Bulletin for September 15, 2026

Thanks to GNOEA member George Messing, Owner Messina’s Catering, for hosting this week’s networking event for GNOEA members at the Rooftop on Basin St!

Jerry Bologna, JEDCO

Jerry Bologna is the President and CEO at JEDCO. Before accepting this role, Jerry was the organization’s Deputy Director, overseeing the JEDCO Business Innovation Center, Marketing, Financing and Economic Development Services which includes the parish’s Business Retention and Expansion Program. That program garnered international acclaim in 2004 from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).

Jerry is a graduate of the University of New Orleans, having received a Bachelor of Science and Business Administration with a Major in Management. In addition to his work at JEDCO, Jerry serves on the boards of the Jefferson Chamber, Greater New Orleans, Inc., and Café Hope. In 2004, he was named by New Orleans CityBusiness as one of the “Top 40 Under Forty.” In 2011, Jerry won IEDC’s New Economic Development Professional of the year.

Jerry informed the members that The Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO) is an independent, yet complementary arm of Jefferson Parish government. JEDCO’s mission is to build a resilient, equitable, diverse and competitive economy by driving the
retention and creation of quality jobs, entrepreneurship, innovation, and investment in Jefferson Parish.

In 2025, JEDCO met with over 230 businesses, funded 15 loans, invested 13.2 million in projects, and was the top SSBCI lender in the state. By 2030, Jefferson Parish will stand as a nationally recognized destination for business success and quality of life – a thriving economic center built through strategic industry development, targeted localized investments and shared economic opportunity.