The East Summer/Fall 2019 by Renaissance Publishing

TABLE OF CONTENTS EAST NEW ORLEANS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT Editor Topher Balfer Art Director Ali Sullivan East NOLA BDD Chairman Sean Bruno East NOLA BDD Communications Committee Lynnette White-Colin, Troy Henry, Sean Bruno, Mtumishi St. Julien, Karen Coaxum Contributing Writers Drew Hawkins, Misty Milioto, Sarah Ravits Contributing Photographers Cheryl Gerber, Mike Lirette Account Executive Shelby Harper 504-830-7246 Shelby@myneworleans.com Production Manager Emily Andras

4 Letter From the Chairman About East New Orleans BDD 6

Executive Committee & Board Members

Community Events

COVER STORY

Michoud Assembly Facility

PROFILES

15 15 16

Ochsner Advanced Cutting Solutions LM Wind Power

Production Designers Rosa Balaguer, Meghan Rooney Traffic Coordinator Lane Brocato COVER PHOTO COURTESY OF NASA / ERIC BORDELON

LIVING IN THE EAST

Versaille Garden

Executive Vice President/ Editor in Chief Errol Laborde President Alan Campbell Vice President of Sales Colleen Monaghan

BUSINESSES IN THE EAST

Eddie’s Ace Hardware

PJ’s Coffee

Municipal Report Card

Investors & Acknowledgements

By the Numbers

28 31 32

The EAST New Orleans

Huntington Park

Chief Executive Officer Todd Matherne

Photo Gallery Member Levels & Benefits Member Application

Custom Published By

Published by Renaissance Publishing LLC 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 123 Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 828-1380 • www.myneworleans.com

Copyright 2019 The EAST, East New Orleans Business Development and Renaissance Publishing LLC. Postage Paid at New Orleans and additional entry offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to East NOLA BDD, 7240 Crowder Blvd #301, New Orleans, LA 70127. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the consent of the publisher. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the magazine’s managers, owners or publisher. ENOBDD is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos and artwork even if accompanied by a self addressed stamped envelope.

ABOUT EAST NOLA BDD

LETTER FROM THE 2019 CHAIRMAN

he East New Orleans Business Development District (ENOBDD) is a non-profit, 501(c)3 established to foster, coordinate and catalyze initiatives that improve the business climate and quality of life in East New Orleans through new business development, infrastructure improvements, and image enhancement, in order to grow good jobs in The East, attract investment, facilitate growth in tax revenues and the overall economy in the City of New Orleans. The 13-member board of ENOBDD is comprised of a cross section of experienced business executives and respected civic leaders, whose track records have garnered community support, public and private sector partnerships and other diverse resources to implement a targeted economic revitalization strategy for East New Orleans. COMMERCIAL AND RETAIL DEVELOPMENT The organization is strategically focused on attracting new business, retail and commercial development along existing commercial corridors in The East.

BLIGHT, BEAUTIFICATION & QUALITY OF LIFE ENOBDD works toward improving the appeal and marketability of major commercial corridors in The East. The organization continues to work with Code Enforcement at the city of New Orleans to eliminate commercial and residential blight. Additionally, community “clean-up” events are implemented throughout the year. Regular communication is maintained with the Department of Public Works for infrastructure improvements and repair, as well as the New Orleans Police Department for accountability in public safety.

IMAGE ENHANCEMENT AND BRANDING Although one of the largest communities in the city and home to many of its recognizable assets, New Orleans East has long endured unfavorable branding. ENOBDD has been at the forefront of reversing this trend by communicating with media organizations on how they report on The East. The organization is requesting a change in how maps of the East are drawn, to affect more accuracy in information reported about East New Orleans, especially as it relates to crime. Additionally, members of the ENOBDD board have developed a report card to grade city agencies on public services and their responses to needs in our community.

The EAST New Orleans

Sean M. Bruno Chairman 2019

To BELIEVE is to accept as true; to feel sure of the truth or to hold as an opinion. We, at East New Orleans Business Development District, believe that New Orleans is one of the finest cities in the country. We believe in its rich culture, history and great food. We believe in Po Boys, Beignets, Daiquiris and Hurricanes from Pat O’Brien’s. We believe in Mardi Gras, the best free party in the country. We believe in camping out and setting up tents and ladders, waiting days for parades to start. We believe in Zulu coconuts and all prized throws from our carnival krewes. We believe in King cake and all its sugary glory. We believe in all of the festivals that locals and visitors from afar travel here to enjoy. We believe in second lines with all the history of the Mardi Gras Indians and brass bands. We believe in the Crescent City Classic and the lively party afterwards. We believe in our sport teams. They are like family to us. We are there through the good years and the bad. Who Dat!! And we believe in our City leadership. We believe that our local leaders are working in our best interest to make all neighborhoods in our city great. Fixing our streets, updating flood control systems, implementing policies that reduce crime equitably in every neighborhood, and they’re committed to creating a better quality of life for all of our citizens, regardless of what area of the city we live. And finally, we believe in New Orleans East. We remember what New Orleans East used to be and we continue to do our part to not only recapture its glory, but to make it the superior community it deserves to be. Sincerely, Sean Bruno, Chairman East New Orleans Business Development District

EastNolabdd.com

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE & BOARD MEMBERS

Sean M. Bruno Chairperson 2019 Sean M. Bruno CPA

Lynnette White-Colin Vice Chairperson New Orleans Business Alliance

J.C. Celestin Treasurer Celestin Enterprise, Inc.

Mtumishi St. Julien Secretary The Finance Authority of N.O. (Ret.)

Karen Nabonne Coaxum Board Member Coaxum Enterprises, Inc.

Anthony Bridges Board Member Fidelity Bank

Bradley Pipes Board Member Cox Communications

Dwight Barnes Board Member Crescent Crown Distributing

Jerry Cook Board Member Folgers Coffee

Sheila Glass Board Member Franklin Avenue Baptist Church

Troy Henry Board Member Henry Consulting, LLC

The EAST New Orleans

Wade Verges Board Member Wade T. Verges Construction Co.

2019 COMMUNITY EVENTS

SECOND SATURDAY COMMUNITY MARKET

Audubon Louisiana Nature Center Second Saturday of every month from 8:30 am-11:30 am In April 2019, the Audubon Louisiana Nature Center began its Saturday Community Market that will continue on the second Saturday of each month in 2019. The market serves as a meeting place for the community, inviting both residents and visitors alike to New Orleans East, and provides fresh fruit, vegetables, seafood, dairy and flowers. Brenda L. Walkenhorst, Director of Education Projects for Audubon Louisiana Nature Institute (ALNI), said a main goal for the market is to “provide a compelling reason for people to come to New Orleans East and the Audubon Louisiana Nature Center.” In addition, the Market is a fun, community-oriented event that highlights the Audubon Louisiana Nature Center and the local business vendors that participate at the Market.” ALNI has long-term plans to grow the market over the next 5 years, aiming to incorporate live music, cultural events and family-friendly educational programs.

MAKER MONDAY

EAST NEW ORLEANS NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COMMISSION CAB PLANNING MEETING St. Maria Goretti Community Center Tuesday, August 27 6:00 pm Tuesday, September 24, 6:00 pm Tuesday, October 29, 6:00 pm

EAST NEW ORLEANS NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COMMISSION GENERAL MEETING St. Maria Goretti Community Center Tuesday, September 10 6:00 pm Tuesday, October 8 6:00 pm

URBAN FICTION BOOK CLUB

East New Orleans Regional Library Every Monday from 5:00 pm-6:00 pm

East New Orleans Regional Library Saturday, September 14 1:00 pm-3:00 pm Saturday, October 12 1:00 pm-3:00 pm

TECH GOES HOME: BEGINNER COMPUTER SKILLS FOR ADULTS

COMMUNITY CONVERSATION WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CYNDI NGUYEN

East New Orleans Regional Library Monday, August 26 10:00 am-12:00 pm Friday, August 30 10:00 am -12:00 pm

East New Orleans Regional Library Saturday, September 21 10:00 am -11:30 am Saturday, October 19 10:00 am - 11:30 am

Sign up for our “Look East” newsletter to receive information on ENOBDD’s latest news, projects and events! www.eastnolabdd.com

The EAST New Orleans

COVER STORY | BY DREW HAWKINS

FROM THE

SWAMP

TO THE

STARS

NASA’S MICHOUD ASSEMBLY FACILITY IN NEW ORLEANS EAST IS MAKING “GIANT LEAPS” FOR SPACE EXPLORATION

You may be surprised to learn that the key to mankind’s ability to travel to outer space lies in the heart of New Orleans East. For more than half of a century, the Michoud Assembly Facility, a manufacturing complex owned by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), has been the nation’s “rocket factory,” where large-scale space structures, systems, and rockets are built and assembled. “50 years ago, we wouldn’t have been able to land the first man on the Moon without New Orleans and Michoud,” said Lionel Dutreix, Deputy Chief Operating Officer of NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility. The Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) has been an integral part of NASA’s space exploration missions since the beginning, from the Apollo program that took man to the moon and back, to the era of the space shuttle. As we enter the new age of the Space Launch System, MAF is tasked with manufacturing and assembling some of the largest parts of the systems that will take humanity into a new age of space exploration: beyond Earth’s orbit and into 10

The EAST New Orleans

PHOTO BY MIKE LIRETTE

BY DREW HAWKINS

| COVER STORY

» Antoine Michoud, the son of

Napoleon’s Administrator of Domains, acquired the land in 1827. Michoud operated a sugar cane plantation and refinery. The two brick smokestacks from the refinery still stand today.

» Map of Michoud Land (1883 Map) – The original tract of land, located in eastern New Orleans, was part of a 34,500-acre French Royal land grant to local merchant, Gilbert Antoine de St. Maxent in 1763.

« Facility –

Situated on 832 acres of land, construction on buildings 102 and 103 started in 1941 and was completed in 1943. Building 103 contains over 1.86 million square feet or 43 acres of manufacturing under one roof. It is one of the largest manufacturing facilities in the world.

the furthest reaches of our solar system. Michoud’s facilities are equipped with some of the most impressive and state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment, like the Vertical Assembly Center, the world’s largest robotic tool for building rockets. They have the latest materials, processing and production support to build and test the massive structures, complex components and full-scale hardware used in NASA’s exploration missions. MAF is not only one of the largest manufacturing facilities in the country, but with 43 acres of environmentally controlled space under one roof (almost 2 million square feet), and deepwater access to the mighty Mississippi River that enables the transportation of the large space systems and hardware, it’s one of the biggest manufacturing plants in the world. Situated on 829 acres of land, the site also includes more than 300 acres of green, unused space, so there’s plenty of prime land for new offices and manufacturing and test facilities to be built. MAF also houses other organization’s facilities such as the US Department of Agriculture’s National Finance Center, the US Coast Guard, LM Windpower who manufactures the advanced wind turbine rotors that are key to harnessing the wind for renewable energy, and Lockheed Martin. It’s safe to say that the future of the Michoud Assembly Facility is as bright as the stars their equipment will take us to.

» “Flying Box Cars”

(1944) – During the 1940s the facility was used by the Higgins Industries to build C-46 cargo planes made of molded plywood. Assembly began but was quickly stopped. Only two “flying box cars” were manufactured.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS The story of the Michoud facility begins with a large parcel of swampland granted from the governor of the then-French colony of Louisiana. On March 10, 1763, 34,500 acres of land were granted to Gilbert Antoine de St. Maxent, who built and operated a moderately successful sugar cane plantation there. By the time St. Maxent died in 1794, the plantation had been steadily declining in production and was sold at a public auction. The land changed hands several more times until it was purchased by the son of Napoleon’s Administrator of Domains, Antoine Michoud, who revived and expanded the sugar cane operation into a successful venture. “Two brick smokestacks from the original sugar refinery Michoud owned still stand at the site today,” Dutreix said. When the United States entered World War II, the Michoud site was intended to be used for two defense projects. At the start of the war, a 1,000-acre tract of the plantation was selected and purchased by the US Maritime Commission as the location for a shipyard to build the Liberty ships that would deliver desperately needed supplies to the Allies in Europe. However, the shipyard was never completed and was taken over by the government, and Higgins Industries was contracted to build large plywood cargo planes for the war effort. But when the plant was completed in October 1943, the Army EastNolabdd.com

COVER STORY | BY DREW HAWKINS

The EAST New Orleans

Mississippi Test Facility (known today as NASA’s Stennis Space Center), the rocket test-firing site on the Pearl River in Mississippi and the Kennedy Space Center launch site at Cape Canaveral. With the space race with the Russians heating up, NASA used the facility to design and build large space vehicles. Chrysler and The Boeing Company started production on the first stages of Saturn I and Saturn V rockets at Michoud. The rockets that were constructed there were used in the Apollo program to propel mankind’s giant leap that allowed Neil Armstrong to take his small step. As the Apollo program began to wind down in the 1970s, NASA shifted production to the next generation of space exploration vehicles: the Space Shuttle. In that endeavor, the Michoud facility would again propel mankind’s space exploration efforts when it began construction and production of the Space Shuttle’s external tank (ET) that contained the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen fuel to allow the shuttle to break free of the Earth’s atmosphere. Beginning with the first tank (ET-1) that would fly on the first orbital space flight of NASA’s Space Shuttle program (Space Transportation System-1, or STS-1) 137 tanks were produced throughout the Space Shuttle program, ending with the last shuttle flight of STS-134 on September 20, 2010. Even the devastation that Hurricane Katrina wreaked on New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in August 2005 didn’t stop production at Michoud. Thirty-eight NASA and Lockheed Martin employees stayed behind during the storm to keep the pumping systems

PHOTOS BY MIKE LIRETTE

had decided to drop the cargo plane program to focus on building bombers, and the plant was closed and assumed by the War Assets Administration, where it went unused. At the time, the Michoud site consisted of a 1.8 million-square-foot manufacturing facility, a 78,000-square-foot office building, and a 108,000-square-foot engineering building. Early in the Korean War, it seemed the facility would finally be put to good use when the Army Ordnance Corps awarded a contract to the Chrysler Corporation in 1951 to use the facility to manufacture tank engines that were designed to power the Army’s Patton and Sherman tanks. The Chrysler Corporation even completely dismantled and relocated a foundry from Chicago to the plant site in order to construct the engines. They also designed and installed hundreds of tons of humidity-control equipment for the 43-acre structure. But by 1954, the plant was closed, and the sprawling facility lay dormant once again. The Michoud site, it seemed, was doomed to disappear into the Louisiana swamp. All of that changed when the famed rocket scientist Werner Von Braun, then the director of the NASA George C. Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, brought NASA’s attention to the Michoud facility. Soon after, in September 1961, NASA announced their selection of the Michoud site for their new assembly facility. The site had everything they needed: plenty of production space, room for expansion and a prime location on the new Intracoastal Waterway that provided a water transport route to NASA’sl

BY DREW HAWKINS

| COVER STORY

» Friction Stir Welds vs

Plasma Welds – NASA uses “friction stir welding” which is a fast rotating pin whipping solid metal pieces until they are the consistency of butter and meld together to bond the core stage’s rings, domes, and barrel segments. The result is a stronger and more defect-free weld, than traditional methods using welding torches.

operating, saving the facility from destruction. They pumped more than one billion gallons of water out of the facility and are the reason that the factory suffered very little damage and was able to resume production by October of 2005 without disrupting any of the planned shuttle launches. Dutreix is proud of the people who stayed behind to keep the facility safe. “All 38 employees were awarded the NASA Exceptional Bravery Medal, NASA’s highest bravery award,” he said with a smile.

PHOTOS BY MIKE LIRETTE

BUILDING THE FUTURE OF SPACE EXPLORATION

The Michoud Assembly Facility is building on its long legacy of successful fabrication and manufacturing of large, complex hardware for NASA flight programs to help create the next generation of space exploration vehicles. The experience and expertise gained from building the Saturn rockets for the Apollo space program and the external tanks for the space shuttles have proven highly beneficial to the Space Launch Systems’ (SLS) core stage development and manufacturing. After all, they don’t call it NASA’s Rocket Factory for nothing!

“This is the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing on the Moon, and just as Michoud helped send humans to the Moon then, we are doing the same thing now with the building of the Space Launch System for the Artemis 1 mission,” said Dutreix. The current administration has tasked NASA with landing the first woman and the next man on the Moon in 2024, and to that end, Michoud will again be instrumental in building the vehicle that will allow NASA to do just that. The Michoud facility is currently building and assembling some of the largest parts of the SLS, what will be the world’s most powerful rocket that will send the Orion spacecraft, astronauts and supplies on missions of exploration that go to the Moon and beyond. Led by prime contractor The Boeing Company and using the latest in high-tech manufacturing equipment, including a friction-stirwelding tool that is the largest of its kind in the world, Michoud workers are in production of the SLS core stage, a towering, 212-foot tall rocket stage with a diameter of 27.6 feet that will be the largest rocket stage ever flown. The large structures and components of the Orion spacecraft, NASA’s envisioned exploration craft of the future, are being manufactured at Michoud under a contract

with Lockheed Martin. The structures being built at Michoud include the crew module pressure vessel that will house the astronauts in their space flight and its underlying framework that is designed to ensure a safe and sealed life support environment. Lockheed Martin is also developing the launch abort system for the Orion at the Michoud facility that will propel the vehicle and crew to a safe landing in the event of an emergency. The core stage’s major structures, manufactured by technicians at Michoud, are being outfitted with electrical avionics, thermal protection systems and additional internal hardware. The avionics will then be tested to ensure they’ll perform in space, then the structures will be joined together, and the rocket engines will be attached to complete the core stage for Artemis 1. Artemis 1 will be the test launch and first flight with the SLS and the Orion spacecraft joined together. The plan is for the SLS to propel the Orion spacecraft 280,000 miles beyond the Earth (40,000 miles past the Moon). This will be the furthest any spacecraft built for humans has ever flown. EastNolabdd.com

COVER STORY | BY DREW HAWKINS

» Hero’s Way – As you enter building 103, you are

greeted with Hero’s Way. The indoor hallway is lined with space shuttle mission patches and commemorative flags and is dedicated to those brave men and women who have made space exploration possible.

“I started my career right out of college in 1987, and I heard the stories from the old timers about the excitement around the beginning of the Apollo Program and the Space Shuttle program,” Dutreix said. “Fast forward to 2019, I see that same excitement in the young workforce at Michoud today. They are at the beginning of a new era in space exploration, and someday, they will be telling those stories to the next generation.”

TO THE EAST, AND BEYOND!

The EAST New Orleans

PHOTO BY MIKE LIRETTE

The Michoud Assembly Facility has consistently provided major economic benefits nationwide. Currently, Michoud supports more than 6,000 jobs nationally, yielding a total economic output of over $830 million. NASA also contracts a wide variety of services at the Michoud facility that are valued at over $89 million, with other government agencies combining for an additional $69 million. The facility generates more than $107 million in Federal, State and local tax revenues. But Michoud’s importance to Louisiana and the nation goes far beyond NASA. “Michoud has a regional impact of more than 5,000 jobs, $630 million in economic output, and sources $116 million in government contracts,” said Dutreix. Always looking to improve, Michoud has added numerous on-site

amenities and large-scale manufacturing tools available to the tenants of the facility. They’ve also increased commercial revenue by nearly 35% since 2010. In addition to the economic benefits and employment opportunities the Michoud facility has provided to the surrounding region, through their National Center for Advanced Manufacturing (NCAM), they’ve also provided educational outreach programs and classes formulated to develop a uniquely skilled and specialized workforce. NCAM is a partnership between NASA, the State of Louisiana, Louisiana State University and the University of New Orleans, providing research, advanced manufacturing technology and material evaluation techniques for use in aerospace and commercial markets. As we look to the future of New Orleans East, we need only look to the stars to find the limits. The Michoud Assembly Facility, NASA’s rocket factory, has been the key to their space exploration missions for the past 50 years. And there doesn’t seem to be any slowing down. The huge monetary, technological, and educational investments that are being made at Michoud as we enter into the new age of the SLS can only benefit the surrounding region and the New Orleanians who live there. Who would have thought that a swath of swampland could propel humanity to the furthest reaches of space? Indeed, in the new era of space travel, the road to the galaxy runs through New Orleans East.

BY SARAH RAVITS

| MICHOUD TENANT PROFILES

Ochsner Health System — Michoud

Ochsner Health System, Louisiana’s largest nonprofit, academic health care system, opened a new location in the NASA/Michoud Assembly facility in March of 2018, offering primary care, physical therapy and rehabilitation on site. It also offers specialty services including cardiology, neurology and diabetes education via its telemedicine program — where patients and specialists are able to communicate virtually through a computer system. It accepts more than 40 types of insurance. The expanded location fills the need for healthcare and joins other amenities on-site

at the NASA/Michoud Assembly Facility; it not only supports the other on-site tenants, but also the New Orleans East community. Sarah Roberts, VP of Primary Care and Urgent Care at Ochsner Health System, said that this new location has enhanced the quality of life in the area by providing convenient access to quality healthcare, which is “key to not only building but also maintaining a healthy community here in New Orleans East.” Currently, there are three full-time Ochsner employees working at Ochsner Health Center – Michoud. Ochsner is also the only hospital in the state recognized by the U.S. News & World Report as a “Best Hospital” across three specialty categories. Roberts notes that patients in the East, like patients across the state, also have the

benefit of Ochsner’s electronic health record system, Epic. The system securely shares patient information with the purpose of achieving the most satisfactory results with a higher level of coordinated care between specialists and patients. The new location in the East also offers convenience through its online portal, MyOchsner, which allows patients to make appointments and access test results and healthcare resources online and communicate directly with physicians. The clinic also opens early (7:30 a.m.) and offers same-day and next-day appointments to accommodate patients’ busy schedules. For more information or to make an appointment, please visit www.ochsner.org/ michoud or call 504-703-8940.

Advanced Cutting Solutions Continues to Grow and Hire Locals

Located within the NASA/Michoud Assembly Facility, Advanced Cutting Solutions specializes in cutting and kitting of composite and industrial roll goods, such as dry or preimpregnated fiberglass, carbon fiber and aramid. The company utilizes the most up-to-date technology in terms of nesting software and automated cutting equipment to precisely cut, label and collate material plies, while reducing waste to a minimum. It offers supply chain management services, freezer storage and clean-room environments for preimpregnated materials. Its main clientele includes wind turbine, marine and mass transportation manufacturers. They benefit from the company’s reduced touch labor, increased labor flexibility and

lean fabrication process. Advanced Cutting Solutions also seeks to minimize waste. Peter Schneeweiss, vice president, business partner and owner, said it provides customers with “clean, economical and quality products that drive down the cost of renewable energy.” Established in 2014, Advanced Cutting Solutions is constantly seeking new markets. Right now, its focus is on wind energy, but Schneeweiss said there is a new development in the transportation industry, now that the use of electric cars and buses is on the rise. “Industries are trying to make

their products lighter and reduce their carbon footprints,” he said. Since its inception five years ago, the company has grown from two employees to more than 50. Schneeweiss estimates that at least 80 to 90 percent of its workforce is from New Orleans East. “We felt it was an underutilized area,” said Schneeweiss. “There is a strong workforce … We thought it was an opportunity to help the community, as well as a way to support our business.” Ultimately, he said of the company: “We help our customers create a cleaner future for tomorrow — today.” EastNolabdd.com

MICHOUD TENANT PROFILES | BY SARAH RAVITS

LM Wind Power

The EAST New Orleans

facilit y provides LM Wind Power’s customers in North America with a local presence to help address their engineering needs, further enhancing our abilit y to ser ve one of the largest wind power markets in the world.” As of early 2019, the company employed nearly 14,000 people worldwide; the facilit y in the East supports 70 employees, though that number is expected to increase in the next few years. “Both personal and internal projects are continuing to grow,” said Fudickar. Support from civic leaders in the East have also solidified its importance on a local level. “LM Wind Power’s collaborative efforts with Cit y Coun-

cilwoman Cyndi Nguyen are exemplar y,” said Fudickar. “We enjoy an enormously positive relationship with her. She directly embraces our mission.” Nunez Communit y College also benefits from LM Wind Power as part of its workforce and labor initiative. The company provides curricular data in direct response to the needs of students. It also prioritizes communit y outreach events, such as supporting the Regional Business Park, a quasi-government agency to promote the region. “LM Wind Power embraces and supports Louisiana through its reciprocal relationship with Louisiana Economic Development and the New Orleans metro

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LM WIND POWER

Headquartered in Denmark, LM Wind Power was acquired by GE Renewable Energ y in 2017 and expanded its operations to New Orleans East in the fall of 2018, now occupying 60,000 square feet of manufacturing space and 20,000 square feet of office space at the NASA Michoud Assembly Facilit y. Officially titled The LM Wind Power Technolog y Center (TCA), it is part of a net work of global technolog y hubs. Its global manufacturing footprint includes production facilities in or close to the major wind energ y markets, with 15 production facilities on four continents. The company provides ser vices and products to GE Renewable Energ y Onshore and Offshore and also ser ves all wind industr y customers. It develops and tests new techniques for designing and building wind turbine blades and manufactures blades in all major wind energ y markets across the globe. New Orleans East was selected “unanimously” due to the services NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facilit y could provide, said Bob Fudickar, director of engineering excellence for the TCA . “The

BY SARAH RAVITS

area, with another fabulous relationship with Greater New Orleans, Inc. (GNO, Inc.). LM Wind Power participates in various events for each of those agencies along with other civic groups in the region,” said Fudickar. On a larger scale, LM Wind Power has a commitment to sustainabilit y. In 2010, it joined the UN Global Compact as a signal of commitment to this. According to its website,

| MICHOUD TENANT PROFILES

the company “strives to align strategies and operations with universal principles on human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption.”

» Pictured on the right

is the Technology Center Americas event held at LM Wind Power, one of the many regional events the company supports.

EastNolabdd.com

LIVING IN THE EAST | BY MISTY MILIOTO

Cultivating Connections LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZER AND PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN LUTHER GRAY SHARES HIS LOVE OF HUNTINGTON PARK.

The EAST New Orleans

PHOTO BY CHERYL GERBER

As Cultural and Communit y Programs Coordinator at Ashé Cultural Arts Center, creating partnerships that support communit y development is important to Luther Gray. In fact, having a strong sense of communit y is what seems to drive this involved resident of Hunting ton Park. In addition to his work at Ashé, he is involved in many New Orleans communit y organizations. He is t he founder and board president of t he Congo Square Preser vat ion Societ y, an organizat ion t hat work s to resurrec t and cont inue t he ac t iv it ies, advocac y and preser vat ion of t he historic Congo Square. Wit h his leadership, t he organizat ion was successf ul in placing Congo Square on t he Nat ional Reg ister of Historic Places in 1993. A nd anot her f un fac t? Gray, along w it h a team of dr um makers, car ved t hree bamboula dr ums f rom a 100-year-old c y press t ree t hat are now on display at t he

Louisiana St ate Museum of Histor y in Baton Rouge. Gray also is the founder and band leader of Bamboula 2000, a groundbreaking musical and dance experience rooted in Congo Square that is now celebrating its 25th anniversar y with the release of its sixth full leng th CD, “Cuba to Congo Square.” The group has won the prestigious Big Easy Award for Best World Music group three times out of the eight it has been nominated. In addition, Bamboula 2000 annually teaches approximately 5,000 students around

» Pictured is

community activist and musician Luther Gray with his grandson, August Gray Winchester. He and his family have enjoyed life in the Huntington Park neighborhood since 1994. Gray is a strong supporter of the arts and community development in the area.

the countr y through its Imagination Tour dance and drum workshops. Gray, who was born in Chicago, moved to New Orleans in 1982 to work with South Central Bell– AT&T. He and his wife, Nor watha Monconduit, their daughter Issa, and t wo sons, Jamon and Jalen, moved into the Hunting ton Park neighborhood in 1994. Today, his wife — and his children, no doubt following in their father’s footsteps — enjoy successful careers. His wife works as a speech therapist with Orleans Parish Schools; Issa (a graduate of Xavier Universit y Preparator y School and Southern Universit y) is a f light attendant with Southwest Airlines; Jamon (a graduate of Brother Martin High School and Dillard Universit y) is employed at IBM; and Jalen (a graduate of Brother Martin High School and Loyola Universit y) is in sales at Sneaker Politics.

According to Gray, he and his family love living in Hunting ton Park. “Our street is a cul de sac of nice homes and wonderful neighbors,” he said. “Hunting ton Park also has a great communit y pool for residents. Also, the value of our home has grown nicely over the last 25 years.” The neighborhood, which is located just one block from St. Maria Goret ti Church, and only three blocks from the Interstate, is quiet, stable and has minimal challenges, Gray said. “We know all of our neighbors on our street and help each other in times of need,” he said. “The Huntington Park Homeowners Association also organizes an annual Christmas decoration contest that creates a beautiful atmosphere during the holiday season.” Since Hurricane Katrina, when New Orleans East faced numerous hardships, ever y home on the Gray ’s block has been renovated, helping the area on its journey to complete revitalization. “The majorit y of homeowners who lived here before the hurricane have returned,” Gray said. And luck y for them, they have a neighbor who cares deeply about the local communit y, its residents, and the arts and music that are so integral to the spirit of New Orleans.

LIVING IN THE EAST | BY MISTY MILIOTO

» Pictured is Jamie

Crawford, who has lived in New Orleans East with her son for six years. She moved to Versailles Garden when she was having her first child and said it has been a perfect home for her family.

Community Care VERSAILLES GARDEN SUBDIVISION IS A PEACEFUL PLACE TO CALL HOME IN NEW ORLEANS EAST.

The EAST New Orleans

PHOTO BY CHERYL GERBER

Jamie Crawford, a patient care technician at University Medical Center, grew up in the Lower Ninth Ward but moved to New Orleans East for better housing when she was having her first child. “I wanted to raise him in a good neighborhood, and I was drawn to Versailles Garden Subdivision because I found a beautiful home inside of a peaceful neighborhood,” she said. “The pricing for my home was in my budget, so I was headed for a great start. I liked everything about this particular neighborhood. Ever since the first day, I found my new home.” Crawford said she loves so many aspects about New Orleans, with its unique food, music and residents. “I’ve visited many places, but there is no place like New Orleans. My city is spicy. But in particular, New Orleans East is a great place to raise a family.” She credits Versailles Garden Subdivision with having peaceful surroundings, kind neighbors and well-kept properties. “The residents in my neighborhood are like family,” Crawford said. “Sometimes, I see groups of women walking for exercise, and on weekends, some of my neighbors barbecue with family and friends. I think it’s great for community bonding.” Crawford often sees kids walking to and from school, and she enjoys taking her son to Joe Brown Park. “He plays with kids his age on the playground; I enjoy seeing the kids run and play together,” she said. “The park has a nice walking trail, and twice per week I go on the trail to work out.”

Since Hurricane Katrina, most of the families in Versailles Garden Subdivision renovated and moved back into their homes. “I really like the structure of the homes in New Orleans East,” Crawford said. “Post-Katrina, a lot of families dreamt of moving and raising happy families in New Orleans East because of the beautiful homes, good schools and things to do with family.” Crawford plans to get involved in some of the community organizations in New Orleans East. She enjoys helping others and is working on a book called “The Testimony of The Little One,” dedicated to her 6-year-old son, Zion Crawford. “I had Zion at 26 weeks, and since then, he has faced many health challenges,” Crawford said. “He has been on a ventilator three times due to his severe asthma. Last year, we overcame a lot from Zion getting off the ventilator to owning our very first home.” Crawford also is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in the Science of Nursing in order to provide better care for her patients and her community. “My goal is to provide great care for my city as a whole,” she said.

BUSINESS IN THE EAST | BY MISTY MILIOTO

» Michael Everett, Roger Giroir and Larry Giroir, Jr. — the grandsons and third generation of the founders of Eddie’s Ace Hardware.

All in the Family EDDIE’S ACE HARDWARE CELEBRATES 70 YEARS OF FAMILY OWNERSHIP SERVING RESIDENTS IN NEW ORLEANS EAST.

The EAST New Orleans

PHOTO BY CHERYL GERBER

It’s not known as “the helpful place” for nothing. In fact, when Eddie and Francis Giroir first opened Eddie’s Ace Hardware in 1949, it was because Eddie saw an opportunity to help develop what would become New Orleans East. And current-day owners Michael Everett, Roger Giroir and Larry Giroir, Jr.—the grandsons and third generation of the founders — aim to continue that vision as a way to provide the community with jobs and a convenient place to shop, with expert knowledgeable help. The fourth generation is already poised to continue in the business. According to Everett, owner and manager at Eddie’s Ace Hardware, this location is unique thanks to the trained expert employees who provide personalized customer service. “You can find things here that you cannot find elsewhere and, if you need one screw, we will sell you one screw — not a whole box that you may not need,” he said. This local store also is on the larger size of the spectrum as compared to other Ace Hardware locations for its market size, so customers can find pretty much anything they need all in one location. Store departments include everything from fishing supplies and steel castings to sporting goods and welding supplies. Meanwhile, store services include automobile key programming and cutting, glass cutting, blade sharpening, glass repair, pipe cutting and threading, and more. Customers also can expect to find some of the bestknown brands in the industry, including Weber, Black+Decker, Craftsman, Dewalt and

Husqvarna. Some of the most popular items that today’s customers seek at Eddie’s Ace Hardware include computerized car keys and fobs, window screens and general hardware. “These are all staples of our products that we offer the community,” Everett said. When it comes to paint, the staff at Eddie’s Ace Hardware are able to help customers choose from the wide spectrum of colors, sheens and finishes; find all of the accessories they may need to prepare for the job; and provide professional painting tips, tricks and essential techniques. Eddie’s Ace Hardware also has partnered with top brands such as Clark+Kensington and Valspar, and the store also offers Ace Hardware’s own Royal brand. As anyone who owns a home will attest, there is always something that needs upgrading or repair, especially after storms. Although New Orleans East hasn’t been hit by recent storms as large as Hurricane Katrina, business is going as strong as ever for this tight-knit family. “Most people don’t know this, but we were the first business east of the Industrial Canal to open after Hurricane Katrina,” Everett said. “Our business has changed since then; there are more rental homes now than before. However, business overall continues to improve.” And that’s just the way Everett and his family like it. His main goal, and that of the co-owners, is to continue to offer personal service and support to all of their customers well into the future. “As we approach our 70th year in business at the same location in New Orleans East, I would like to thank all the residents of New Orleans East for their past and future support, and for all of the truly loyal friends we have made over the years,” he said.

BY MISTY MILIOTO

| BUSINESS IN THE EAST

Seed for Growth

PHOTO BY CHERYL GERBER

A NEW PJ’S COFFEE LOCATION IN NEW ORLEANS EAST ENHANCES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA. When Stephanie Chambliss and Elwood McCoy, co-owners of PJ’s Coffee on Read Boulevard, decided to open their coffee shop in May, it was to provide customers with a home away from home. “This was a project in the making for over two years,” Chambliss said. “We wanted to open the business in this area because it is much deserving and overdue for a place where residents and visitors can work, study and relax. PJ’s being located in New Orleans East signifies economic growth and development.” Chambliss and McCoy, who are both deeply rooted in the community, understand the needs of the area. Chambliss graduated from Eleanor McMain Magnet School in 2001, and McCoy graduated from McDonough 35 in 1996. Chambliss lived in New Orleans East during her high school years; she purchased a home in the area after Hurricane Katrina; and she attends church in New Orleans East. “I was a frequent visitor of coffee shops, and every time I wanted to conduct business outside of my home or commercial office, I had to go to Gentilly, Mid-City or Metairie,” Chambliss said. Acting as a leader for economic growth, the success of their new business venture will determine if other corporations decide to enter the New Orleans East market. “We believe that economic development in the area will be improved with the success of our store because companies will then realize that there are residents with disposable income in New Orleans East,” Chambliss said. The business partners chose the site at Read Boulevard between Bullard and Crowder boulevards as the perfect locale for a PJ’s Coffee thanks to its proximity to I-10. The building already had a drive-through, and it’s at the epicenter of New Orleans East with several of the city’s largest churches nearby.

» Co-Owner Stephanie Chambliss inside PJ’s Coffee on Read Boulevard. As for challenges, Chambliss said that people sometimes view New Orleans East with negative perceptions, stigmas and preconceived notions. “We aim to overcome those challenges by sharing with the world how great our experience has been since we opened our doors,” she said. Part of the positive experience has been working with the Urban League of Louisiana’s Office of Workforce Development for assistance in recruiting and training potential employees. Chambliss and McCoy reached out to the organization to help initial applicants have additional training to improve their job readiness. As a result of the joint venture, they hired nine of the 16 program participants. “The employees who are still with us are doing extremely well,” Chambliss said. “As a matter of fact, one of the program graduates, Kelsey Webster, was awarded Barista of the Month.” Chambliss and McCoy currently employ 18 team members — most of whom live in New Orleans East — and they serve about 260 customers per day. And there are a number of reasons their location is unique. “We aim to offer our patrons excellent customer service and an experience that they will not receive anywhere else,” Chambliss said. “Our store is much larger than the typical coffee shop; we can actually seat up to 55 people. We offer a private meeting room space with a smart television and a white board, and we offer a community board where residents may promote their businesses and events.” Aiming to make PJ’s Coffee on Read Boulevard the premier coffee house in the New Orleans East community, the business duo is also excited to bring jobs to an underserved community and to provide meeting spaces for study groups, mobile entrepreneurs, community organizers, church groups and civic organizations. In addition, they want to offer a great work environment that promotes diversity, economic empowerment, respect and enthusiastic customer service. “We want to contribute positively to the New Orleans East community by partnering and nurturing relationships with local schools, churches and non-profits,” Chambliss said. Looking toward the future, Chambliss and McCoy hope to expand to a second location, create a database of small businesses and increase community relations. “Elwood and I, along with the entire PJ’s Coffee family, are excited and honored to serve the people of New Orleans East,” Chambliss said. EastNolabdd.com

MUNICIPAL REPORT CARD

The Eastern New Orleans Municipal Report Card for Public Response to Quality of Life Standards for East New Orleans Residents The Eastern New Orleans Municipal Report Card will address the public’s actions — or lack of action — in deploying resources that are vital to quality of life standards in Eastern New Orleans. The dashboard will address such issues as Public Health and Sanitation.

How often is the public agency responsible for surveying open areas for illegal dumping actually providing these surveys? What is the process and timeline for abatement of such dumping? What is the schedule for environmental control of mosquitoes, termites and rodents? Are landfills and legal dumping sites inspected for compliance? Are there regular schedules for street cleaning? Relating to the city’s blight ordinance, what are the follow-up procedures and results of Code enforcement hearings for property owners that violate the blight ordinance? How well is the schedule maintained for landscaping and tree-trimming on neutral grounds and public right-of-way areas? Are citations issued for unkempt property or nuisance lots tracked? Are comparisons conducted to track increases or decreases in the number of citations issued? Are there measures to evaluate the adequacy of public transit; are surveys or public meetings utilized to gather input from the community on how well transit services address transportation needs of New Orleans East residents? What are the on-time percentages of East New Orleans bus routes? Are crime and public safety incidents reported on bus routes, and how many riders are physically harmed as a result? Are crime trends in the area tracked and reported to the public? What is the percentage of violent and non-violent crimes solved? Are these rates being compared to rates in peer communities and to specific time frames, such as the previous 6 months or the same time frame in the year prior? How are the rates of business and job growth tracked? What measures and incentives are being utilized to attract new business, industry, jobs and investment to East New Orleans? How often is the public agency responsible for surveying streets and roads for needed repair conducting these surveys? Are repairs and road reconstruction projects tracked, and is the public made aware when streets will be closed or blocked prior to such projects? How often are drainage canals dredged and cleaned? How often are catch basins and culverts cleared of debris? Are the number of flood events tracked? Are adequate measures used to apprise residents of “boil water” advisories? What are they? 24

The EAST New Orleans

How many calls to the city’s 311 assistance are logged each month from East New Orleans residents? What percentage of the requests are fulfilled? What is the process for resolving citizen complaints, and are the number of complaints tracked? The East New Orleans Business Development District maintains a good working relationship with the current administration and remains appreciative of the many services it provides to East New Orleans residents. With that being said, residents and business owners of this community maintain the right to hold the city and other public agencies accountable for services they are responsible for deploying. This Eastern New Orleans Municipal Report Card will be a means to that end.

The East New Orleans Business Development District believes East New Orleans deserves a high quality of life in a thriving community where we live, work, play, worship, raise families and build community. We demand a reasonable public response to the basic needs of our neighborhoods and residents. ENOBDD has developed an Accountability Dashboard of Quality of Life Standards for our community. The goal of the dashboard is to monitor and document the effectiveness of the public response to quality of life standards in our community. ENOBDD will report results of the responses we receive from public agencies who are responsible for maintaining quality of life standards, such as public health and sanitation; accessible onramps to receive public input; code enforcement of blight complaints; public safety; public transportation; economic development; and community relations. The public responses will be published in The EAST Magazine.

MUNICIPAL REPORT CARD

EDUCATION

PUBLIC HEALTH & SANITATION

HOUSING, BLIGHT, CODE ENFORCEMENT

PARKS, PARKWAYS & RECREATION

PUBLIC SAFETY

PUBLIC INPUT

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

COMMUNITY RELATIONS

EastNolabdd.com

INVESTORS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

THANK YOU! The East New Orleans Business Development District would like to thank the following contributors and partners for their support of our organization.

PRESENTING SPONSOR

PRESIDENTIAL CIRCLE

• Wade T. Verges • Air Products • Councilperson Nguyen’s Office • GNO, Inc.

WADE T. VERGES CONSTRUCTION CO.

• Cliff Robinson • New Orleans Business Alliance • Henry Coaxum • Ron Wright • Robert Packnett - R & P Landscaping

EXECUTIVE CIRCLE

• Home Depot • Walmart • New Orleans Hamburger and Seafood • Vietnamese Initiatives in Economic Training (VIET)

• New Orleans Lakefront Airport • East New Orleans Economic Development • STUDS Club • Sphinx Foundation • Jacoby Jones Foundation

The EAST New Orleans

PARTNERS

EAST NEW ORLEANS BY THE NUMBERS

Greater New Orleans has a cost of doing business that makes it one of the most affordable locations around the U.S. East New Orleans is a prime location for developers to use these advantages with its expansive land, access to a frequented interstate highway and large residential population.

Michoud workers are producing an SLS core rocket stage that stands

212 feet tall

NASA Michoud produced

136

4,000 Number of people currently emplyed by the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans East:

1 of 3

external tanks for the Space Shuttle program

The Michoud NASA Assembly Facility in New Orleans East is one of only three NASA centers in the southeastern United States.

NASA Michoud is comprised of

1 BILLION

832 acres of land

gallons of water were pumped out of the NASA facility during Katrina. These proactive efforts allowed the facility to resume operation by October 2005, without disrupting shuttle launches.

The SLS stage is expected to propel the Orion spacecraft

280,000 15

miles beyond the moon

NASA selected the Michoud site for its assembly facility

58 years ago

NASA and Lockheed Martin employees stayed behind during Hurricane Katrina to keep the pumping systems operating, saving the facility from destruction.

The facility is large enough to hold more than

professional football fields

private companies are currently operating as tenants in the Michoud facility. SOURCES: GNO, Inc, EMSI, census.gov EastNolabdd.com

PHOTO GALLERY THE EAST MAGAZINE RELEASE PARTY - FRANKLIN AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH

The EAST New Orleans

SNEAUX BALL FEST

EastNolabdd.com

PHOTO GALLERY WYLD RADIO REMOTE AND ESSENCE FEST “TICKET GIVEAWAY” - MCDONALD’S

HAVE PHOTOS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE EAST? EMAIL YOUR PHOTOS AND CAPTIONS TO ENOLABDD@GMAIL.COM FOR POSSIBLE INCLUSION IN OUR NEXT ISSUE!

The EAST New Orleans

MEMBERSHIP LEVELS & BENEFITS

PLATINUM BUSINESS SPONSORSHIP Benefits of Membership

ANNUAL DONATION $5,000+

• Co-sponsor of the East New Orleans Business Development District’s State of the District Breakfast Summit

• Logo prominently displayed on all promotional materials, events and the website

• Co-sponsor of annual Linen Night in the East (September)

• Listing in business directory of “The East” Magazine for the (Winter Edition)

• Eligible to serve on the Board of Directors

• Inclusion in “Listing of Members” on Website

• Consideration for front cover and feature article in “The EAST” magazine (Summer or Winter Edition)

• Invitation to all Networking Events, including Legislative Breakfast

• Co-sponsor of all Networking Events

• Eligible to serve on Board and Events Committees

GOLD LEVEL Benefits of Membership

• Recognition of Membership in “The EAST” Magazine (Summer & Winter Editions) • 33% discount on advertisement in “The East” Magazine • Listing in business directory of “The East” Magazine for the Winter Editions

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP $1,000 • Inclusion in “listing of Members” on Website • Invitation to all Networking Events, including Legislative Breakfast • Eligible to serve on Board and/or Events Committees

SILVER LEVEL (Organizations w/ 50 or more employees) Benefits of Membership

• Recognition of Membership in “The EAST” Magazine (Summer & Winter Editions) • 25% discount on advertisement in “The East” Magazine • Listing in business directory of “The East” Magazine for the Winter Editions

• Inclusion in “Listing of Members” on Website • Invitation to all Networking Events, including Legislative Breakfast • Eligible to serve on Board and/or Events Committees

BRONZE LEVEL (Organization w/ less than 50 employees) Benefits of Membership

FRIENDS LEVEL Benefits of Membership

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP $500

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP $250

• Inclusion in “Listing of Members” on Website • Invitation to all Networking Events, including Legislative Breakfast • Eligible to serve on Board and/or Events Committees

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP $100

• Listing in business directory of “The East” Magazine for the Winter Editions

• Invitation to all Networking Events, including Legislative Breakfast

• Inclusion in “Listing of Members” on Website

• Eligible to serve on Events Committees EastNolabdd.com

APPLY & UPDATE

BECOME A MEMBER, INVESTOR OR UPDATE YOUR BUSINESS LISTING WITH THE EAST NOLA BDD I WOULD LIKE TO: Update my Business Directory Listing Apply for an East NOLA BDD Membership

INFORMATION OF INTEREST: Annual membership investment: ___________ Platinum Business Sponsorship ($5,000+) Gold Level ($1,000) Silver Level ($500) Bronze Level ($250) Friends Level ($100)

Become an Investor in East NOLA BDD FORM OF PAYMENT: GENERAL INFORMATION

I am enclosing a check for $______

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made payable to East NOLA BDD

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PLEASE CHARGE MY

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PLEASE SELECT A PAYMENT SCHEDULE OPTION: Payment in full

COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES:

Automatically charge my card on the ___ day of every month

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PLEASE SEND YOUR APPLICATION AND PAYMENT TO:

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(check or credit card)

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East New Orleans Business Development District

______________________________________________________

New Orleans, LA 70127

7240 Crowder Boulevard, Suite #301