Greetings!
On behalf of the BioDistrict New Orleans Board of Commissioners and staff, it is my pleasure to publish this biweekly newsletter about the plans, opportunities and activities of the District.
We wish to thank the thousands of people who have contributed their time, thoughts and concerns about how they wish to see the area and industry develop. We have heard your comments and designed the long term plan with your vision in mind.
It is also our hope that you will continue to follow the BioDistrict and support our mission, as we launch into the implementation phase of creating thousands of new high paying quality jobs, better healthcare and new educational opportunities in a sustainably built environment.
Please share this newsletter with a friend, colleague or loved one looking for positive news about the future of metro New Orleans.
Sincerely,
James P. McNamara President & CEO |
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BioDistrict New Orleans: A forwarding thinking government entity doing the people's business.
A huge part of life going forward for government entities like the BioDistrict is being able to demonstrate their effectiveness. Taxpayer's are for good reason, suspicious of the use of tax dollars, they all want to see a better return on their money.
A big part of the assignment undertaken by the BioDistrict and its Board of Commissioners is delivery of services for a fair value. In previous newsletter issues, we gave you facts about the impact of biosciences at the State, Super-Region, Senate and House Districts levels. We discussed the fact that Louisiana is already competitive in the bioscience industry. The bioscience industry already employs 13.5 percent of Louisiana workers! Having that base makes our effort to build a successful hub even more important. It tells us that with a sustained commitment from local, regional, state, political, business and philanthropic organizations the common goal of creating a premier bio hub can be a reality.
Here is a breakdown of the BioDistrict's Economic Impact
by City Council District
 | | Measuring results is an important part of strategic planning and implementation activities |
The holistic approach undertaken by the BioDistrict requires us to maintain a database on the changes that impact the District. We also needed a tool to track opportunities for private or public investment in the District. To do this we engaged GCR Associates in association with Dr. James Richardson and Henry Consulting to build a database and set the baseline by which we can measure the impact and effectiveness of our programming.
Our goal is to take the guess work out of the system. Developers, site selectors, other government agencies should be able to make investment decisions based on a transparent predictable process.
Check out the demographic information we have gathered into one public accessible location:
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Select BioDistrict
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Having completed your review, we hope you now have a sense of the true value of our approach. Unlike any other section of New Orleans, the neighborhoods that comprise the BioDistrict truly represent what is very natural to New Orleans. It shows the stress and conflict of the lack of planning, disinvestment, the 60's concepts of suburb oriented transportation, and now the large public projects. With Select BioDistrict we can now measure impacts and modify programming to assist in the transformation to a better community.
  
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| | What will it take to form a successful BIO Hub?
We have introduced the concept and talked about it for years but few New Orleanians have visited or seen the economic impact of one.
Using guide information from the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) which generally describes the conditions to create a successful hub as requiring science, education, capital, public policy and workforce, we examined a host of other sources and examples including Birmingham, Memphis, St. Louis, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Boston and San Diego.
We were recognized by Sanofi as a rising star having finally gotten all of the pieces and parts forward in a holistic coordinated fashion.
The Board of Commissioners San Diego adopted a Business Plan that addresses these issues:
- Strong science base
- Positive Business environment
- Ability to attract and/or train a skilled workforce
- Specialized Facilities - Cancer Research and BioInnovation Centers
- Continuous community and political commitment
- Connectivity
- Effective marketing of scientific and business networks
- Effective financing mechanisms and incentives
- Strong ecosystem, i.e., infrastructure and business support services
- Conducive intellectual property environment
- Supportive policy, advocacy and regulatory environment
- Investment in technology transfer and commercialization mechanisms
- Entrepreneurial culture
- Operating efficiency
- Sustainably Built Environment Housing, Restaurants, and Cafe's
San Diego is one of the top bio hubs. When they started twenty plus years ago, BIOCOM, their coordinating agency, embarked on creating the hub by building the facilities, attracting capital, developing a social network, training a workforce, cultivating an entrepreneurial culture, and aligning the mission of economic development with university research. Below is a slide from our recent workshop showing their mapping and the similiarty to the structure we are implementing above.
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Building the Ecosystem of Support
To be competitive in the Innovation Economy, we must make sure school children have the basic skills in science, technology, engineering and math. A high school junior will in just a few short years be the workforce we need to continue the growth of the industry.
One of the premier local programs is Core Elements. As a non-profit 501(c)3 they supply teachers with the tools to ensure students will be ready for the opportunities ahead. Please support the efforts of Core Element.
 | | Promoting Quality Teaching in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics |
One way you can support Core Elements by attending the August 15 fundraiser sponored by the Society of Petroleum Engineers:
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BioDistrict New Orleans: In the Community
Hospitality Industry and the BioDistrict -- working hand in hand to improve the fortunes of New Orleans. Growing brand recognition and product development produces positive results for both!
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For More Information
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Children's Tumor Foundation (CTF)
Recently, the Foundation held it's annual forum at the Hilton Riverside and Towers to discuss strategies for finding a cure for Neurofibromatosis (NF), which is a set of distinct genetic disorders that cause tumors to grow along various nerve types. NF can also affect the development of non-nervous tissues such as bones and skin. NF-1 occurs in 1:3,000 births, NF-2 occurs 1:25,000 births worldwide.
 | Preparing for a fun run
before a hard day of work |
While in town, BioDistrict Pres. and CEO James McNamara sat down with the CTF Board Chair Stuart Match Suna to discuss ways the BioDistrict can become involved and secure research dollars and clinical services for it's university members and area hospitals.
This is yet another example of the where because of the Hospitality Industry, bioscience related groups are in town for serious business meetings. We share a belief with hospitality's top management that by working together we both enhance experience in New Orleans and improve our prospects for a better future. The New Orleans Ernest Morial Convention Center hosts the CEO of every Fortune 500 company once every two years, our aim is to tap into that opportunity and create new opportunities for New Orleans.
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DID YOU KNOW?
With a long term commitment to excellence, the BioDistrict has the potential to reverse the brain drain and become a premier BioHub on the world stage!
We are succeeding in creating the positive buzz that will allow us to attract outside investment providing quality, better paying jobs for New Orleanians.
BioDistrict New Orleans has created a special group on LinkedIn called Bio New Orleans where professionals and employers can post job opportunities, discuss research findings or industry trends and network with other professionals in the biosciences industry. The aim is to create a bioscience community.
As of today, we have posted six new job openings and more will follow as the community builds. In five months, more than 327 (up twelve since the last newsletter) multi-disciplined professionals have joined and started sharing ideas, leads, knowledge and contacts. Some are locals, some ex-pats and some have never been to New Orleans and are sharing in our growth and want to stay in touch.
This is how industry hubs are formed, thrive and take on a life of their own.
Are YOU in the game or on the sideline?
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For more information, please visit www.BioDistrictNewOrleans.org
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Request for Statement of Qualifications for Architecture, Engineering and others services
DUE DATE: June 28, 2012 @ 2:00 pm
For more information
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 | | Meetings, Conventions and Conferencesd |
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Quick Links
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We Are Social
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BioDistrict
1515 Poydras St
Suite 150
New Orleans 70112
Come by to see
renderings of the new
proposed developments within the BioDistrict
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Value Proposition:
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A STRONG FOCUSED SCIENCE BASE THAT IS GROWING + Positive Business Environment 
Top Rankings
Just Released: 16 Years and Counting: #1 - Xavier University graduates more pre-med students that actually attend medical school than any other university in the country! |
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HOUSING
A wide array of beautifully transformed homes of all sizes, offer flexibility and comfort to anyone, from artists, researchers, families and singles. Most of our units are conveniently located to employment opportunities and have easy access to public transportation.
 | | Click Here for more info |
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Click Here for more info
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CAFES AND RESTAURANTS
 | | PJ's on Poydras 1515 Poydras Street |
and
Ur Way Yogurt & Coffee
in the BioDistrict
3001 Tulane Ave
Shops at the Crescent Club
Great treats and good eats! Free WIFI for customers.
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| SPECIALIZED FACILITIES
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Real time Construction Cam
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New Orleans
BioInnovation Center
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Rev. Avery C. Alexander, Jr. Academic Research Hospital
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Louisiana Cancer Research Consortium
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more information
on either the BioInnovation
or the LA Cancer
Research Centers
about business
opportunities and partnerships.
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Partners In Trade
 | World Trade Center
New Orleans |
 | | The BioDistrist is a Member of the Collaborative |
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NEWCITY Neighborhood Partnership is a coalition of over fifty stakeholders in the Treme/Lafitte and Tulane/Gravier neighborhoods of New Orleans.
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