The Entergy Innovation Center (EIC) represents a unique partnership designed to revitalize the Upper Ninth Ward through entrepreneurship, technology and connections to resources. The EIC is a creative hub, business incubator, and community resource center focused on arts entrepreneurship. By combining affordable office, retail and community meeting spaces with technology access and targeted outreach and programming, the EIC seeks to empower business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs, professional artists, and community members to create economic self-sufficiency by engaging in the cultural economy. The EIC houses inaugural retail entrepreneurs Connie Jacobs of Unlimited Communications and Darryl Porter of Lollipop Boutique, as well as Myesha Francis of M Francis Gallery. They are joined by a full time business manager, Jo Ann Minor, and Americorps *VISTA member and programming director, Jodine Gordon, who 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 IP. 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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First Floor: Technology Resource Center
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Second Floor:
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