The Gulf of Mexico is an environmental and cultural treasure and a major engine of Louisiana’s economy. However, the 2010 oil spill devastated the Gulf and its coastal communities, adding to decades of degradation from human impact and natural disasters. Restoring the state’s eroding coastline is arguably the region’s most pressing environmental and economic issue. With funding from the RESTORE Act and other oil spill-related settlements, Louisiana has a unique opportunity to implement smart, long-lasting solutions to improve its coastline, communities and economy.
In light of this, Greater New Orleans, Inc. (GNO, Inc.) – the region’s economic development agency – has brought together the region’s top business leaders to bring attention to restoration and advocate for solutions to protect this vital resource. With support from the Walton Family Foundation, GNO, Inc. launched the Coalition for Coastal Resilience and Economy (CCRE), a non-partisan group of Southeast Louisiana business leaders, which will act as a unified voice for sensible and effective restoration efforts in Louisiana’s wetlands, rivers, delta and coastline. Members of CCRE include a diverse group of CEOs and executives from the Greater New Orleans region, Baton Rouge and the Terrebonne-Lafourche region.
As part of their efforts with CCRE, the business leaders will participate in tours, briefings and other activities to gain a better appreciation of the needs, opportunities and plans for coastal protection and restoration. At the end of July, coalition members participated in their first official flyover along the coastline where they had an aerial view of how coastal areas have been affected and the progress of restoration and marsh creation projects.
The CCRE coalition is one of many ways the Walton Family Foundation is working to support comprehensive, common-sense restoration efforts in the Gulf. The foundation and its grantees know that improving the coastline benefits the economy, protects communities from future storms and preserves the unique beauty and resilience of the Gulf Coast.
Learn more about the Coalition for Coastal Resilience and Economy (CCRE) >
