St. Bernard Organizations Participate in Idea Village Entrepreneur Week.

Each year from July- March, the Idea Village Entrepreneur Week Season offers education, consulting and capital access programs in support of startup growth oriented entities. The season culminates each year with New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW).

This year, personnel representing the St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation, St. Bernard Chamber of Commerce and Nunez Community College, Entrepreneur Center, participated in a Water Challenge Day Panel, which was held on March 24, 2014. The panel participates included Amber Seely-Marks, Director of Economic Development, New Orleans Regional Planning Commission, Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy; Ed Shedlock, Assistant Director, Nunez Community College, Entrepreneur Center; Stephen Reuther, Chief Executive Officer, St. Bernard Chamber of Commerce, and Danny Bourgeois, Executive Director, St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation.

The panel led a discussion citing numerous business opportunities that exist in the rapidly growing water sector economic clusters. Stephen Reuther highlighted the momentum and opportunities that are driving entrepreneurial activities, thus creating jobs growth, especially for small businesses. Danny Bourgeois’ comments were relative to how public and private partnership is leading initiatives in St. Bernard Parish to create jobs and drive business development. Danny detailed networking strategies that are being planned to attract funding to spur business investments in the Ecotourism, Fisheries and Coastal Restoration sectors of the economy. Ed Shedlock noted that Nunez Community College is committed to serve as a viable partner in the project by educating inspiring entrepreneurs. Ed’s comments addressed that Nunez’s entrepreneurship/small business management programs are designed to equip students with the ability to start and run their own business.

The panel’s remarks were appreciate and respected by all in attendance. Many enthusiastic conversations and discussions continued between the panel members and the audience once the program was concluded. Amber Seely- Marks appreciated how the education, government and business leaders in St. Bernard Parish come together to create a wonderful synergy to lead and build the capacities to expand the water sector economic cluster.