NY Times features Launch Pad

We were highlighted in a recent NY Times post that covered the 504ward business plan competition one year later. While 504ward did not produce its business competition for 2010, it did produce BizCamp which was hosted at Launch Pad, and continues to execute

on its mission of retaining talent in New Orleans by providing career opportunities.

Why a New Orleans Business Competition Decided to Shut Down

By LORA KOLODNY April 6, 2010, 12:48 pm As it was getting started in 2008, the New Orleans nonprofit 504ward wanted to make a big splash while advancing its primary goal: to retain or draw talented young professionals and their businesses to New Orleans, a city still recovering from Hurricane Katrina.

The main beneficiaries of last year’s 504ward competition were the winner of its grand prize, playNOLA, and the second-prize winner, LaunchPad.

Meanwhile, LaunchPad — a k a LaunchPadNola — which was started by Chris Schultz, offers co-working space and business classes in New Orleans. It has 43 tenants today.