Business / Professional
One of the little recognized proficiencies in the Greater New Orleans Region has always been the level of expertise and specialization in business and professional services, especially electronic human resources, procurement, financial planning, and back office technologies. The industry is a significant regional employer, and employment is expected to increase, adding nearly 2,000 employees from 2007.
Supported by the state and institutions of higher education, significant and long-term federal programs have thrived here and have led to a talented and specialized workforce in programs including the largest federal payroll center in the country; the largest Federal implementation of PeopleSoftHR, and in-development, the largest PeopleSoft implementation in the world. Just across the border in Mississippi, the NASA Shared Services Center utilizes similar technologies to provide back office services for the agency. These programs have created a mass of highly trained technically skilled employees.
Louisiana has increased state funds for higher education by 102% and has seen a 244.9% increase in the number of associate degrees awarded in science and technology. Additionally, the state invested heavily to create the Louisiana Optical Network Initiative, a fiber optics network that connects eight major research universities.
Business and professional services is expanding beyond government back office support. Engineering and technical services related to Energy, Petrochemicals and Plastics, for example, are projected to grow on the Northshore, where the quality of life, educated workforce, availability of secure property and proximity to research institutions will enable growth in this industry.
The region benefits from active technology and entrepreneur support organizations, such as the Louisiana Technology Council and The Idea Village.
Research, technology and business parks
Elmwood Business Park (Jefferson Parish)
James Business Park (St. Charles Parish)
UNO Technology Park – Lakefront (Orleans Parish)
UNO Technology Park – Slidell (St. Tammany) – in development
Churchill (Jefferson Parish) – in development
News in The Region
GNO Inc. intensifies focus on digital media industry
GNO Digital Media Alliance launches
Idea Village and GNO Inc. win $1M Rockefeller Foundation grant
Grant to create affordable, worker housing
Armstrong close to landing deal for AeroMexico service
International service may return to MSY
