The Future of Downtown New Orleans OUR VISION
Downtown New Orleans will be celebrated as the vibrant hub of America’s beloved city and the engine for the region’s economy. Historic and contemporary buildings glow with new residences and retail as Downtown becomes a magnet for a population involved in industries of the mind such as bioscience, the arts, and digital media. Streets bustle with neighbors and visitors alike participating in the arts, music, dining, shopping, and daily business of Downtown. People from around the world are drawn to a dynamic, seductive Downtown where the unique cultural mosaic of New Orleans comes into focus.
OUR STRATEGIES To realize our long-term vision for a thriving city center, Downtown Development District (DDD) will prioritize strategies focused on the following areas in partnership with the City of New Orleans, State of Louisiana, and other relevant organizations. The Downtown New Orleans Economic Development Strategy is shaped by the following focus areas:
BUSINESS RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND EXPANSION
BUILT ENVIRONMENT
INFRASTRUCTURE
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
ADVOCACY AND FUNDING
CANAL STREET REVITALIZATION
Facilitate the growth and development of new business across key industries like digital media and the biosciences to ensure Downtown’s role as a center of innovation and entrepreneurship. At the same time, continue to nurture existing businesses through targeted retention efforts and business development assistance.
Encourage development of an inclusive Downtown economy through enhanced partnerships with DBE’s, minority-owned firms, and greater New Orleans youth with a focus on education and training opportunities for future workforce needs.
Support a thriving real estate development market by coordinating incentives and tax credits to catalytic redevelopment sites near other areas of investment to maximize impact. Moreover, work with City agencies and the development community to both understand and remove barriers to the production of new uses, especially housing.
Advocate at all levels of government for the growth and development of Downtown New Orleans while aggressively seeking grant funds to implement new programs, projects, and incentives.
Advocate for robust, reliable, and predictable public asset management (e.g. traffic control signalization, roadway maintenance, curbs/sidewalks) while developing plans for new and impactful infrastructure projects like iconic parks, stormwater management enhancements, and bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements.
Utilize all tools available to construct a multi-partnered initiative that transforms Canal Street into a vibrant retail corridor attracting residents and visitors to shop, dine, and connect with the city.
Each focus area identifies broad strategies with specific actions to enhance the local economy. DDD acknowledges, with utmost priority, that enhancements to public safety, quality of life, and adherence to the principles of diversity, inclusion, and equity serve as foundational pillars for the Downtown New Orleans Economic Development Strategy. These values are integral to the City’s broader economic prosperity strategy, ensuring sustainable growth and prosperity for Downtown and adjacent New Orleans neighborhoods.