Community Economic Development

Community Economic Development

Black and Brown-led brick-and-mortar businesses that create jobs and build community along the Broad Street corridor.

Our Impact
Since 2011, Propeller has incubated and accelerated 263 ventures through the Impact Accelerator and Social Venture Fund. Collectively, they have generated over $162 million in external financing and revenue and created 485+ full- and part-time jobs. Our businesses and nonprofits overall have an 84 percent survival rate, compared to the national average of 56 percent.

Community Economic Development (CED) Focus Area
Propeller addresses the disparities faced within our neighborhood and New Orleans as a whole by supporting local economic development through the CED focus area of the Impact Accelerator by supporting the Black and Brown-owned businesses located in the Broad Street corridor. Additionally, we work to address disparities at the New Orleans-ecosystem level by supporting Black and Brown-led organizations working to create a more equitable entrepreneur ecosystem for entrepreneurs of color and also support the development of affordable housing within the Broad Street corridor.

Entrepreneurs working to impact and improve localized economic development, to develop affordable housing, and to create jobs and build community especially for the benefit of people of color (specifically on the Broad Street corridor) make up the ventures in the CED focus area accelerator. Propeller prioritizes solutions that specifically address the following issues in the CED focus area:

  • Development of affordable housing along the South Broad corridor by Black, Indigenous, or Latinx developers
  • For-profit brick and mortar businesses owned by Black entrepreneurs on the North Broad or South Broad Corridor
  • BIPOC-led nonprofit or for-profit organizations improving the operating environment for BIPOC entrepreneurs.

To date, Propeller has accelerated 21+ ventures in the CED focus area by providing access to contacts, contracts, community, capital, mentors, and subject matter experts (financial modeling, graphic design, customer pipeline, marketing, fundraising, etc.). This support has resulted in notable success for these entrepreneurs.

Propeller Ventures working in this Sector

Whiskey & Sticks

Whiskey & Sticks

Kelder Summers

Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Universal Printing

Universal Printing

Psytia Fleming Jordan

Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Shop Bayou

Shop Bayou

Sanaa Msemaji

Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Harvest

Harvest

Brandon Pellerin

Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
EntrepreNOLA

EntrepreNOLA

Janice Meredith

Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Gloria’s Garden

Gloria’s Garden

Gloria Ward

Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Froot Orleans

Froot Orleans

Romander “Mannie” King

Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
The District E Business Alliance

The District E Business Alliance

Muriel Lewis & Andre Gonzaque

Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Alliance for Cultural Equity

Alliance for Cultural Equity

Ayo Fayemi-Robinson

Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
JB Holton & Associates

JB Holton & Associates

Joel B. Holton

Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Eden Project

Eden Project

Joy Okoro, Charles Aponza

Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
The Collaborative Community Initiative

The Collaborative Community Initiative

Michelle Nixon Stanton, Jessica Jenkins, Shana Hartmann

Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
2 B Chic Boutique and Glam Parlor

2 B Chic Boutique and Glam Parlor

Brandy Armstrong

Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
El Centro

El Centro

Lindsey Navarro

Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Community Book Center

Community Book Center

Vera Warren Williams

Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Billiot Development

Billiot Development

Michael Billiot

Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Addis NOLA

Addis NOLA

Dr. Biruk Alemayehu, Jamie Lobo, Prince Lobo

Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Crazy Waffle Bar

Crazy Waffle Bar

Sinnidra Taylor

Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Connect2Black

Connect2Black

Lawrence Martin

Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Brighter Horizons Construction

Brighter Horizons Construction

Charles Aponza

Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Beaucoup Eats

Beaucoup Eats

Lakesha Reed

Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Ascent Blends

Ascent Blends

Domonique “Dinero” Meyers

Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Artist Journey Allen Gallery Studio

Artist Journey Allen Gallery Studio

Journey Allen

Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
We Bleed Ink Tattoo Shop

We Bleed Ink Tattoo Shop

Trevone Sansom

Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Umoja Visions

Umoja Visions

Beverly D. Smith

Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
The Lipstiq Lady Cosmetics

The Lipstiq Lady Cosmetics

Tara Simmons

Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Nola Organic Mani-Pedi Spa

Nola Organic Mani-Pedi Spa

Sonjauh V. Green

Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Emerald Service

Emerald Service

Ty Davis

Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Chef D’z Cafe on the Ave.

Chef D’z Cafe on the Ave.

Donald Smith

Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
A Priority One Rental Car

A Priority One Rental Car

James Washington Sr. & James Washington Jr.

Areas of focus: Community Economic Development