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Convention Center to Bring Local Small Businesses and Procurement Leaders Together at Reverse Trade Show

Posted on by Emilia Cicero

Convention Center to Bring Local Small Businesses and Procurement Leaders Together at Reverse Trade Show

 


Local businesses can connect directly with nearly 20 organizations seeking contractors and learn best practices for doing business with each.

 

For high resolution photos, click here.

NEW ORLEANS – On Thursday, October 22, at 10 a.m. The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (NOENMCC) is hosting a Reverse Trade Show for local business owners to connect with nearly 20 public and private companies looking for contractors or vendors.

Unlike a traditional trade show, the Reverse Trade Show puts participating agencies, organizations and procurement representatives behind the tables, giving small business owners direct access to organizations seeking qualified businesses. SEBs will have the opportunity to network with participating agencies to learn more about current and upcoming needs and position their businesses for successful procurement of public and private contracting opportunities.

The registration-only event will take place Thursday, October 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Rivergate Room at the Convention Center. Attendees can register at exhallnola.com/win/, and registration will close on October 21.

The WIN Series is part of NOENMCC’s Small and Emerging Business (SEB) Program, which provides events and networking opportunities for local small businesses, helping them gain the tools and skills to thrive and open doors to new business. The Reverse Trade Show builds on the August installment of the WIN Series, The Procurement Playbook. During the August workshop, general contractors and construction service providers strengthened their bidding, estimating and procurement skills. Now, these SEBs can put those skills into action by connecting with organizations currently seeking contractors.

“This event is about making it easier for small businesses to get the information they need in one place to pursue contracting opportunities,” said LaToya Martin, SEB Program Manager. “Providing SEBs with the connections, tools and information they need to grow is one of the most meaningful ways the Convention Center connects to our New Orleans community.”

Participating agencies include Audubon Nature Institute, City of New Orleans, Delgado Community College, Entergy, Hancock Whitney, JP Morgan Chase, Garden Doctors, Gulf Coast Bank, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, Louisiana Economic Development, Legacy Professional Services, Liberty Bank, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, New Orleans Regional Transit Authority, Port of New Orleans, Propeller, Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans, Thrive Nola, Urban League, New Orleans & Company and more.

“Small businesses want a fair chance to compete for contracts, and organizations want to find qualified local companies that can meet their needs. This event helps both sides make those connections,” said Jim Cook, NOENMCC President & CEO. “That’s what our small business program is all about: putting the right people in a room and making it easier for local businesses to position themselves for long-term growth.”

The Convention Center is also expanding access to contracting opportunities beyond the WIN Series. The SEB Program recently revamped its website to provide a more efficient way for SEB-certified businesses to easily learn about opportunities at the Convention Center and easily join the SEB Program. The newly-refreshed website creates a simplified way for SEBs to stay in the loop on upcoming opportunities around the city.

Since 2019, the NOENMCC has awarded more than $54 million in contracts to SEB and DBE vendors. Through initiatives like WIN and the SEBconnect website and app, the Convention Center continues to expand access to opportunities and remove barriers for local businesses.

Small business owners interested in attending the October 22 Reverse Trade Show or learning more about the WIN 2026 Series can visit exhallnola.com.

 

 

About the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (NOENMCC)

With 1.1 million square feet of prime exhibit space on one level, all under one roof, NOENMCC ranks among the top 10 largest convention centers in the United States. A two-time LEED Gold-certified facility and consistently recognized as a regional and national top workplace, NOENMCC welcomes more than 800,000 visitors each year. Its event activity has generated $93.2 billion in economic impact since its opening in 1985 and plays a leading role in New Orleans’ tourism economy. More than $54 million in contracts have been awarded to small businesses and disadvantaged business enterprises since 2019. With its unmatched space, scale and economic impact, NOENMCC proves that New Orleans is Built to Host.

 

About the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority

The Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority’s (Authority) exclusive mission is to finance, construct and operate facilities in order to attract and conduct conventions, trade shows and other events that support and expand the economy of both the State of Louisiana and New Orleans Region. The Authority is composed of a 13-member board of commissioners, ten appointed by the Governor of Louisiana, and three appointed by the Mayor of New Orleans. Since 1985, event activity at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center has produced $93.2 billion in economic impact since its 1985 opening, including $5.7 billion in new tax revenue for state and local governments.

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Convention Center Launches WIN Phase 2 Series With Construction Services Small Business Workshop

Posted on by Thornsten Brueckner

The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (NOENMCC) is continuing its commitment to small and emerging businesses throughout the year with the next installment in its WIN Series. The next phase of workshops, The Procurement Playbook, focuses on construction and vendor service businesses throughout Greater New Orleans. The WIN Series is a part of NOENMCC’s Small and Emerging Business (SEB) Program, which gives access for small businesses, helping them obtain tools and skills to thrive and open doors for new opportunities.

The August installment of the WIN Series: The Procurement Playbook, will be an interactive workshop designed to help general contractors and specialized constriction service providers to strengthen their bidding skills, improve estimating and compete more successfully for private and public contracting opportunities. The registration-only event will take place Friday, August 28, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in Meeting Room 283 of Hall I at the Convention Center. Complimentary parking will be provided after registration, and registration closes on August 26.

Hosted by the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority’s SEB Program, the workshop is designed to help construction business owners and contractors strengthen their skills to secure more business and prepare for growth opportunities. The session will provide practical guidance on strategy, cost structures and estimating, bidding skills and presentation.

The August session will be led by SEB Manager LaToya Martin, with welcoming remarks by Jim Cook, President and CEO of the Convention Center. Featured presenters include Frank Johnson, Director of the Contractor’s Resource Center at Urban League of Louisiana, and Courtney Elzey, Principal at MCDS, LLC

“This phase of WIN is designed to create a clear pathway for vendors and construction service providers to grow and succeed,” said LaToya Martin. “The August Procurement Playbook is a critical step in helping these businesses secure future opportunities. Understanding how to bid on projects and improve estimating practices is essential to thriving in today’s competitive market.”

Phase 2 of the WIN Series will conclude with “Meet the Primes” in October, acting as a structured “reverse trade show” allowing small businesses to present directly to contractors, the Convention Center and other stakeholders.

“The Convention Center is proud to continue the legacy of Mayor Dutch Morial through initiatives like the Small and Emerging Business Program, which directly impact our local economy,” said Jim Cook, NOENMCC President and CEO. “When we invest in the businesses in our community, our entire region benefits. By continuing to provide educational opportunities to small businesses through the WIN series, we’re working to create a pipeline of connection and business opportunities.”

Since 2019, the NOENMCC has awarded more than $54 million in contracts to SEB and DBE vendors. Through initiatives like WIN and the SEBconnect website and app, the Convention Center continues to expand access to opportunities and remove barriers for local businesses.

Small business owners interested in attending the August 28 workshop or learning more about the WIN 2026 Series can visit exhallnola.com.

NOTICE

Posted on by Grace Cassie

Due to technical difficulties, the audio portion of the livestream is not available. Audio of the meeting is being recorded and will be available after the meeting.

Posted on by Matt Fryou

River District Announces Class A Office Tower

 

For visual rendering, please visit here: (Dropbox Folder)

NEW ORLEANS (Sept. 14, 2023) – Joined by Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, Cypress Equities and Lauricella Land Company announced today a landmark lease agreement that will bring Shell’s Gulf of Mexico operations headquarters to a cutting-edge 142,000 square-foot multi-floor office building in the heart of the emerging River District neighborhood.

The lease agreement between Shell and Cypress Lauricella RD 2A, LLC is the first major office space to be planned for the River District and the first Class A office building to be constructed in New Orleans since 1989. The building will be located on Convention Center Boulevard at the corner of Henderson and Euterpe streets within the 39-acre mixed-use neighborhood adjacent to the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center along the banks of the Mississippi River. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2024. The Authority partnered with River District Neighborhood Investors, LLC in 2021 to master plan this unique opportunity.

This transformative development fulfills the mission of the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center as a catalyst in stimulating the economy. In addition to Shell, this new neighborhood will bring new dining, retail, housing, and entertainment options, offering benefits to both visitors and locals.

The development will make the Convention Center more competitive, attracting new events and visitors which will have a greater economic impact to the city, state, and region, creating jobs and generate new taxes.

The Convention Center embarked on a $557 million Capital Improvement Plan in 2018 that included the development of the 39-acres which has already delivered a 7.5-acre pedestrian park that has been overwhelmingly well received and will act as a gateway to the River District.

Other work is underway to modernize the Convention Center, renovating all 140 meeting rooms and public spaces and integrating new technology, all while paying close attention to our impact on the environment as this new neighborhood is committed to as well.

“We are thrilled to partner with the River District as we advance economic opportunities for the state of Louisiana and the New Orleans region through a vibrant and thriving riverfront neighborhood,” said Michael J. Sawaya, President and CEO of the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. “We welcome Shell as a global leader, major local employer and corporate partner committed to the same vision of a great New Orleans.”

“This is an exciting announcement that further solidifies the long standing and successful relationship between Louisiana and Shell,” said Gov. Edwards. “From traditional oil and gas exploration to the current clean energy transition, we are continuing to build on the strength of our partnership by creating more opportunities for economic development and growth that will benefit our people and bring a dynamic addition to the River District neighborhood of New Orleans. This is a significant investment in the city and our state, and I’m grateful to everyone involved in turning this concept into reality. Designed to be both resilient and efficient in many ways, this cutting edge and multifaceted development will provide an innovative commercial space while also setting the example for what the future of energy efficiency and sustainability in work and residential environments can look like.”

The agreement signifies another stride in a transformative development in collaboration with the Convention Center, which will revitalize one of the last available riverfront parcels into a thriving hub of commerce, heritage and culture.

The new neighborhood will also prioritize sustainability and resiliency including district-wide stormwater management, a large, centrally located park, a resilient power grid utilizing Mississippi River water and next generation digital infrastructure.

Expected to generate $43 million of net new annual tax revenues and more than $1 billion of annual economic activity, the River District also promises a new neighborhood that is sustainable and integrated with the surrounding area. The neighborhood will include condominiums and apartments, retail space, hotels, restaurants, sports and entertainment and other amenities.

Earlier this year, Topgolf announced it would join the River District as an anchor entertainment venue. Developers have also pledged a total of 900 mixed-income housing units, of which 450 will be affordable and workforce housing units. The groundbreaking is set for later this year.

For more information about the project visit www.riverdistrictnola.com.

 

About the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
New Orleans is Built to Host! With 1.1 million square feet of prime exhibit space on one level, all under one roof, NOENMCC is the sixth largest Convention Center in the United States and provides the largest single exhibit space in the country. NOENMCC is a 2023 IAVM Venue Excellence recipient and is consistently named a regional top workplace by The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. Our recent LEED Gold certification makes NOENMCC the largest LEED-certified project in Louisiana and the largest convention center project in the U.S. certified under LEED v4.1 Operations and Maintenance, as well as the first convention center in the world to be awarded initial certification under LEED Gold v4.1 O+M. A leading contributor to the city’s robust tourism economy, NOENMCC event activity has produced $90.1 billion in economic impact since its 1985 opening.

About Shell USA, Inc.
Shell USA, Inc. is an affiliate of Shell plc, a global group of energy and petrochemical companies with operations in more than 70 countries. In the U.S., Shell operates in 50 states and employs more than 12,000 people working to help tackle the challenges of the new energy future.

About Cypress Equities
Cypress Equities (Cypress) was founded in 1995 and has since established a national reputation synonymous with the premier development, operation and management of destination-class retail and mixed-use properties throughout the United States. Historically, Cypress has developed and acquired more than 20 million square feet and currently is developing and managing a portfolio primarily focused on retail and mixed-use properties. Today, there are three Cypress Equities offices in the U.S., including Dallas (headquarters), New York and Atlanta. Visit www.cypressequities.com for more information.

About Lauricella Land Company
Lauricella Land Company is a fourth-generation real estate development firm, one of New Orleans’ most respected and multi-faceted. Focusing primarily on retail, Lauricella has developed and managed over 4 million square feet of commercial and mixed-use property in and around Southeast Louisiana. Along with brokerage and leasing affiliate L+A Retail, Lauricella has been involved in over $1 billion of real estate transactions. The company is based in New Orleans.

 

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