
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
Kelder Summers
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development

Universal Printing
Psytia Fleming Jordan
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development

Shop Bayou
Sanaa Msemaji
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development

Harvest
Brandon Pellerin
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development

EntrepreNOLA
Janice Meredith
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development

Gloria’s Garden
Gloria Ward
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development

Froot Orleans
Romander “Mannie” King
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development

The District E Business Alliance
Muriel Lewis & Andre Gonzaque
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development

Alliance for Cultural Equity
Ayo Fayemi-Robinson
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development

JB Holton & Associates
Joel B. Holton
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development

Eden Project
Joy Okoro, Charles Aponza
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development

The Collaborative Community Initiative
Michelle Nixon Stanton, Jessica Jenkins, Shana Hartmann
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development

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

El Centro
Lindsey Navarro
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development

Community Book Center
Vera Warren Williams
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development

Billiot Development
Michael Billiot
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development

Addis NOLA
Dr. Biruk Alemayehu, Jamie Lobo, Prince Lobo
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development

Crazy Waffle Bar
Sinnidra Taylor
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development

Connect2Black
Lawrence Martin
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development

Brighter Horizons Construction
Charles Aponza
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development

Beaucoup Eats
Lakesha Reed
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development

Ascent Blends
Domonique “Dinero” Meyers
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development

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

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

Umoja Visions
Beverly D. Smith
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development

The Lipstiq Lady Cosmetics
Tara Simmons
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development

Nola Organic Mani-Pedi Spa
Sonjauh V. Green
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development

Emerald Service
Ty Davis
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development

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