Stay Local!

Announcements

2009: The Year in Review

January 2, 2010

Milestones.

2009 was a great year. As we look back, we see efforts fulfilled, new partnerships fostered and new pathways carved. With your generous contributions and unwavering support, we’ve been able to accomplish a number of things over the past year:

  • We’ve upgraded Stay Local.org to better serve the nearly 2000 businesses listed in our directory; improve search options and capabilities, and add enhanced features such as video.
  • We also expanded our Cultural Heritage Tourism project to include new directories for the Lake & Park and Gentilly neighborhoods, as well as updated directories for Old Algiers and the Carrollton corridor that now includes Maple Street, Oak Street and the Riverbend;
  • We supported organizations and traditional commercial corridors throughout the city with technical assistance on key projects, including continued development of the Lafitte Greenway as a linear green space, representing over $3 million in direct funding for sustainable development in New Orleans;
  • We collaborated with Renaissance Publishing to create the first annual Stay Local! Guide to Commerce & Culture and partnered with The Louisiana Weekly Publishing Co. to have Stay Local! success stories appear in print;
  • We convened, presented and participated in over 30 conferences and meetings with state and local government representatives, businesses, and NGOs to expand on earlier work and to represent UC’s positions on sustainable land use and the local economy.
  • We produced “Thinking Outside the Box,” a retail study detailing the impact locally-owned businesses have on our local and regional economy. The result of which is that local merchants generate twice the annual sales, recirculate revenue within the local economy at twice the rate, and on a per square foot basis, have four times the economic impact.
  • We hosted “You Are Here” The Urban Conservancy’s annual fall fundraiser during which we had the honor of recognizing eight regional businesses – all chosen through an open call for nominations – with “Above & Beyond” awards for the contributions they make to their communities as well as raise 10K to go towards improving, continuing and expanding SL! projects.

As we move forward into 2010, we do so in the hopes of continuing to aid in our city’s recovery, support the resiliency of our local economy and providing even more value to local-owned businesses as we endeavor to inform you and fight for your right to compete in a fair market. For all your support, we thank you.