2 March 2016

NEW ORLEANS, LA (Mar. 2, 2016) – Today, Propeller announces the full lineup and agenda for Water Challenge 2016, taking place at Manning’s on Fulton Street on Monday, March 14th during New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW), presented by IBERIABANK. Water Challenge 2016 is the region’s premiere summit for entrepreneurial solutions tackling Louisiana’s most pressing issues within Louisiana’s growing water economy.

This full-day event culminates a year-long initiative operated by Propeller focused on solving Louisiana's most pressing regional water challenges through entrepreneurship.

The morning session (9:00am – 12:30pm) convenes entrepreneurs, industry experts, and city leaders for a series of roundtable discussions on the maritime, coastal, urban water, and seafood industries. The afternoon session opens (1:30pm) with a key note address by Dean Amhaus, CEO & President of The Water Council, followed by the Water Challenge $15,000 business pitch competition (3:45 – 5:00pm), sponsored by the Greater New Orleans Foundation.

3 finalists will pitch their ideas to tackle water quality, land loss, and stormwater management to a panel of judges including Steve Tullos (Entergy Corporation, Manager of Corporate Environmental Initiatives), Cedric Grant (The New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board, Executive Director), Dean Amhaus (The Water Council, CEO & President), and Ella Delio (Greater New Orleans Foundation, director of Environmental and Regional Initiatives).

Water Challenge 2016 Finalists:

Martin Ecosystems (Nicole Waguespack)
Martin Ecosystems provides environmental solutions through the use of innovative technologies to improve water quality and reduce shoreline erosion.

Caminada Bay Premium Oysters (Marcos Guerrero)
Providing a bottomless oyster growing technology to increase resiliency with changes in river diversions. 

Hanging Gardens (Colleen Butler & Anthony Mayer)
Providing new and innovative green infrastructure solutions for stormwater management in New Orleans through green roofs.

The Water Challenge is free and open to the public. Registration is required via NOEW.org. For more information on this year’s Water Challenge, visit GNOF.org.

Originally launched by the Greater New Orleans Foundation and The Idea Village, the Water Challenge is funded by the Greater New Orleans Foundation, sponsored by Entergy Corporation and the U.S. Economic Development Administration, and supported by JPMorgan Chase & Co.

ABOUT PROPELLER
Propeller is a New Orleans-based nonprofit organization that drives social, environmental, and economic impact in New Orleans by incubating early-stage ventures that have the potential to solve our city’s most pressing issues.  GoPropeller.org

ABOUT NOEW
New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW), presented by IBERIABANK, is the dynamic eight-day business festival that engages New Orleans’ entrepreneurial community in discussion, debate, education, competition, and celebration. Going into its 8th year, NOEW 2016 will run from March 11-18 on Fulton Street in downtown New Orleans. The event is produced by The Idea Village. NOEW.org