The New Orleans Mayor’s Office of Nighttime Economy, which acts as a liaison between city government and the bars, music venues, business owners and workers that make up the city’s nightlife industry, on Monday released a nighttime economy strategic plan, outlining ideas and goals to support and build the after-dark economy.
The plan, a first for the office (ONE) created in 2022, is an “effort to coordinate programs, partnerships and policies that strengthen the nighttime economy as a vital part of New Orleans’ cultural and economic future,” the introduction reads.
The strategic plan can be seen here and at nola.gov/night.
ONE, the city said, developed the strategy over the last year with community input, data (including the recent Music Census) and collaborations with other city departments. The plan focuses on five priorities: nightlife business support and visibility; summertime sustainability; expanding access to transportation and affordable commercial space and addressing ADA accessibility; public safety and quality of life; and investment in music industry development.
And there is a timeline and roadmap setting short-term, mid-term and long-term goals for the office and the strategic plan.
The plan also emphasizes the need for a “whole-government approach” and collaborations with existing, culture-focused organizations like The Ella Project, universities like Loyola and neighborhood associations.
“Our culture is priceless, but it isn’t self-sustaining,” said ONE Policy and Outreach Manager Julia Heath, the plan’s lead author. “This strategy is about being proactive: investing in the systems that protect our people, our venues and our creative economy before they’re priced out or erased.”
New Orleans culture deserves more from the next mayor