Published by LifeCity under the Value Louisiana Initiative and its partners, January 2015

2015 STATE OF THE IMPACT ECONOMYHow companies are doing well by doing good in Louisiana

100% Recycled

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WHAT IS THE IMPACT ECONOMY?

The impact economy is a marketplace across all sectors where positive social and environmental impact drives wealth creation. It includes for-benefit organizations (social enterprises), their investors, and the organizations that support them.

The impact economy1 is founded in a belief that social needs drive market innovation and companies are best served when they generate value not just for themselves but also for their communities: they create shared value2. Companies can implement shared value opportunities in operations, their products and marketplace, and through collaborative partnerships within the impact economy ecosystem. Initiatives of the impact economy include impact investing3, social enterprise4 development, and the use of social impact bonds5, which create new solutions for social innovation. The impact economy also leverages a collaborative approach referred to as collective impact6 in which backbone organizations7 coordinate activities across sectors to deliver more effective solutions. LifeCity serves as a backbone organization to accelerate the growth of the impact economy in Louisiana.

SUPPORTING TRENDS

WHY IS IT INEVITABLE?

Because consumers demand it.

90% of consumers prefer to shop at conscious companies.8

Because our workforce demands it.

Individuals working in for-benefit organizations are 2x as likely to be satisfied with their careers.9

Because it is one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy.

Impact investing is growing, scaling 5 fold from 1995-2012, and makes up 11% of total United States assets.10

Because for-benefit organizations perform better.

Certified organizations outperform their peers.11

Because social problems are not being solved.

Real median incomes among the poorest 20% of Americans have not changed in the past 40 years.12

1 What is the impact economy anyway?, Skoll World Forum; 2 Creating Shared Value, Harvard Business Review; 3 Impact Investing, Global Impact Investing Network; 4 What’s a social enterprise?, Social Enterprise Alliance; 5 Social Impact Bonds: A Guide for State and Local Governments, Harvard Kennedy School’s Social Impact Bond Technical Assistance Lab; 6 Collective Impact, Stanford Social Innovation Review; 7 Backbone Organizations, FSG; 8 Conscious Consumers Prefer Natural Products and Transparency, New Leaf Creative Strategies; 9 Talent Report: What Workers Want in 2012, Net Impact; 10 Investing to Make a Difference Is Gaining Ground, The New York Times; 11 Accelerating Impact Enterprises, Duke University, SJF Institute, O-H Community Partners; 12 The Real Revolution of Pay for Success: Ending 40 years of Stagnant Results for Communities, Third Sector Capital Partners

MAKE MONEY? DO GOOD?

WE CAN DO BOTH.

OR

Business as funder

Individual impact

Sector-specific goals

Short-term funding goals

Funders pay for a promise

Business as solution

Collective impact

Cross-sector collaboration

Short and long-term impact

Funders pay for results

Traditional marketplace Impact economy

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WHAT IS A FOR-BENEFIT ORGANIZATION?

For-benefit organizations leverage market-based approaches to solve social and environmental problems and exist as a wide variety of models and legal forms.

A rapidly growing sector of hybrid organizations has emerged at the intersection of the three traditional sectors – public, private, and nonprofit. These organizations, often referred to as for-benefit13 enterprises, constitute a critically important fourth sector14 of the U.S. economy.

AN IMPACT CONTINUUM ACROSS ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES

Intent No explicit social or environmental mission

Social or environmental mission may be present

Social and/or environmental mission

Social and/or environmental mission

Social and/or environmental mission

Commitments No formal commitment to social and/or environmental impact

Limited commitment to social and/or environmental impact through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) or Corporate Shared Value (CSV)

Long-term commitment to mission embedded in business model or in governance structure; impact measured and reported to stakeholders

Long-term commitment to mission; charitable purpose protected by a board of directors

Long-term commitment to mission; charitable purpose protected by a board of directors

Revenue Structure

Primary source of revenue is earned income

Primary source of revenue is earned income and/or may commit a portion of shares or profits to charity

Majority of revenue is earned income and/or contributes pre-announced shares or profits to charity

Some revenue is earned income or operates/partners with a business in area related to charitable mission

Primary revenue comes from contributions

For-profit Socially-responsiblebusiness For-benefit

Nonprofit with fee-for-service Nonprofit

13 The For-Benefit Enterprise, Harvard Business Review; 14 Fourth Sector, Fourth Sector Network

MEET LOUISIANA’S OLDEST FOR-BENEFIT ORGANIZATIONLighthouse LouisianaStarted in 1900, Lighthouse Louisiana creates business revenue while also solving a major problem in our community: employment for the blind. The hundred-year-old nonprofit with facilities in New Orleans and Baton Rouge manufactures paper cups, paper towels, and other products. In 2008, Louisiana Rehabilitation Services and Lighthouse established rehabilitation and vocational training programs within the manufacturing facility. In order to support these services, the City and the Louisiana Department of Economic Development provided an interest-free loan for Lighthouse to purchase property and equipment. In return for their investment, the community and state would reap the economic benefits of this endeavor:

• New jobs and payroll dollars, local spending, construction dollars, sales tax, and services to the community

• Employment of 155 people, 74 of whom are blind• 95% of the organization’s budget is sustained by commercial revenue

ATTRIBUTES OF FOR-BENEFIT ORGANIZATIONS

What I like most about giving to Lighthouse Louisiana is that the bulk of their money comes not from donations, but from their own manufacturing business employing people who are blind (or have significant disabilities). Because their major costs are covered internally, my donation goes a lot further than it would elsewhere. That’s more than just good giving - it’s a smart investment.

LONNIE STOCKWELLFormer Boardmember ofLighthouse Louisiana

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• Inclusive Ownership• Stakeholder Governance• Fair Compensation• Reasonable Returns

• Social & Environmental Responsibility

• Transparency• Protected Assets

Lighthouse Louisiana employee

• Social Purpose• Earned Income

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SIX COMPONENTS OF THE FOR-BENEFIT ECOSYSTEM

OUR RESEARCH ON THE STATE OF THE FOR-BENEFIT ECOSYSTEM OF GREATER NEW ORLEANSFunded by the Fourth Sector Network, LifeCity mapped the Fourth Sector ecosystem of the Greater New Orleans Region by interviewing individuals representing 31 for-benefits and organizations that support them through focus groups and a survey. The group of organizations in our sample represents multiple sectors, sizes and legal structures from the for-benefit ecosystem (graph below). Each organization ranked the components of the following for-benefit ecosystem categories as “working,” “not-working” or “missing” as well as provided qualitative stories and feedback. The following table summarizes LifeCity’s observations and survey results.

31 ORGANIZATIONS SURVEYED

Louisiana’s success is drawing national attention, but there are many opportunities for growth and investment that will demonstrate our national leadership in for-benefit development. Our research examined six key areas of the for-benefit ecosystem:

• Government & Leadership: Louisiana adopted new legislation to support for-benefit structures. Growth of this new marketplace depends upon continued local and state government support.

• Labor & Education: Technical assistance partners, educational institutions, and workforce development programs are needed to prepare workers and consumers for the impact economy.

• Societal & Customer Culture: Societal and customer culture must continue to foster innovation and community values.

• Financial Capital: Beyond successful business competitions, there are opportunities for investors, foundations, and grantors to help for-benefits get past the startup phase with growth capital and mentorship.

• Support Organizations, Infrastructure and Networks: The growing for-benefit community will continue to rely on strong collaborative partnerships and networks.

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15

10

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• Energy• Water• Food,Agriculture, and Environment• Health• Housing & Development• The Arts• Education• Manufacturing• Business and Nonprofit Development

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LLC BENEFIT CORP

501 (C)3 501 (C)6

[It’s] hard to figure out what needs to be done for permitting and regulations. [There are] a million steps...I could definitely use any incentives and help applying to these programs!

SARAH COVERTSarah’s Pet Care Revolution

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A number of for-benefit businesses are brick and mortar retailers, or would like to be. We should explore how to ensure access to quality, affordable commercial retail space for these entrepreneurs.

MARK STRELLAStayLocal

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ECOSYSTEM SUCCESSES OPPORTUNITIES

Government & Leadership

• Incentive programs (solar tax credits, energy efficiency programs, local food retail initiative)

• 8th state to pass Benefit Corporation legislation• Engagement in green infrastructure (urban

water plan, comprehensive zoning ordinance, wetland restoration)

• Institutions serving and purchasing from for-benefits A

• Additional legislation and regulations to promote various forms of for-benefit startups and growth A&B

• Accessible information on incentives, legislation, programs and resources

• Provide structure to streamline and standardize government partnerships A

• Government financial support A

• Permits and zoning support for for-benefits B

Labor & Education

• Professional development programs• University engagement in developing regional

economic and social impact• Backbone organizations providing educational

resources• Availability of general degrees within the region B

• Hiring tools for for-benefit organizations to find quality employees and interns

• Education on how providers can service for-benefits

• Skilled labor with expertise in sustainability, efficiency and impact

• Increase wages in for-benefits• Management and profitability consulting tailored

to for-benefit models

Societal & Customer Culture

• Social regard for entrepreneurs A

• Customers trying for-benefit products B

• For-benefits gaining customers through referrals from other customers B

• Successful for-benefits that energize entrepreneurs and customers B

• Understanding, tolerance and value of diversity (racial, LGBTQ, etc.) across all areas in the region

• Sharing stories of successful wealth generation for for-benefit founders A

Financial Capital

• Seed funding • Business plan contests B

• Pitch competitions B

• Education for investors on impact investing• Pool of second stage investment in for-benefits• Accessibility to loans, philanthropic support and

grant opportunities for for-benefits• Advocating for crowdfunding legislation and

developing opportunities for local and non-accredited investing

• Sharing of impact investing success storiesuccess Stories3

Support Organizations,

Infrastructure & Networks

• Entrepreneur-friendly associations A

• Accelerators/incubators A

• Co-working spaces A

• Advisors/counseling B

• Entrepreneur networks A

• Marketing to customers B

• Effective partnerships B

• Networking events and meetups A

• Transportation A

• Multinational corporations A

• Increase collective impact approaches to problem-solving through backbone organizations

a >50% of individuals surveyed responded to this topic and > 80% of the respondents shared an opinionb >50% of the individuals surveyed responded to this topic and > 70% of the respondents shared an opinion

RESEARCH RESULTS

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BENEFIT CORPORATION LEGISLATION, Baton Rouge: In the summer of 2012, the New Orleans Business Alliance helped Louisiana become the 8th state in the country to pass legislation that allows companies in Louisiana to register as a “benefit corporation” (similar to an S Corp or C Corp). A benefit corporation legally requires a for-profit company to consider its social and environmental impact and not just its bottom line when making business decisions. If you are interested in incorporating as a benefit corporation contact Thomas Strategies at jefftstrategies@gmail.com.

IMPACT INVESTING, Lake Providence: In 2012, AMCREF Community Capital provided $15 million of New Market Tax Credit financing to Myriant Lake Providence, Inc., an industrial biotechnology company and green manufacturer. Not only did this investment support Myriant in creating jobs in one of the most impoverished counties in America, the products created renewable resources and paved the way for the first commercially available bio-based chemicals. In 2012 the global market for Myriant’s products was valued at $296M.

WORKFORCE TRAINING, Houma: Oxfam International is helping unemployed women and African-American men become “hire-ready” for the thousands of jobs being created for coastal restoration (due to a $50 billion investment funded in-part by the ReStore Act). This workforce training program will connect high-quality employment opportunities to disadvantaged individuals, allowing coastal restoration dollars to not only support local business development but also lift individuals out of poverty.

CERTIFIED B CORPORATION LEGISLATION, Greater New Orleans: Joule is a for-benefit company that has grown from a small startup in 2009 to a top 5 growing company in Louisiana (as ranked by Inc. Magazine) with over 60 employees and $10 million in annual revenue. In addition to installing over 1000 solar panel systems, it donates thousands of dollars to local charities and sets aside staff volunteer days each quarter to strengthen the local community.

PITCH CONTESTS, Greater New Orleans: Pitch NOLA is a series of pitch competitions created by Propeller to provide a platform for community members to voice solutions to New Orleans’ most pressing social and environmental challenges. Since 2012 the competition has provided over $60,000 to help develop 15 organizations. The Water Challenge, held in partnership with Propeller, the Idea Village, and the Greater New Orleans Foundation, has provided over $200,000 in investment to entrepreneurs solving water challenges in our community. Other contests like Village Capital, the Big Idea Pitch, and the Downtown Development District’s arts-based business pitch help start social ventures during New Orleans Entrepreneur Week.

CROSS-SECTOR COLLABORATION, Coastal Louisiana: Shell Oil donated $1 million to support the start of oyster shell recycling in Louisiana, led by the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL). CRCL hired Phoenix Recycling to collect shells from 8 local New Orleans restaurants. One restaurant, the Bourbon House, had previously been throwing away over 4,000 oyster shells each day. Through this cross-sector collaboration, restaurants can save money on waste bills and help promote a sustainable seafood industry.

BACKBONE ORGANIZATIONS, Greater New Orleans: The Greater New Orleans Water Collaborative and the Horizon Initiative Water Committee are instrumental in advocating for the New Orleans’ Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance to require pervious paving, native vegetation, green roofs, blue roofs, and other impact measures. As the CZO develops with the help of these collaborations, it can support the growth of sustainable industries while also supporting companies in reducing water bills and potential stormwater management fees (City of New Orleans Article 23.12).

INCUBATORS & ACCELERATORS, Greater New Orleans: Delgado Community College’s Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, The Idea Village, Launch Pad, Tulane Changemaker Institute, New Orleans BioInnovation Center, and Propeller have built strong mentorship programs to foster New Orleans’ entrepreneurs. Propeller has specifically honed in on supporting early-stage ventures that drive solutions to New Orleans’ most pressing social and environmental challenges. Its entrepreneurs have generated over $20 million in revenue.

STORIES OF SUCCESS IN LOUISIANAHorizon Initiative Water Committee

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#1 In the U.S. for solar per capita

#1 in the U.S. for school reform

3rd fastest wage growth in the U.S.

#4 in the U.S. for local food movements

#5 in the U.S. for bike commuting

8th in the U.S. to pass benefit

corporation legislation

Top 20 Cities of Possibility

1 of 33 Global “Resilient Cities”

140+ companies certified by LifeCity

“America’s Biggest Brain Magnet”

An American city with “startup” fever

Idea Village, Propeller, LifeCity and other platforms for creative business growth provide solid opportunities for professional development/exploration within the for-benefit sector. Here’s hoping they become more prevalent and integrated.

Wesley GriffinHabitat For Humanity ReStore

LEADERSHIP IN GREATER NEW ORLEANS

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WHAT YOU CAN DO TO GROW THE IMPACT ECONOMY

1. Join Value Louisiana and participate in community meetings and educational opportunities.

2. Purchase from for-benefits and request that companies be more socially responsible.

3. Learn how your organization can increase its social, environmental, and economic impact through an integrated strategy.

4. Advocate for policies that support for-benefits.

5. Promote Louisiana’s for-benefit sector around the country.

FOR BUSINESSES

• Set goals, track, measure, and market successful impact through reporting

• Get certified by LifeCity, B Lab, Fit NOLA, and other third party assessors

• Consider new legal structures, such as L3C and Benefit Corporation

• List your for-benefit organization and other resources in the Value Louisiana Directory

• Purchase from for-benefit organizations• Develop services and innovations tailored to support for-benefits

FOR INVESTORS, BANKS, FOUNDATIONS & PHILANTHROPISTS

• Seek for-benefit investees through Value Louisiana• Collaborate to reduce investment risk through group

investment funds• Share guidance to increase profitability • Fund and publish research to develop the sector

(especially pay for success models like social impact bonds)• Partner with and invest in for-benefits in order to build a

pipeline of impact investing deals

FOR CONSUMERS & COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

• Shop at for-benefits and companies through the Green Card and other listings

• Vocalize community perspectives and needs to for-benefits• Ask your organization to examine its social and environmental

impact• Advocate for policies that support for-benefit growth• Collaborate across sectors to support for-benefit development

FOR GOVERNMENT & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LEADERSHIP

• Provide resources to support for-benefit organizations• Develop efficient systems to support business efficiency

in partnering with government• Design legislation and regulations that incentivize

for-benefit development• Advocate for state and regional adoption and awareness

in the marketplace• Invest research and resources into social impact bond and

pay for success financing

HOW YOU CAN COLLABORATE TO GROW THE IMPACT ECONOMY

• Form backbone organizations to help cross-sector partners form common metrics and strategies that solve social problems

• View others with common interests as collaborators, not competitors

• Form cross-sector partnerships through pay for success contracts

SOCIAL IMPACT BOND - HOW IT WORKS HOW IT WORKS: • Social impact bonds are a pay for success contract in which

a private investor provides the investment capital to fund an intervention to address a social change (e.g. recidivism, homelessness, childhood obesity).

• Once the program or project is implemented with the investment, the government benefits from cost savings (e.g. fewer people in prison save the government money).

• The government pays the investor a return based on the savings or revenue generated by the program (if successful).

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JOIN VALUE LOUISIANA!

Value Louisiana is an initiative to support the growth of for-benefit organizations throughout the state. The initiative is founded in the idea that the best way to grow our economy is through efforts that not only create jobs but also positive social outcomes, helping every investment go twice as far in our community. Furthermore, this

coalition believes that this kind of development requires the united front of multiple organizations all working together to achieve the highest outcomes for Louisiana.

Participants in the initiative will work with the community to establish:

• A common agenda and language to grow the for-benefit sector• Shared measurement systems for community impact • Coordinated technical assistance, investment, and policy platform to

develop the sector• Infrastructure to connect investors, consumers, institutions, and

talent to for-benefit /shared value opportunities

The initiative is led by a Steering Committee of 15 organizations and 8 Technical Assistance Partners and facilitated by LifeCity, a membership-based organization that makes social and environmental impact profitable for business.

FOR MANUFACTURERS:Value Louisiana has launched its first Impact Development Model in the manufacturing sector, one of Louisiana’s biggest job creators. By joining the Value Louisiana Manufacturing Program, a manufacturer receives a comprehensive assessment of its operations through a collaboration of technical assistance partners and saves money through efficiency improvements and innovation. This model is based on the federal E3 framework, which has helped create and retain over 2,500 jobs as well as identify over $108 million in lean savings, $41 million in energy cost savings and 485,000 metric tons of potential CO2 emissions reductions (equivalent to removing 102,000+ vehicles from the road) across the U.S. since 2009. Email green@mylifecity.com for information about joining.

GET INVOLVED BY VISITING MYLIFECITY.COM/VALUELOUISIANA TO:

• Participate in our events and committee meetings• Join our Value Louisiana Directory• Sign up for our mailing updates about upcoming

community meetings and progress

If you’re interested in becoming involved at a deeper level, including developing research and metrics for the 2016 report, please email Green@MyLifeCity.com.

Propeller’s Pitch NOLA Competition

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[ For-Benefit Organizations ]ENERGY EFFICIENCYCLEAResult•

Future Proof••

Green Coast Enterprises•

Green Light New Orleans•

Joule Solar Energy••••

LALED•

PosiGen•

Solar Alternatives•

FOOD & DRINK3Potato4•

Café Carmo•

Café ReconcileCake Café•

Capstone118, Inc.Casa Borrega••

City Greens•

Fair Grinds Coffee House•

Hollygrove Market & Farm•

Jack & Jake’sLiberty’s Kitchen, Inc.•

Live Oak Café•

New Orleans Food Co-op•

NOLA Brewing•

Pagoda CaféRaw Republic•

Recirculating Farms Coalition•

The Vintage Garden Kitchen•

Whole Foods Refresh Project VertiFarms•

HEALTH, PRODUCTS & RETAILAudiowoodBausey Medical SolutionsBayou Kayaks•

Feelgoodz•

Habitat for Humanity ReStore•

HeartsleeveInterface CarpetsLiving Wild & Precious•

Matter Inc.•

Myriant Lake Providence, Inc.New Orleans Green, LLC•

NOLA Paint & Supplies•

NOLA TilthPassion LilieRouler••

Sacred G Organics•

Tchoup Industries•

Tranform NOLA•

U.S. Heritage Powersports•

Where Y’ArtZomBeads•

ZukaBaby•

SERVICESAMCREF Community Capital, LLC•

Arc of Greater New Orleans•

Auld Sweet Olive Bed & Breakfast•

BastionC4 Tech & Design•

Core USA•

Dana Brown & Associates•

EcoUrban Landscaping••

NOLA Kitchen Gardens & Compost•

NOLA Vibe•

Revolution FoodsSarah’s Pet Care Revolution•

The Berger Group•

The Cookbook ProjectThe Green Project•

Thomas Strategies•

Whetstone EducationWood Materials Company•

[ Support Resources ]ENERGY & TRANSPORTATIONAlliance For Affordable Energy•

Bike EasyDepartment of Energy Energy StarEnergy Smart ProgramEnergy Wise Alliance•

Entergy New Orleans/EntergyGlobal Green USA•

Green Light New Orleans•

Gulf States Renewable Energy AllianceJericho Road Housing InitiativeLouisiana Clean Tech NetworkLouisiana Dept. of Natural Resources Renewables Council of LouisianaUS Department of TransportationMake It Right FoundationE & E Strategies, LLCRide NOLARePower AmericaResidential Energy Services NetworkSoutheast Energy Efficiency AllianceThink Energy GroupUS Solar Industry Year in ReviewVillage Green Energy, Inc.

FOOD & HEALTHBirthmark DoulasComposting Network•

Crescent City Farmers MarketFarmer504FitNOLAFood Advisory CommitteeFood Liability Insurance ProgramGood EggsGrow Dat Youth Farm

Health Department, City of New OrleansLouisiana Public Health InstituteLower 9th Ward Farmer’s Market UmbrellaNATCO Food Service Merchants•

NOLA Green Roots•

Permaculture NOLAProject Lazarus•

Second Harvest Food BankThe Food TrustUrban Roots Garden CenterUS Department of Agriculture

EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT4.0 SchoolsCowen Institute for Public Education ReformDelgado Community College•

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program•

Sidney Collier CampusDillard UniversityEdible School YardGreater New Orleans FoundationJOB1 Business Services, City of New Orleans•

Limitless VistasLouisiana Association of Public Charter SchoolsLouisiana Community College and Technical College SystemLouisiana State UniversityLoyola University Loyola Environmental Law School Center for Environmental CommunicationNew Orleans Education Research AllianceNew Schools for New OrleansNPR’s “Out to Lunch”Office of Workforce Development, Louisiana Workforce Commission, City of New Orleans Region 1 Workforce Investment Board Helping Individuals Reach EmploymentOpportunity Youth Coalition Orleans Parish School BoardOrleans Public Education NetworkPartnership for Youth Development Aspen Reconnecting Opportunity Youth Youth Master PlanPontrchartrain Institute for Environmental SciencesSoutheastern Louisiana UniversityTeaching Responsible Earth Education The Data CenterTeach for AmericaTulane University School of Architecture Center for Public Service City Center Environmental Law Clinic Global Health Systems and Development Masters in Sustainable Real Estate Development Program in Social Innovation & Social

IMPACT ECONOMY DIRECTORY

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Entrepreneurship (SISE)School of Business Institute of Entrepreneurship Tulane/Xavier Center for Bioenvironmental ResearchTrue SchoolsUniversity of Louisiana Lafayette•

University of New Orleans UNO Research CenterUS Department of LaborWWOZ•

Xavier University Xavier Business Division, Entrepreneurship Program

ECONOMIC & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTAlgiers Economic Development Foundation•

ASI Federal Credit UnionBlue Moon FundCapital OneCity of New Orleans Office of Economic Development Office of Information Technology & Innovation Resilience Officer New Orleans Advisory Task Force New Orleans Business Alliance (Prosperity NOLA)Committee for a Better New OrleansDowntown Development DistrictFacilitative Leadership Institute NOLAFoundation for Louisiana•

Fourth Sector NetworkGNO Inc.Good Work NetworkHarvard Kennedy SchoolHope Enterprise Corporation/Credit UnionIncline Innovation, LLC Member of Innovation Engineering Network•

JP Morgan Chase BankLaunch Pad Partners, LLCLifeCity, LLC ••

Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations•

Louisiana Cultural EconomyLouisiana Economic DevelopmentLouisiana Green CorpsLouisiana Occupational Health and Safety Administration Consultation*Louisiana Small Business Development Commission•

Luby LLC AccountingManufacturing Extension Partnership of Louisiana•

Metro NOLA SourcelinkNational Association of Women Business OwnersNeighborhood Partnership NetworkNew Orleans BioInnovation CenterNew Orleans Startup Fund

NewCorp, Inc.•

Omni BankPower Moves NOLAPropeller: a Force for Social Innovation• (Pitch NOLA, Accelerator Program, Water Challenge Partnership)Regional Planning CommissionSeedcoShell GameChanger InitiativeSmall Business AdministrationSmall Business Resources GroupTeam Real World•

The B TeamThe Greater New Orleans Foundation (GNOF)•

The Idea Village• (The Big Idea, New Orleans Entrepreneur Week)The New Orleans Chamber of Commerce••

The New Orleans City CouncilThe Urban Conservancy / Stay Local••

Work NOLAYoung Leadership Council•

WATER & COASTAL RESILIENCEAmerica’s Wetland FoundationBayou Land Resource Conservation & Development•

Building Resilience WorkshopEnvironmental Protection Agency EPA WaterSenseGround Work New OrleansGulf Coast Housing PartnershipGulf Restoration Network•

Hazard Mitigation, City of New OrleansHome Builders AssociationHorizon Initiative Water Committee•

Housing and Urban DevelopmentLA Department of Environmental QualityLake Pontchartrain Basin FoundationLouisiana Coastal Protection & Restoration AuthorityLouisiana Urban Stormwater Coalition New Orleans Metropolitan Association of RealtorsNew Orleans Redevelopment AuthorityOffice of Coastal & Environmental Affairs, City of New OrleansORA EstuariesParkway PartnersRegional Planning CommissionRockefeller FoundationSewage & Water Board of New OrleansSurdna FoundationSustainable Sites InitiativeThe Construction Industry Compliance Assistance CenterThe Greater New Orleans Water CollaborativeThe Nature ConservancyThe Regen Group

Tulane Institute of Water Resources Law & PolicyTulane Riverfront CampusTulane Water PrizeUS Green Building Council (LA Chapter)Water Works

INCENTIVE PROGRAMSComprehensive Zoning OrdinanceDisaster Community Development Block GrantDOE Energy Efficiency Block Grant Program Energy Smart Program Federal Housing Administration Energy Efficiency Loans/Energy Efficiency MortgageFresh Food Retailer Initiative, City of New OrleansHome Energy Loan ProgramLA Dept of Natural Resources American Recovery and Reinvestment Act New Orleans Solar Schools InitiativeProperty Assessed Clean Energy: Financing Energy Efficiency

•Value Louisiana Steering Committee Member or Technical Assisstance Partner

• Benefit Corporation (Legal Designation) • LifeCity Certified

• B Corp Certified

IMPACT ECONOMY DIRECTORY

LifeCityTM, the LifeCityTM logo, and the Value LouisianaTM logo, are trademarks of LifeCity, LLC. Copyright 2015 LifeCity, LLC www.mylifecity.com All rights reserved.

Published by LifeCity, LLC and Value Louisiana PartnersMeryl Dakin, Brennan Lowery, Jessica Nehrbass & Elizabeth Shephard4035 Washington Ave. New Orleans, LA 70125 (504) 909–CITY (2489) | MyLifeCity.com | Green@MyLifeCity.com