NEW ORLEANS – The City of New Orleans announced the launch of the New Orleans East Investment and Job Corridors, a strategic economic development initiative designed to position New Orleans East as the Gulf South’s leading destination for advanced industry, investment, and job creation.
The initiative is centered on two complementary corridors:
- Michoud Innovation Corridor – Anchored by NASA Michoud, supporting aerospace, advanced manufacturing, research, technology and innovation.
- Port and Logistics Corridor – Built around the future Louisiana International Terminal, advancing maritime commerce, logistics, transportation, warehousing, and supply chain industries.
Together, these corridors will attract private investment, create high-quality jobs, and strengthen demand for restaurants, retail, hotels, grocery stores, and neighborhood services across New Orleans East.
“What has been missing is a coordinated effort to prepare sites, improve infrastructure, recruit investment, and tell one compelling story to employers and investors,” said Mayor Helena Moreno. “The New Orleans East Investment and Job Corridors bring those pieces together under one unified vision. As these corridors attract new employers and thousands of new jobs, they will also generate the customer base needed to support additional restaurants, grocery stores, retail, hotels, entertainment, and neighborhood services throughout New Orleans East. Economic development does not stop at the factory gate; it creates opportunity throughout the community.”
“I want to thank our extraordinary Mayor Helena Moreno for never losing sight on New Orleans East,” said District E Councilmember, Jason Hughes. “I could not be more excited that the vision and plans for this area is becoming reality. This corridor, anchored by NASA, will be transformational for New Orleans East. For far too long New Orleans East was the ‘city of no.’ Today, New Orleans East is open for business.”
Delgado Chancellor Larissa Littleton Steib said, “Delgado Community College is honored to partner with Mayor Moreno and the City of New Orleans on making New Orleans East the epicenter for innovation. Delgado’s existing programs span maritime, transportation and logistics, aerospace, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, warehousing, and other industries that align and intersect directly with the Michoud Innovation Corridor and Port and Logistics Corridor. Together, we have an opportunity to shape the future of these corridors by aligning education, workforce, innovation, and economic development strategies to drive investment, create jobs, and enhance the competitiveness of both the region and our respective institutions.”
The initiative will focus on two immediate priorities:
Development-Ready Sites & Infrastructure: The City will identify strategic development sites, assess utility capacity, improve roads and infrastructure, address zoning barriers, and create an inventory of development-ready properties. These efforts complement the EAST Task Force’s work to advance redevelopment and are supported by a joint $20 million U.S. Economic Development Administration grant application with Entergy New Orleans for utility improvements.
Investment Attraction & Partnerships: Working with GNO Inc., the City will market New Orleans East nationally and internationally, recruit employers and developers, prepare priority sites for investment, and build partnerships that accelerate job creation and private investment.