Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard Merchants & Business Association

Our History

Since the late 1990's, the Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard Merchants & Business Association (OCHBMBA) has been the lead organization engaged in a strategic plan to revitalize the Boulevard. OCHBMBA has facilitated significant investment for the corridor over the years, especially in the post-Katrina environment, and the Boulevard is making a spectacular come-back. In 2006, OCHBMBA successfully applied to become a Louisiana Main Street Community, and the area became a Louisiana Cultural Products District in 2009. Both initiatives are managed by OCHBMBA, which is a 501 c3 non-profit organization incorporated in the state of Louisiana. Since hiring its first executive director in 2006, OCHBMBA has strengthened existing businesses and organizations; developed financial and other resources; procured technical assistance and university partners to assist property owners with redevelopment; and recruited new businesses identified as desirable by the community's residents.

For decades, Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard has served as a vibrant cultural and economic heartbeat for our community, a place where history and progress walk hand in hand. However, the onset of the pandemic brought an unprecedented season of hardship to our corridor. We watched with heavy hearts as the doors of several beloved local businesses; the very lifeblood of our street were forced to close permanently due to the economic strain. Yet, even in the face of such loss, the spirit of the Boulevard remains unyielding. Today, we are standing at the threshold of a bold new chapter. With a newly fortified, passionate board of directors and our first dedicated full-time staffer leading the way, we have the leadership and the vision necessary to revitalize this historic corridor. We are committed to rebuilding, but we cannot do it alone; we invite you to be a part of this journey as we breathe new life into O.C. Haley Blvd and ensure it remains a thriving destination for generations to come.