StayLocal is Greater New Orleans’ independent business alliance. We create an environment for local businesses to thrive through research, education, and advocacy.

NOLA Innovation: Green Businesses

Food that goes unsold or uneaten in the United States ends up in a landfill, where it decomposes and releases methane — a greenhouse gas between 24 and 87 times more potent than CO2. This makes reducing food waste one of the top three ways to reverse climate change.

StayLocal and GREEN Hospitality, an innovator in Hong Kong’s hospitality industry, work together to offer skills training to owners of local restaurants and other food businesses. Our Small Business Sustainability Accelerator has helped business owners working toward a greener future in both Hong Kong and New Orleans, and emphasizes the role that independent business owners play as initiators of change in communities. Building better systems for addressing food waste fosters innovation for repurposing food waste locally.

In 2024 alone, these restaurants took significant steps to reduce food waste in New Orleans: Petite Rouge Cafe | Southern Food and Beverage Museum | Acorn Cafe | Codey’s NOLA | Morial Convention Center | Tulane Hospitality | Docville Farm | Rebouche’s Cafe | Agave Mexican Restaurant, plus Tulane University and the Morial Convention Center.

Interested in supporting NOLA businesses that are environmental sustainable? Head to our local business directory and use the “eco friendly” search filter at staylocal.org/find.

Open for Business During Infrastructure Improvements

Great news! The City of New Orleans has secured billions of dollars for infrastructure improvements along business corridors. As a community, we understand the long-term benefit that these improvements have for residents and businesses.

StayLocal has partnered with the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and RoadWorkNOLA to provide support to businesses for any short-term impact businesses may experience while roads are improved.

Visit the Road Construction Ramp Up! Toolkit page of our website, where you can also find tips and resources for business owners, and ways to sign up for alerts on construction projects.

ICYMI: Marketing Tips for 2025

In January’s #WebinarWednesday, we shared marketing insights to help your independent business grow and prosper in 2025. Guest experts Anamaria Bech and Axel Rosa of New Orleans’ premiere multicultural publication, Viva NOLA, joined us.

As business owners refine their 2025 marketing plans, it helps to consider both best practices and new innovations. Whether you are refreshing your brand, refining your message, or just want to keep all eyes on your business, you'll want to hear what these media professionals have to say.

This event, hosted by StayLocal together with LCIA, the member services arm of LCI Worker’s Comp, a group self-insurance fund operating in Louisiana since 1989, was recorded.

Watch the webinar recording on StayLocal’s YouTube here.