Coastal Restoration

Coastal land loss is undoubtedly the pressing existential crisis threatening Louisiana’s economy, culture and historical way of life.  In response to the ongoing and escalating threats posed by coastal erosion, and with the unprecedented influx of funding from the 2010 oil spill, Louisiana is aggressively responding to the challenge ahead through the creation and implementation of the state’s Coastal Master Plan, overseen by the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA). The response to our coastal and urban water challenges have demonstrated an emerging industry sector of Environmental Management.

First identified by McKinsey in the State of Louisiana’s Blue Ocean Initiative in 2010, Environmental Management was subsequently adopted by GNO, Inc. as one of six priority sectors.  With a variety of firms specializing in engineering, surveying, geotechnical analysis, water management, design and construction honing a specialized skill set in restoration and disaster recovery in the years following Hurricane Katrina and the BP Oil Spill, a clear market niche and expertise has been developed.

RESEARCH AND RESOURCES

Providing local leaders – from heads of industry, to elected officials, to university presidents – with the resources needed to guide decision-making and investment processes.

• Sectoral Shift: An Unprecedented Opportunity in Water Management: Water Workforce Development Analysis completed by GNO, Inc., commissioned by the Kresge Foundation
• Course to Career Maps: Illustrated guides for students at two-year colleges outlining career options based on course availability. These large posters are hung within our region’s two-year schools to bolster the development of their students and ensure they enroll in the proper classes.
• GNO Career Guides: Comprehensive toolkits for Career & Technology Education (CTE) administrators, career counselors, local and state agencies, and policy makers illustrating job opportunities in Environmental Management.
• State of the Sector – Water: A hallmark of GNO, Inc.’s research efforts, “State of the Sector” reports outline the growth of the region’s six target industry sectors, including Water Management.
• An Analysis of Coastal Restoration Workforce Assets, Challenges, and Opportunities in South Louisiana: A comprehensive set of recommendations around small business engagement, labor enhancement, agency transparency, and workforce demand in Coastal Restoration, sourced from interviews with university, workforce development, community development, and non-profit partners.

PUBLIC POLICY

Building coalitions to advocate for national and statewide environmental policy that provides economic stability and business continuity.

• Coalition for Coastal Resilience and Economy: A non-partisan advocacy group comprised of business leaders who understand how coastal land-loss can challenge economic stability and are positioned to champion holistic restoration efforts and protections of critical coastal funds.
• Coalition for Sustainable Flood Insurance: A coalition working to ensure that the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is efficiently run, fiscally sound, and affordable for primary residential and commercial properties, while advocating for greater inclusion of state-implemented flood protection measures in rate and protection determinations. CSFI was formed by elected and business leaders in response to drastic flood insurance premium hikes, inaccurate and incomplete FEMA flood maps, and questionable actuarial calculations.