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NEW ORLEANS - On Tuesday, August 12, 2025, the Economic Development & Special Development Committee received a presentation from El Centro – an organization that provides culturally responsive financial wellness programs, business coaching, and entrepreneurial training for Latinx individuals and business owners in South Louisiana. The Committee also discussed ordinance No. 35,177, which requires City contractors to pay subcontractors or suppliers for undisputed amounts owed within 30 days of receiving payment.
Committee Recommends Contractor Payment Ordinance for Approval
To start the meeting, the Committee received a brief presentation from Ernest Stalberte and Debra Gould of The Collaborative, an organization of small business owners in New Orleans committed to achieving economic parity and equity for all local, small, and disadvantaged businesses in the city. Stalberte and Gould appealed to the Committee on the need for this ordinance for the benefit of small business owners in New Orleans.
Members of Committee Chair Helena Moreno’s team also gave a brief presentation breaking down the ordinance's specifics. Ordinance 35,177 ordains section 70-431 of the City Code, requiring City contractors to pay subcontractors or suppliers for undisputed amounts owed within 30 days of receipt of payment from New Orleans. Those interested in viewing the full presentation for further information can follow this link.
Following the second presentation, the Committee unanimously recommended ordinance 35,177 for approval, meaning it will appear on the Consent Agenda during the City Council’s regular meeting on August 24, 2025.
El Centro Discusses Business Coaching and Training for Latinx Residents of Louisiana
Lindsey Navarro, Executive Director of El Centro, appeared before the Committee to give a brief presentation about the non-profit organization. El Centro’s mission is to empower Latinx individuals and entrepreneurs by providing culturally competent financial literacy and entrepreneurial training and coaching in Spanish. Since the organization’s launch in 2018, El Centro has virtually reached 256,240 people to offer coaching and training services. Those interested in further information about El Centro can view the full presentation here.
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