Tulane’s Downtown Development

Sharon Courtney, VP Government Affairs, Tulane

Thanks to member George Messina for catering this week’s networking event at Rooftop on Basin.

Guest speaker Sharon Courtney, Vice President of Tulane’s Government Affairs, and advocate for Tulane at all levels shared the latest on what is envisioned for an Innovation District. Tulane University, research universities and medical centers would be considered an “anchoring” institution with large federal funding  and large employers.  Innovation Districts, an urban evolution, are a smaller footprint than a city, are easily accessible by public transportation and has a mix of housing types. She compared other cities who have been successful in diversifying their economy such as Pittsburgh when the steel industry left. Pittsburgh built around Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh and is referred to as eds, meds and robots.
Tulane’s uptown campus is landlocked forcing it to expand their campus downtown with roughly 3000 employees. Tulane has three professional schools; School of Medicine, Social Work and one of the top ten schools of public health. Courtney continued by saying that federal funding is the key that drives research, the research drives the commercialization of the research and the commercialization of the research drives the business.
In addition, Charity Hospital has partnered with LCMC who is committed to the local community and will redevelop and repurpose the space. Tulane will be the anchor tenant occupying 40 percent of the building and will be the new home to School of Public Health and Medicine with scientists and researchers.  The building next to Charity, will be renovated for the use of research. Tulane now has a partnership with LCMC Health to create an additional academic center at EJGH. Tulane Hospital will eventually close and the building will be repurposed with a nursing program and brain injury center and more.
She closed with “What can you do?”…. Talk it up with colleagues and friends!

Membership

If you have a prospect, please have them connect with Jacquie Bonano, membership chair at membership@gnoea.com.

Thank You & Announcements

Jesse Hoppes, President, presented John Lagarde, Classic Cupboard, with a certificate of appreciation for his participation on the board.

Jesse Hoppes, reminded all that the GNOEA PO Box is officially closed. Change mailing address to 1908 Clearview Pkwy, Suite 203, Metairie, LA 70001

Upcoming Meeting Schedule

  • March 7th – No Meeting
  • March 14th – Avondale Site Visit – Avondale Global Gateway Tour – Must RSVP by March 7th so that names can be provided to the organizer.
  • March 21st – LABI – Jim Patterson – Board meeting to follow.
  • March 28th – Tax Talk with Philip Rebowe, CPA P&N
  • April 11th – TBA
  • April 18th – St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation, Meaghan McCormack CEO – Board Meeting follows
  • May 2nd – No Meeting
  • May 4th – Crawfish Boil at Southern Yacht Club
  • May 9th – No Meeting
  • May 16th – TBA – Board meeting follows
  • May 23rd – Louisiana State Treasurer John Schroder
  • May 30th – No Meeting
  • June 6th – TBA
  • June 13th – No Meeting
  • June 20th – No Meeting
  • June 27th – Update on Jefferson Parish – Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng – Board meeting follows

Check website for updates and bulletins that include upcoming events. Meeting events are on the calendar.