New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA)
The NORA Small Business Marketing Assistance Program provides funding for tailored marketing consulting to eligible small businesses in targeted Low- and Moderate-Income (LMI) commercial corridors. Participating businesses are paired with a NORA-contracted marketing consultant for six months to develop a comprehensive marketing campaign, enhance their existing strategy, and support implementation.
Service Type: Marketing strategy, brand identity, website development, photography, social media content
Project: Six months of tailored marketing consulting for four small businesses enrolled in NORA's Small Business Marketing Assistance Program
Challenge: Small businesses in LMI commercial corridors often have limited time and budget to build a full marketing presence. NORA's program was designed to close that gap by funding tailored consulting, with services ranging from website design and development to social media, SEO, digital advertising, email marketing, print and broadcast marketing, and graphic design.
The four businesses we supported were at very different stages: a dance studio with printing services and a nonprofit arm, a coffee company building a wholesale brand of its own, an industrial supplier expanding into new services, and a childcare center focused on enrollment growth. Each needed a plan that fit its own goals, and each owner needed to be able to keep the work going without a consultant.
Solution: We worked directly with each business owner to build a relationship first, then a strategy. Every plan started with where the business stood: its stage, its needs, and how much capacity the owner had to sustain the work once the program ended. That last question shaped every recommendation, so nothing was built that an owner could not maintain.
From there, we guided each participant through every step, from the first strategy conversation to the finished assets. We reported progress to NORA each month, shared challenges as openly as wins, and asked for feedback regularly, adjusting the work as it came in.
Results: Each of the four businesses finished the program with a tailored, actionable marketing strategy, stronger brand visibility, and a foundation for long-term growth. Across the group, we delivered:
New logos
Redesigned or newly built websites
Professional photoshoots
Fresh social media content that authentically represents each brand
The work also left owners with tools they can use with confidence on their own, which was the program's goal from the start.
"Working with aKrewe, and especially with Kristen, was exceptionally smooth and highly effective. She communicated consistently, shared challenges and successes transparently, and maintained strong organization throughout the project. She frequently asked for feedback, implemented suggestions, and exceeded expectations in both her daily operations and the quality of her final deliverables. Her work not only enhanced each business's marketing presence but also gave them tools they can confidently use moving forward." -Kathryn "KK" Welty, Project Coordinator at NORA.
