Programs like NOLAbound indicate a recent surge in entrepreneur activity and a growing community around early-stage companies. Launched November 21^st, the program gives twenty-five qualified professionals an all-expenses-paid opportunity to experience the New Orleans entrepreneurial community from March 14-18, 2012. The individuals will be given an opportunity to experience, document, and share the New Orleans’ entrepreneurial movement within four sectors: arts-based businesses, biosciences, digital media, and sustainable industries.

The five-day program not only coincides with the New Orleans Entrepreneur Week but also will be filmed with a documentary premiere scheduled for October 2012. The invited individuals will share their observations and insights about New Orleans with the world in real-time through the NOLAbound website and social media outlets. According to the website, the purpose of the well-connected individuals is “to assess the status of New Orleans as a model of new business progress and thinking.” South Coast hopes to engage with the individuals to shed a positive light on New Orleans while showing how the venture capital fund is dedicated to accelerating early-stage ventures.

The project was made possible through a collaboration of the Downtown Development District, GNO Inc., and The Idea Village–all major catalysts in the city’s entrepreneurship growth. Project funding was made possible by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Administration.

The application deadline is December 31st at benolabound.com. Click here for more information.