New Orleans Chamber of Commerce Launches Survey on the City’s Permitting and Licensing Processes

Written By Alicia Vial

Study to Provide Data-Driven Insights and Recommendations to City Officials

 NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with local research firm MDRG, has initiated a comprehensive survey to better understand the permitting and licensing challenges businesses face in Orleans Parish.

Responding to growing concerns from New Orleans Chamber members and the broader business community, this research aims to gather data on business owners’ experiences with City Hall processes—including permit applications, compliance requirement, and the use of tools like the City’s One Stop Shop website. The results will help quantify the barriers businesses encounter and offer informed recommendations to city officials for improvement.

“Businesses across every industry and size are encountering unnecessary delays and confusion when trying to operate legally and efficiently in New Orleans. We want to support our leaders at the City in correcting these challenges,” said Sandra Lindquist, president & CEO of the New Orleans Chamber. “It is our role at the New Orleans Chamber to advocate for the priorities that drive economic growth in our city. This study will allow us to elevate the experiences of our business leaders and work toward real, practical solutions.”

Beginning Thursday, June 12, New Orleans Chamber members and other Orleans Parish businesses should expect to see the survey in their email inbox. Respondents can also visit the New Orleans Chamber website or obtain a QR code at New Orleans Chamber events in the coming weeks.

All local business owners and any employee that oversees permitting or licensing for their for-profit or non-profit entity are encouraged to participate. There are no limits on the type of business or industry that should contribute a response.

"We believe that any change or reform to the current processes must start with understanding the concerns and challenges that local businesses encounter, in addition to understanding what is working,” said Sondra Brown, president and founder of MDRG. “This survey will ensure that the voices of the business community are understood, and the report will highlight those experiences to provide local leaders a starting point for enacting change."

Upon completion of the survey by local business leaders, the New Orleans Chamber will work with MDRG to prepare a comprehensive study, highlighting the most serious areas of concern and chokepoints in the current permitting and licensing process. The results of the study will be shared with city leaders later this year to inform potential reforms.

To learn more or participate in the survey, visit neworleanschamber.org/survey or contact the New Orleans Chamber via email at info@neworleanschamber.org.

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About the New Orleans Chamber: 
The New Orleans Chamber of Commerce is a membership-based organization consisting of business and community leaders who work together to create a dynamic business climate that drives entrepreneurship and business success in the New Orleans community. Celebrating 20 years in 2024, the New Orleans Chamber connects businesses to foster development in the New Orleans community through networking, education and advocacy. With a network of more than 1,400 member businesses, the New Orleans Chamber is a driving force in the Greater New Orleans business community.

Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

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