Accomplishments

Canseco’s Market to Open Flagship Location in Arabi

St. Bernard Parish, LA. (November 10, 2017) – Canseco’s Market is opening its newest location on Tuesday, November 14, 2017, at 6735 St. Claude Avenue in Arabi.  The 11,600-square-foot store will be the company’s fourth location throughout Greater New Orleans.

 

Tractor Supply Co. to Open in St. Bernard Parish

Tractor Supply Co., the largest rural lifestyle retail store in the U.S., has broken ground on a site in Meraux for a store that will open later this fall. The property was owned by the Meraux Foundation and identified as an ideal location for the new retail store through a site selection program managed by SBEDF.

Meet the 2017 Grow St. Bernard cohort of local businesses

Grow St. Bernard, a professional development seminar series created to support St. Bernard Parish’s increasing base of locally owned businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs, recently the local businesses who completed the program on June 13, 2017. Grow St. Bernard's inaugural cohort of nineteen businesses included a variety of companies from law offices to restaurants, retail to professional services spanning throughout St. Bernard Parish.

The program, a joint venture between the St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation (SBEDF) and the St. Bernard Chamber of Commerce, will be releasing a new schedule of individual "Lunch and Learn" seminars on several topics for the Fall of 2017. Join the email list at the link below for more information about future programming.

Winner of 2017 Startup St. Bernard Competition Announced

Judges announced Reactive Digital Systems, LLC the winner of the third annual Startup St. Bernard presented by the Arlene and Joseph Meraux Charitable Foundation and the St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation in conjunction with New Orleans Entrepreneurs Week.

2016 ANNUAL REVIEW

SBEDF CELEBRATES ANOTHER YEAR OF GROWTH AND PROSPERSITY

The St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation (SBEDF) has a fresh look in 2016. The organization undertook a full rebrand including a new corporate logo, website redesign, email templates, and other supporting graphics.

The refreshed organization is reflective of the renewed energy in St. Bernard Parish. The time has never been better to capitalize and invest in St. Bernard Parish and SBEDF.

Inugural Startup St. Bernard Winner, 40 Arpent Brewing Company Hosts Taproom Grand Opening

What began as a home brewing hobby for Michael Naquin has blossomed into a 6,000 square foot micro-brewing operation nestled in the heart of Old Arabi on the bank of the Mississippi River.         

Founded in 2011, 40 Arpent Brewing Company has provided locally crafted beer to restaurants and bars throughout Southeast Louisiana, but with the completion of a 1,200 square foot taproom, Naquin and his staff look forward to serving their product on site.   

Winn-Dixie to Reveal Remodeled Store

Southeastern Grocers, the parent company of Winn-Dixie, will unveil its newest remodeled store in Chalmette, La., during a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 14, at 3300 Paris Rd.

SBEDF Announces Rebranding of Organization

The St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation (SBEDF), the official economic development organization for St. Bernard Parish, today announced its new corporate brand and logo.

'Studio Arabi' Arts Campus to Accelerate Creative Economy in St. Bernard Parish

The Arlene and Joseph Meraux Charitable Foundation announced today that it has partnered with the artistic team of Erica and Mitchell Gaudet to develop a two block stretch of vacant and underused properties along St. Claude Avenue into Studio Arabi, an “arts campus” that will include studios, galleries, artist residences, and a theatre. Borrowing from creative placemaking approaches, the project will leverage arts and culture as a driver for economic development and enhanced livability in the parish.

2016 Working on the Water Summit a Tremendous Success

The second annual Working on the Water Summit and Expo returned to St. Bernard Parish on March 22, 2016 at the Meraux Foundation’s Docville Farm, concluding a year of Working on the Water programming that began in May 2015.

SBEDF Welcomes Ship Tech Services to St. Bernard Parish

Fast-Growing New Startup to Add Dozens of Jobs to St. Bernard Economy. Ship Tech Services provides maritime, environmental and industrial cleaning services for ships, barges, tanks and other vessels throughout the Gulf Coast.

SBEDF Provides Update on Economic Development to WWLTV

St. Bernard, La. (August 25, 2015) -- Marking the tenth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Andrew Jacques and Chairman Joseph DiFatta provided an update on economic development in St. Bernard Parish to WWLTV.

SBEDF Expands Workforce Development Program for Fishermen

In May 2015, The St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation announced a partnership with the Regional Planning Commission that allowed for the expansion of its Working on the Water (WOW) initiative to provide more programming that will be held continuously throughout the year.

$200,000 grant

Served as the fiscal agent for a $200,000 grant awarded from the federal Economic Development Administration, Department of Commerce’s Recovery Program. This funding was used to assess and stimulate the recovery of commercial fisheries and related entities that were impacted by the Horizon- BP oil spill that occurred in April 2010.

EDF’s initial website

Secured the funding from LED to support the development of EDF’s initial website to foster economic development in St. Bernard Parish.

Hosted Grant Business Seminars

Hosted Grant Business Seminars to assist both local government and non-profit entities with the “Best Practice Techniques” that are a must for securing grant funding. Estimated impact – Over $1 million in grant awards.

$142,500 from the Louisiana Legislature

Secured the funding of $142,500 from the Louisiana Legislature, through a grant made available through LED to benefit St. Bernard’s economic development operations. The funding was specifically earmarked to acquire a permanent business office domiciled in St. Bernard Parish.

Louisiana Economic Development (LED

Served as the lead liaison for Louisiana Economic Development (LED) Tier’s I and II Grant Programs in promoting grants for local qualifying businesses. EDF hosted a series of business seminars spearheading initiatives whereby resulting in over 300 businesses qualifying to receive a $10,000 grant. Overall economic impact for St. Bernard’s business community over $3 million.

St. Bernard Parish Planning Document

Acquired independently the funding of $200,000 to commission the development of “St. Bernard Parish Planning Document” that was mandated by the state of Louisiana to meet the requirements of having a planning framework in place to spur the post-Katrina recovery operations.