Port NOLA Forward – Our Strategic Master Plan

The Port of New Orleans’ Strategic Master Plan, “Port NOLA Forward,” is a bold vision to deliver significant, sustained economic benefit throughout the Port’s three-parish jurisdiction — Jefferson, Orleans and St. Bernard Parishes.

The Strategic Master Plan positions us to think more cohesively about growing our vital maritime and hospitality industries, and to consider the supply chain as a whole by harnessing all available multimodal assets — on and off Port property, along the Mississippi River and inland waterway system, on the New Orleans Public Belt and six Class I rail network, and via access to interstate highways.

The Port NOLA Strategic Master Plan is a broad and adaptive way forward for the Port, our stakeholders and the entire region. Its four guiding goals are:

  • Operate efficiently
  • Capitalize on gateway position
  • Strengthen relationships and connect our stakeholders
  • Develop sustainably

The plan presents a menu of strategies to optimize current assets and extend our reach across all business lines.

Ultimately, the Strategic Master Plan will ensure we are able to fully harness the potential of the region with clear, wide guidelines to capitalize on our gateway position rather than prescriptive land use mandates.

From the beginning, the process was designed to be inclusive of a variety of interests to reflect our diverse stakeholder groups, and we appreciate all the valuable feedback we received. As a matter of fact, more than 2,500 individuals informed the Strategic Master Plan during its development.

The Master Plan was adopted in May 2018 and we’re pleased to share the roadmap that will guide us as we work together toward a common goal of economic prosperity. To show progress, we’re pleased to share our annual performance Score Cards:

2023 Score Card

View or download the Executive Summary.

View or download the Gateway Action Plan.

View or download the full Strategic Master Plan.


Port Nola Strategic Master Plan Cover Website