StayLocal

05/28/2026

We’re turning our Sustainability Spotlight on Culture, a collective connecting circular economy practices, innovative environmental solutions, and cultural storytelling to drive real impact in New Orleans. At its core, Climate Culture NOLA showcases how sustainability can and must weave into our daily lives: in how we gather, create, and care for our communities.

Given that nonprofits are often known for operating on tight budgets, we're standing on our chairs and cheering all the ways in which Climate Culture supports small, locally owned businesses, making investment in a stronger, more resilient local economy essential to what they do.

From farm-to-table catering and neighborhood-based services to creative partners who activate public space and lead community cleanups, sourcing locally is a direct way Climate Culture turns values into action. It’s how we can *all* keep redollars circulating in our neighborhoods while reducing environmental impact. Climate Culture's commitment to integrating economic and environmental sustainability is underscored by their work with New Orleans businesses


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Each of these businesses is contributing to a more sustainable New Orleans by minimizing environmental impact while strengthening the cultural and economic fabric of our city.

Understanding the impact of choosing local first has been a core value of Climate Culture since inception. By braiding local sourcing, expressive art and New Orleans front line exposure to climate impacts, Climate Culture invites conversation and activation around how we live in harmony and honor the stories of our unique, coastal, Southeast Louisiana environment.

New Orleans legacy will continue on only by investing in the people, places, and practices that make us who we are. Learn more at https://www.instagram.com/climateculture_nola/

To search StayLocal's directory of eco-friendly businesses, head to staylocal.org/find

photo credit:

05/07/2026

Open-air markets and food halls can generate a surprising amount of single-use waste, from plastic clamshells to 3 piece cutlery packets to layers of to-go style wraps or bags. A big part of the draw to these locations is to gather, making a group outing more fun when choosing from a variety of food vendors.

Here’s one way that .rochmarket excels: in the use of real plates and utensils, and a centralized dishwashing station.

(The Market cuts down on waste and reduces the upstream resources required to produce disposable items in the first place. It’s currently washing and reusing 450 plates, 250 cups and 500 utensil sets in a typical day.

“We’re thrilled when customers sit down at some of our big, shared tables and enjoy the real serveware! It’s about efficiency: being energy efficient, working as an efficient staff, and within the confines of the small space we have to store waste,” says St Roch Market operator Kevin Pedeaux. “More than a dozen individual St. Roch Market vendors help keep the Market sustainable in this way.”

By making the reuse of plates, bowls, glasses and utensils part of essential operations, our city’s 150-year-old market is reducing material consumption and diverting about 26,000 lbs of landfill waste, roughly equal to the carbon absorbing work of 650 trees, each year. 🌳

(Impact calculation courtesy ReThink Disposable.)

Learn more about green businesses on our website, staylocal.org/green-biz or more about St. Roch Market at https://www.strochmarket.com/

05/05/2026

Ever compare yourself to a native plant? We invite you to try.

03/24/2026

A sign of progress! Thanks to the work of Oak Street NOLA, riders on the historic St Charles Regional Transit Authority streetcar can see Oak Street coming like they never have before.

A walk end to end on these inviting blocks will bring you to Z'otz, Breads on Oak, Oak Street Brewing, Station (on Willow St with a perfect view of the streetcar barn) and every other business you need--from indie books to indie pharmacy, plus a wind shop, herbalist/general store, second hand clothes and more.

Oak Street truly is a must visit stretch of fun, funky and affordable New Orleans shops with no chains stores in sight!

Tell a friend—and tell all the visitors you run into. ⚜️🕶️

Big thank you to who shares original research and fascinating stories about this neighborhood on social media and on walking tours by appointment.

03/20/2026

What, you may ask, is the green sector? We throw that term around a lot.

Among local businesses, green sector, professionals are the pros who provide goods and services for green stormwater infrastructure. They demolish and haul concrete excavate, clay plant rain gardens, and trees, dig French drains and lay permeable pavers. They calculate your stormwater runoff, plan a space for optimal water storage, and then make it happen with their own hands. 🌱

Some green sector professionals do all of this work in one business; others offer just one or a few of these goods or services.

Visit our Green Sector Directory to figure out who to get in touch with for your project at staylocal.org/greensector.

Or visit , Dan Greenman Inc, SOUL, Schmelly's Dirt Farm, Secret Garden Landscapes, Gravel Road, Groundwork New Orleans, Evans + Lighter Landscape Architecture, AMB2Architecture or Whimscapes: Garden Creaturas.

If you have a question about when green sector pros are the ones to call on, drop a comment or send us a DM!

03/09/2026

Shout out to small business owners who start their companies to focus on the work they love, but then end up dealing with the paperwork that comes with managing your superstar people. If, as your team grows, the forms, policies, and responsibilities that come with hiring start to overwhelm you, this workshop is for you!

The presentation will give employers tips on how to stay out of trouble with the Federal Wage & Hour Division, including properly classifying employees as salaried exempt, legal pitfalls associated with classifying workers as “independent contractors”, plus the latest on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s tax deductions for qualifying overtime and tips.

About the presenter: Rachael Jeanfreau is a partner in the New Orleans office of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, LLP (BSW) practicing in the areas of labor and employment law and employee relations.

Along with BSWLLP and LCI Workers' Comp we are thrilled to bring our members this valuable information at no cost. Register at https://bit.ly/4lbDpyE

If you are not a member of StayLocal, learn more at staylocal.org/join --or pop a question into the comments below--thanks!

03/05/2026

🍁🍂Fall in New Orleans will buzz with music, food, arts, and vibrant community celebrations. The city’s festivals like Beignet Fest, TremeFest and others showcase its rich multicultural heritage.

Business owners are invited to join these Office of Economic Development sessions and discover how you can be a part of the excitement! Register for the virtual sessions, where you’ll hear directly from event producers, via this link:
https://nola.gov/next/economic-development/topics/business-services/business-information-sessions/

02/26/2026

The movement to kick Mardi Gras waste to the curb just took one more awesome step forward — all thanks to a fun and inspiring event for crafters at the Jefferson Parish Library! 🌎♻️

Refresh your craft stash and give materials a second life at the Community Craft Supply Share hosted by Terrytown Library on Saturday, March 7, from 1 to 4 pm. Drop off gently used craft supplies you no longer need, and pick out new-to-you items for your next creative project. Whether you're clearing out your collection or looking for inspiration, this is a great way to upcycle materials and keep them in use. Stop by and see what sparks your creativity. You’re not required to bring materials to take and vice-versa.

Early drop-offs of craft supplies may be made at both the Terrytown Library and East Bank Regional Library from March 1-6. Suggested items include but are not limited to yarn, fabric scraps, beads, paints, brushes, stamps, paper, sewing notions, jewelry-making tools, instructional books, patterns, and unused kits. Please ensure all tools are functional and supplies are in good, non-hazardous condition.

11/29/2025

UPDATE Shop Local Bingo! is being EXTENDED through January so you can do all your Mardi Gras shopping locally, too! 💜💚💛
New deadline to enter is January 31, 2026.

✨This holiday season, give gifts that give back — shop local!

Walk through the doors of neighborhood businesses this December to shop, drink and dine and play Shop Local Bingo! This is a great way to support local businesses and could earn you prizes.

📍Visit a participating business from this list or visit staylocal.org/holiday-shopping for a map.
🥳 Turn your shopping into a celebration of community. Staff at businesses will punch Bingo! cards.
🔃 The money you spend circulates in the local economy, providing a second and third opportunity for local benefit.

11/18/2025

Will you do 3 things to support local businesses this holiday season? 📍☃️💪

Our Shop Local Bingo! card is a 3-square game designed to inspire creative ways to buy local gifts, try locally made products, enjoy local cafes and restaurants, and head to the pop-ups and markets.

Be sure that the money you spend this holiday season recirculates in our the local economy, where it providing a second and third opportunity for local benefit. Take your first, second and third step toward strengthening the local economy this year: play Shop Local Bingo!

Take a look at our holiday map of participating businesses at staylocal.org/holiday-shopping, they're where you'll go to pick up a Bingo! card. Head to a favorite, or discover a new one you’ll support this year.

Carry your Bingo! card with you as you get through your holiday shopping list, achieving Bingo! along the way. The last day to enter to win is December 24th, but the earlier you complete your Bingo! the more chances you have to win one of three prize packages we’ll award throughout December. You can preview prize packages at https://www.staylocal.org/shoplocal .

We’ll call you if you are a winner, but be sure to follow us here or on Instagram for updates.

Thanks to Louisiana Blue Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, LLP LCI Workers' Comp Orleans Embroidery for their support.