Downtown New Orleans

Kurt Weigle has been President & CEO of the Downtown Development District (DDD) of New Orleans since 2003. During his tenure, the DDD has aggressively implemented its Canal Street Development Strategy resulting in millions of dollars of new residential and retail investment. The DDD’s focus on place-based economic development strategies to retain & attract Industries of the Mind has led to international recognition of New Orleans as a creative hub, now home to dozens of digital media and tech firms in the Intellectual Property building and The Exchange, among others. Under Mr. Weigle’s leadership, the DDD has been instrumental in securing commitment for the new University Medical Center & VA Medical Center. Since 2006, Downtown New Orleans has welcomed over $3.7 billion of new investment.

Mr. Weigle serves on the boards of the International Downtown Association, National New Markets Fund, New Orleans Police & Justice Foundation, Committee for a Better New Orleans, Health Education Authority of Louisiana and New Orleans Medical Complex. Mr. Weigle received the Excellence in Government Award in 2007 from the Bureau of Governmental Research and is a graduate of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. Mr. Weigle earned his Master of Urban Planning and Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.