Biz Talks

That’s the name of the new report just released by independent local research organization Bureau of Governmental Research (BGR). President and CEO Rebecca Mowbray shares the shocking things not required to be included in the budget, why we need to include them, and why now is the perfect time to get it done right. 

Link to BGR Candidate Q&A https://www.bgr.org/report-index/candidate-qa-reports-october-11-2025-primary-edition-mayor-city-council-sheriff/

Click here to read a mobile-friendly summary of BGR’s new report, New Orleans Needs a Sustainable Budget to Meet Residents’ Demands, and download the full report .

Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International, is coming to town to speak at the New Orleans chapter’s first-ever housing innovation forum, Still Rising, which will be held Thursday, Sept. 18, at Nieux Society.

In this week’s episode, he shares his unique global view on the status of affordable housing, how the organization is getting creative to meet them, and the top things New Orleans can do to mitigate its challenges.

For more information and to purchase tickets to Still Rising: A Forum for Housing Innovation, visit https://habitat-nola.org

This week we talk to a member of the famed musical family the Batistes, Ryan Batiste, about how and why he founded L.O.C.A.L.S. Fest — a festival designed to support the local economy and cultural landscape. The free festival returns for its sixth year at Armstrong Park this Saturday, September 13, from 11 a.m. To 7 p.m. 

Formed following Hurricane Katrina with the goal of replacing the 100,000 trees lost in New Orleans, NOLA Tree Project has planted more than 86,000 trees across the city with the help of more than 125,000 volunteers. As the weather cools, Executive Director Connie Uddo explains how local businesses and individuals can join in making a tangible difference in the health and beauty of the city in just a few hours.

Just two years ago, Kevin Pedeaux went from being a vendor at St. Roch Market — one of only two historic city-owned public markets left in the city — to running the market.

In this week’s Biz Talks, he shares some surprising insights about the market and details on a big event coming in September.

Locals and tourists looking to escape the heat and immersive themselves in a world that celebrates the wonder and cultural richness of the city need only travel to 940 Frenchmen St. where JAMNOLA — NOLA’s first experiential pop-up museum — just opened a permanent location in June. This fantastical wonderland showcases the work of more than 100 local artists, but that’s just the beginning, explains co-founder Jonny Liss.

Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA) President and CEO Stan Harris joins us on this week’s Biz Talks to share what’s up with the closings we’ve been seeing, what the big issues are right now, what the LRA is doing to help, and why right now is the perfect time to help our favorite spots.

Marking 70 years this year, Louisiana’s only freestanding, comprehensive children’s hospital has been celebrating through service. Along with the latest on two of the hospital’s big initiatives, President and CEO Lou Fragoso shares his thoughts on Ochsner’s Children’s Hospital breaking ground while he prepares to take on a big personal adventure on behalf of the kids he serves.

Did you know Louisiana is the top oyster-producing state in America? The big news in oysters is that our state is now home to a new kind of oyster farming that’s resulting in all new flavor profiles — and JEDCO is helping to spread the word about these Grand Isle Jewels. This week on BizTalks, JEDCO President and CEO Jerry Bologna explains why working with oyster farmers in Grand Isle has been one of the most exciting projects ever for JEDCO and shares a few big breaking news items — one coming to Grand Isle and one that will benefit all food entrepreneurs in the region.

On Aug. 4, local hotel industry veteran Jim Cook will officially step in as the new president and CEO of the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Cook shares his plans to lead the sixth largest convention center in the country as it looks to break ground on a headquarters hotel next year and finish up the first phase of a $557 million capital improvement plan.