard Karlgaard, the publisher of Forbes magazine describes
the changes in New Orleans as “the greatest turnaround of our lifetime.”
This remarkable story has captured the attention of industry leaders, attracting companies such as GE Capital, Chiquita, Globalstar,
and over 31 others to move or relocate to Greater New Orleans. Additionally, national retailers such as Costco, H&M and over 40
stores located in the Outlet Collection at Riverwalk are ?lling a historic void of vital storefronts. These new companies have created
over 14,000 jobs and brought $7 billion in capital investment to the area over the past ?ve years.
FIND OUT MORE
Greater New Orleans, Inc.
gnoinc.org | @gnoinc
Louisiana Economic Development
opportunitylouisiana.com |
@ledlouisiana
New Orleans Business Alliance
nolaba.org | @nolaba
Greater New Orleans now has some of the
highest economic rankings in its history.
America’s biggest brain
magnet, #1 for IT job growth
Forbes Magazine
Top American Boomtowns
Bloomberg News
#1 Logistics Port
Business Facilities
#1 Most Improved Metro
Wall Street Journal “Market Watch”
From Worst
to First
New jobs since 2010 from major
companies
14,000+
Employment Growth
-6%
-4%
-2%
0
2%
4%
6%
8%
Austin + 8%
Houston +6%
New Orleans +3%
Raleigh
Charlotte
U.S. Metros +.2%
Atlanta
Tampa -2%
2
0
0
8
2
0
0
9
2
0
10
2
0
11
2
0
12
JOB GROWTH, 2008-2012
New Companies EXPORTSFROMTHE
PORTOFNEWORLEANS: 2004- 2014
2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004
4
3
2
1
0
T
O
N
S
( M
IL
L
IO
N
S
)
RETAIL SALES TAX COLLECTIONS
(INFLATION ADJUSTED): 2004 - 2014
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
$100,000,000
$120,000,000
$140,000,000
$160,000,000
$180,000,000
Retail Growth
KATRINA10 RECOVERY DATA:
Economic Development
& Entrepreneurship
KEY RECOVERY DATA
Sources: City of New Orleans, Greater New Orleans, Inc.
Startup Culture: New Orleans has
become an entrepreneurial hub
For some experts, the true sign of economic stability in a given metro area is measured by the lev-
el of entrepreneurial activity. This metric demonstrates that individuals and investors feel comfort-
able investing their money and dreams in an environment that doesn’t put their equity at risk.
Entrepreneurial activity in New Orleans is 56% above the national average, and this number
paints a rosy picture for the business climate. Fueled by an engaged community, strong ?nancial
incentives, and an unmatched culture, one of the fastest growing startup hubs has grown from the
recovery of New Orleans.
We have been called America’s #1 Biggest Brain Magnet (Forbes), one of the 20 Hottest Startup
Hubs in America (The Kauffman Foundation), one of the Top 10 Most Inspiring Cities in the World
(GOOD Magazine), and the “Coolest Startup City in America” (Inc.com).
Each March, New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW) attracts over 10,500 entrepreneurs, in-
vestors, professionals, students, and community members to its eight days of discussion, debate,
education, competition, and celebration. Produced by The Idea Village, in conjunction with over
40 partners, NOEW showcases the most innovative entrepreneurial ventures in the region.
New Orleans is also home to a rapidly growing minority entrepreneurship initiative, PowerMoves.NOLA (PMN). Held during Essence Fest each July,
PMN is a national initiative to address the obstacles that prevent minority entrepreneurship. This initiative acts as a catalyst for change by providing
early-stage and high-growth minority entrepreneurs with access to capital, advisors, and the support they need to succeed.
The startups thriving in New Orleans span across a variety of industries. Examples include Kickboard, which offers tech tools to help create smarter
schools, Federated Sample, which manages a global survey respondent exchange platform, and Tierra Resources, which creates innovative solutions
that support investment into wetlands restoration projects to offset their greenhouse gas emissions.
FIND OUT MORE
The Idea Village
ideavillage.org | @IdeaVillage
PowerMoves NOLA
powermovesnola.org |
@PowerMovesNOLA
Propeller
gopropeller.org | @gopropeller
Launch Pad
lp.co | @launchpad
New Orleans Startup Fund
neworleansstartupfund.org
Business startups per 100,000 adults
501
Startup per capita in New Orleans far
exceeds the national average
56% Higher
“I think New Orleans is poised to re-
emerge as one of the great startup cities
in the country, maybe even the world.” –
Steve Case, Founder of American Online
“New Orleans is in its 3rd wave of
entrepreneurship.” – Walter Isaacson,
American writer and biographer
“New Orleans Entrepreneur Week is
becoming a premier conference for
entrepreneurs and investors of every size
to learn and share ideas.” - Jim Coulter,
founding partner of TPG Capital
“New Orleans has the ‘feel of Silicon
Valley in the Mid 1990s’” – National
Journal Magazine
Testimonials
KEY RECOVERY DATA
Attendees for New Orleans Entrepreneur
Week
10,500+
New Orleans was ranked the 6th Best
City for Young Entrepreneurs
[Under30CEO.com]
Louisiana was rated the #2 State in the
USA to Start a Company
[Tax Foundation + KPMG]
One of the Best States to Operate a Small
Business
[The Economist]
New Orleans is the #1 City Where
Working Age Americans Are Moving
[Forbes]
Rankings
KATRINA10 RECOVERY DATA:
Economic Development
& Entrepreneurship (cont.)
KATRINA10 RECOVERY DATA:
Economic Development
& Entrepreneurship (cont.)
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TALENT AND WORKFORCE
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
GNO, Inc. was ranked as the #2 Economic Development
Organization in the U.S. [Business Facilities]
Greater New Orleans was ranked #1 for the Decade for Major
Economic Development Wins in the South [Southern Business &
Development]
Greater New Orleans was named #1 Most Cost-Friendly for Business
in the USA [KPMG]
Greater New Orleans is #1 in the USA for Export Growth, over 400%
[US Chamber of Commerce]
Greater New Orleans is the #2 Boomtown in America, due to
population and GDP growth [Bloomberg]
New Orleans was ranked the #2 “Aspirational” City in the USA based
on economy, demographics and quality of life [Daily Beast]
New Orleans was named the #1 City (of 475) for Employment,
Income, and Population [NerdWallet]
Greater New Orleans is the #3 Big City Winning the IT Jobs Battle
(after Silicon Valley and S.F.) [Forbes]
Louisiana is #3 Best Business Environment and #2 Best Incentives
in the USA [Area Development]
Louisiana is the #1 Most Improved State on the “Best States for
Business” ranking since 2008 [Forbes]
Louisiana was named #4 Most Cooperative State Government in the
USA [Area Development]
Louisiana placed #1 for Economic Potential, Workforce Training,
and Digital Media [Business Facilities]
Greater New Orleans was the #1 Most Improved Metro in the USA
[Wall Street Journal]
Greater New Orleans was named #2 in Post-Recession Performance
in the USA [Brookings Inst.]
Louisiana was ranked #1 in the USA for Exports per capita
[New Geography]
Louisiana was rated a Top Ten State in the USA for Overall Tax
Competitiveness [Tax Foundation+ KPMG]
Greater New Orleans was ranked #1 Brainpower City in the U.S.A.
[Forbes]
Greater New Orleans is #1 in the USA for In-Migration of “Workers in
their Prime” (35-49 y.o.) [Forbes]
Louisiana’s workers are considered the Most Engaged Workforce in
the USA [Gallup]
New Orleans was ranked #1 on the list of “America’s Biggest Brain
Magnets” for attracting people under 25 with college degrees
[Forbes]
Louisiana Economic Development’s FastStart training program has
been ranked #1 in the USA four years in a row [Business Facilities]
Louisiana has enjoyed 5 straight years of net in-migration
[US Census Bureau]
New Orleans Leads the USA by 56% in number of startups-per-capita
[GNO Community Data Center]
New Orleans was ranked the 6th Best City for Young Entrepreneurs
[Under30CEO.com]
Louisiana was rated the #2 State in the USA to Start a Company
[Tax Foundation + KPMG]
Economic Development & Entrepreneurship Rankings
doc_907906620.pdf
The regions economy has not only rebounded from its darkest days following Hurricane Katrina, but has proven resilient and innovative in the face of devastation.
Recovery & Business Development: the
highest economic rankings in city history
Hurricane Katrina shone a spotlight on the major challenges the greater New Orleans
region had been facing for decades – high poverty, structural unemployment, ma-
jor population declines, a non-diversi?ed economy, and migrating businesses, which
meant that in the forty years preceding, the area underperformed the nation by more
than 40 percent in job creation.
The region’s economy has not only rebounded from its darkest days following Hurri-
cane Katrina, but has proven resilient and innovative in the face of devastation. Weath-
ering the Great Recession remarkably well, Greater New Orleans boasts above-average
growth and employment statistics.
Today, New Orleans is diversifying its economy, creating jobs in digital media and bioscience, and fostering an emerging environmen-
tal industry focused on coastal restoration and sustainability, while sustaining foundational industries like energy, international trade,
advanced manufacturing and hospitality. This growth will be guided by the local leadership of Greater New Orleans as demonstrat-
ed through Prosperity NOLA (nolaba.org/prosperityNOLA), the ?rst, comprehensive development plan in the City of New Orleans’
recent history and similar plans found in surrounding parishes.
Post-Katrina New Orleans has reversed decades of economic instability and transformed the area from worst to ?rst on many lists –
the region is at the highest point of economic rankings in its history. Richard Karlgaard, the publisher of Forbes magazine describes
the changes in New Orleans as “the greatest turnaround of our lifetime.”
This remarkable story has captured the attention of industry leaders, attracting companies such as GE Capital, Chiquita, Globalstar,
and over 31 others to move or relocate to Greater New Orleans. Additionally, national retailers such as Costco, H&M and over 40
stores located in the Outlet Collection at Riverwalk are ?lling a historic void of vital storefronts. These new companies have created
over 14,000 jobs and brought $7 billion in capital investment to the area over the past ?ve years.
FIND OUT MORE
Greater New Orleans, Inc.
gnoinc.org | @gnoinc
Louisiana Economic Development
opportunitylouisiana.com |
@ledlouisiana
New Orleans Business Alliance
nolaba.org | @nolaba
Greater New Orleans now has some of the
highest economic rankings in its history.
America’s biggest brain
magnet, #1 for IT job growth
Forbes Magazine
Top American Boomtowns
Bloomberg News
#1 Logistics Port
Business Facilities
#1 Most Improved Metro
Wall Street Journal “Market Watch”
From Worst
to First
New jobs since 2010 from major
companies
14,000+
Employment Growth
-6%
-4%
-2%
0
2%
4%
6%
8%
Austin + 8%
Houston +6%
New Orleans +3%
Raleigh
Charlotte
U.S. Metros +.2%
Atlanta
Tampa -2%
2
0
0
8
2
0
0
9
2
0
10
2
0
11
2
0
12
JOB GROWTH, 2008-2012
New Companies EXPORTSFROMTHE
PORTOFNEWORLEANS: 2004- 2014
2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004
4
3
2
1
0
T
O
N
S
( M
IL
L
IO
N
S
)
RETAIL SALES TAX COLLECTIONS
(INFLATION ADJUSTED): 2004 - 2014
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
$100,000,000
$120,000,000
$140,000,000
$160,000,000
$180,000,000
Retail Growth
KATRINA10 RECOVERY DATA:
Economic Development
& Entrepreneurship
KEY RECOVERY DATA
Sources: City of New Orleans, Greater New Orleans, Inc.
Startup Culture: New Orleans has
become an entrepreneurial hub
For some experts, the true sign of economic stability in a given metro area is measured by the lev-
el of entrepreneurial activity. This metric demonstrates that individuals and investors feel comfort-
able investing their money and dreams in an environment that doesn’t put their equity at risk.
Entrepreneurial activity in New Orleans is 56% above the national average, and this number
paints a rosy picture for the business climate. Fueled by an engaged community, strong ?nancial
incentives, and an unmatched culture, one of the fastest growing startup hubs has grown from the
recovery of New Orleans.
We have been called America’s #1 Biggest Brain Magnet (Forbes), one of the 20 Hottest Startup
Hubs in America (The Kauffman Foundation), one of the Top 10 Most Inspiring Cities in the World
(GOOD Magazine), and the “Coolest Startup City in America” (Inc.com).
Each March, New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW) attracts over 10,500 entrepreneurs, in-
vestors, professionals, students, and community members to its eight days of discussion, debate,
education, competition, and celebration. Produced by The Idea Village, in conjunction with over
40 partners, NOEW showcases the most innovative entrepreneurial ventures in the region.
New Orleans is also home to a rapidly growing minority entrepreneurship initiative, PowerMoves.NOLA (PMN). Held during Essence Fest each July,
PMN is a national initiative to address the obstacles that prevent minority entrepreneurship. This initiative acts as a catalyst for change by providing
early-stage and high-growth minority entrepreneurs with access to capital, advisors, and the support they need to succeed.
The startups thriving in New Orleans span across a variety of industries. Examples include Kickboard, which offers tech tools to help create smarter
schools, Federated Sample, which manages a global survey respondent exchange platform, and Tierra Resources, which creates innovative solutions
that support investment into wetlands restoration projects to offset their greenhouse gas emissions.
FIND OUT MORE
The Idea Village
ideavillage.org | @IdeaVillage
PowerMoves NOLA
powermovesnola.org |
@PowerMovesNOLA
Propeller
gopropeller.org | @gopropeller
Launch Pad
lp.co | @launchpad
New Orleans Startup Fund
neworleansstartupfund.org
Business startups per 100,000 adults
501
Startup per capita in New Orleans far
exceeds the national average
56% Higher
“I think New Orleans is poised to re-
emerge as one of the great startup cities
in the country, maybe even the world.” –
Steve Case, Founder of American Online
“New Orleans is in its 3rd wave of
entrepreneurship.” – Walter Isaacson,
American writer and biographer
“New Orleans Entrepreneur Week is
becoming a premier conference for
entrepreneurs and investors of every size
to learn and share ideas.” - Jim Coulter,
founding partner of TPG Capital
“New Orleans has the ‘feel of Silicon
Valley in the Mid 1990s’” – National
Journal Magazine
Testimonials
KEY RECOVERY DATA
Attendees for New Orleans Entrepreneur
Week
10,500+
New Orleans was ranked the 6th Best
City for Young Entrepreneurs
[Under30CEO.com]
Louisiana was rated the #2 State in the
USA to Start a Company
[Tax Foundation + KPMG]
One of the Best States to Operate a Small
Business
[The Economist]
New Orleans is the #1 City Where
Working Age Americans Are Moving
[Forbes]
Rankings
KATRINA10 RECOVERY DATA:
Economic Development
& Entrepreneurship (cont.)
KATRINA10 RECOVERY DATA:
Economic Development
& Entrepreneurship (cont.)
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TALENT AND WORKFORCE
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
GNO, Inc. was ranked as the #2 Economic Development
Organization in the U.S. [Business Facilities]
Greater New Orleans was ranked #1 for the Decade for Major
Economic Development Wins in the South [Southern Business &
Development]
Greater New Orleans was named #1 Most Cost-Friendly for Business
in the USA [KPMG]
Greater New Orleans is #1 in the USA for Export Growth, over 400%
[US Chamber of Commerce]
Greater New Orleans is the #2 Boomtown in America, due to
population and GDP growth [Bloomberg]
New Orleans was ranked the #2 “Aspirational” City in the USA based
on economy, demographics and quality of life [Daily Beast]
New Orleans was named the #1 City (of 475) for Employment,
Income, and Population [NerdWallet]
Greater New Orleans is the #3 Big City Winning the IT Jobs Battle
(after Silicon Valley and S.F.) [Forbes]
Louisiana is #3 Best Business Environment and #2 Best Incentives
in the USA [Area Development]
Louisiana is the #1 Most Improved State on the “Best States for
Business” ranking since 2008 [Forbes]
Louisiana was named #4 Most Cooperative State Government in the
USA [Area Development]
Louisiana placed #1 for Economic Potential, Workforce Training,
and Digital Media [Business Facilities]
Greater New Orleans was the #1 Most Improved Metro in the USA
[Wall Street Journal]
Greater New Orleans was named #2 in Post-Recession Performance
in the USA [Brookings Inst.]
Louisiana was ranked #1 in the USA for Exports per capita
[New Geography]
Louisiana was rated a Top Ten State in the USA for Overall Tax
Competitiveness [Tax Foundation+ KPMG]
Greater New Orleans was ranked #1 Brainpower City in the U.S.A.
[Forbes]
Greater New Orleans is #1 in the USA for In-Migration of “Workers in
their Prime” (35-49 y.o.) [Forbes]
Louisiana’s workers are considered the Most Engaged Workforce in
the USA [Gallup]
New Orleans was ranked #1 on the list of “America’s Biggest Brain
Magnets” for attracting people under 25 with college degrees
[Forbes]
Louisiana Economic Development’s FastStart training program has
been ranked #1 in the USA four years in a row [Business Facilities]
Louisiana has enjoyed 5 straight years of net in-migration
[US Census Bureau]
New Orleans Leads the USA by 56% in number of startups-per-capita
[GNO Community Data Center]
New Orleans was ranked the 6th Best City for Young Entrepreneurs
[Under30CEO.com]
Louisiana was rated the #2 State in the USA to Start a Company
[Tax Foundation + KPMG]
Economic Development & Entrepreneurship Rankings
doc_907906620.pdf