The Entergy Innovation Center represents a unique partnership designed to revitalize the Upper Ninth Ward through entrepreneurship, technology and connections to resources. The Center offers affordable office, retail, and community meeting spaces and technology access which, combined with targeted outreach and programming, will foster self-sustaining economic development in the area.
Inaugural retail entrepreneurs include Connie Jacobs of Unlimited Communications and Darryl Porter of Lollipop Boutique. They are joined by a full time business manager, Jo Ann Minor, who will engage the community, provide business consulting services to area entrepreneurs and connect the Entergy Innovation Center with similar hubs across the City through The Idea Village’s main office located downtown in The I.P.
The Entergy Innovation Center is made possible through a lead gift from Entergy Corporation, joined with critical support from Regions Bank, Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation, MercyCorps, Target Markets Program Administrators Association, Citi Foundation, Ms. Foundation, as well as several New Orleans foundations. Strategic partners, New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity, Bunny Friend Neighborhood Association, Tulane City Center and CCWIV Architecture LLC were also instrumental in its development.
This pilot neighborhood innovation center is part of a strategic model of clustering entrepreneurial activity in critical areas of New Orleans. The Idea Village believes this model has the potential for national and worldwide replication in other communities seeking economic recovery and growth through entrepreneurship.
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