I. Stakeholder Engagement. Conduct interviews with New Orleans Regional Business Park Board Commissioners, City of New Orleans staff, economic development organization partners, public sector agencies and stakeholders, business and property owners and leaders within the district, adjacent communities, and other stakeholders. Compile areas of concern and opportunity from interviews to inform recommendations. II. Landscape Analysis. Conduct an analysis of current conditions in the proposed district, including the following areas: a. Existing Conditions Assessment. Conduct an initial assessment and inventory of property in the district, taking into consideration access, land use, zoning, utilities, transportation, infrastructure, and other area conditions. i. Conduct land use analysis of the proposed district and make recommendations related to zoning and land use changes. ii. Inventory property ownership and identify potential acquisition of underutilized and strategic properties. Identify key assets and amenities and create an asset map. b. Governance Assessment. Analyze governance and capacity for economic development in the proposed district, and propose potential strategies, including recommending legislation at the state and local levels to enable governance changes as needed. c. Infrastructure Assessment. Determine high-level infrastructure needs for the district, including needs around roadways, drainage, lighting, utility services, digital infrastructure, transit, and other connectivity. Map infrastructure priorities in terms of project urgency, length, cost, and impact. Identify paper streets. d. Quality of Life Assessment. Assess factors affecting the quality of life in the proposed district, including recommendations related to issues with current amenities, cleanliness, wayfinding, and safety, as well as perceptions of the district. e. Economic Development and Innovation. Identify strategic industries for the district and develop an initial plan to cultivate industry development. Industries may include advanced manufacturing, energy transition, food manufacturing, aerospace manufacturing, or others. Also, determine strategies for building new industry sectors in the proposed district and/or to generate more consistent and scalable growth and sustainable commercialization. f. Best Practices. Research similar industrial, manufacturing, and related districts that have been successful elsewhere and share best practices for planning and implementation. g. Priority Industry Analysis. Identify priority economic development industries to cultivate in the district, including analyzing the potential for advanced manufacturing; aerospace; the energy transition; transportation and logistics; food manufacturing; and other industries to invest in the district. h. Needs Assessment. Complete a needs assessment to determine market demand for specific uses and/or redevelopment, including the scale, intensity, and economic market for specific uses. i. Market Analysis. Complete a market study to understand supply and demand for investment and development in the district for priority industries, as well as for amenities. j. Employment Analysis. Analyze employment patterns in the district and provide analysis for general connectivity, circulation, and transportation to, from, and within the district. III. Funding and Financial Framework. Identify funding needs for infrastructure, governance, and quality of life recommendations, and develop a funding framework to meet those needs inclusive of local, state, and federal funding opportunities. Analysis should include sources of funding to sustain the economic and workforce development activities and programs, including the creation or expansion of an economic development district and other sources of public, private, and other funding.
