In the Neighborhood with G: Celebrating Greater New Orleans Local Businesses

Local businesses are the soul of our communities. They’re the family shops that have been here for generations. The side hustles that turned into full-time dreams. The home offices, the food trucks, the studios, the storefronts. They create jobs, strengthen our local economy, and shape the identity of our neighborhoods.

At Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys, we’ve built our practice on serving this community as trusted Louisiana personal injury attorneys. While we’re known for representing clients in car accident claims, truck accident cases, and other serious injury matters, our commitment to Greater New Orleans goes far beyond the courtroom.

That’s why we’re proud to launch In the Neighborhood with G.

In partnership with Keyala Cottrell, we’re spotlighting local businesses throughout the Greater New Orleans area and giving them a platform to share their story.

The concept is simple. Keyala visits local small businesses across the Greater New Orleans area, sits down with the owners, and shares their stories with a wider audience. Real conversations. Real people. Real businesses that deserve to be seen.

Each episode gives a local business a platform they might not otherwise have. We hear from the owner directly: their inspiration, their journey, what keeps them going. It’s the kind of storytelling that doesn’t happen on a billboard.

The series is open to businesses throughout the Greater New Orleans area, including brick-and-mortar storefronts and businesses that operate without a physical retail location. Every kind of hustle counts.

Meet Keyala Cottrell

If you’re from New Orleans, there’s a good chance you already know Keyala Cottrell. Born and raised in the city, she’s a digital creator, community connector, and small business owner herself — founder of Keyala’s Pralines, one of the most beloved local food brands around.

With over 55,000 followers on Instagram, Keyala has built an audience by being exactly who she is: authentic, local, and deeply rooted in New Orleans culture. She doesn’t just create content. She celebrates her city.

That’s exactly why this partnership works. Keyala knows these neighborhoods. She knows the faces behind these businesses. And she knows how to tell their stories in a way that feels real. From working together on local initiatives to supporting families and students, we’ve seen how powerful it is when people who care about New Orleans show up consistently.

“Supporting local businesses isn’t just good for the economy,” Gordon McKernan said. “It’s good for the soul of the community. Keyala and I wanted to find a way to shine a light on the stories, the people, and the passion that make Greater New Orleans thrive.”

Why We’re Investing in Local New Orleans Businesses

As a Louisiana-based law firm, we understand what it means to build something here. Our firm started with one office. Today, we run 13 offices across Louisiana and serve clients statewide, while keeping our roots firmly local.

This campaign is about recognizing the entrepreneurs who take risks, create opportunities, and keep Greater New Orleans thriving.

Small businesses across Louisiana face real challenges. Rising costs, stiff competition, and limited visibility make it hard to break through. In Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Shreveport, and across the state, the story is the same. Local owners pour their lives into what they build, and sometimes all they need is someone to point a camera at them and say, “Tell me your story.”

That’s what this series does. One business at a time.

Who Can Apply?

If your business is located in the Greater New Orleans area, you’re eligible to submit.

We’re looking for a diverse mix of businesses, retail shops, service providers, creatives, contractors, food vendors, wellness brands, mobile entrepreneurs, and more. If you’re building something locally, we want to hear about it.

Selected businesses will be contacted directly. Please note that submitting the form does not guarantee participation.

Know a New Orleans Business That Deserves the Spotlight?

This series is just getting started. We’re looking for small businesses across the Greater New Orleans area that have a story worth telling. Brick and mortar or not — if the passion is there, we want to hear about it.

If you or someone you know runs a local business, we invite you to submit a nomination today.

Let’s get in the neighborhood and celebrate the businesses that keep Greater New Orleans moving forward.

Serving the New Orleans Community

“In the Neighborhood with G” is the latest chapter in a story we’ve been writing since we opened our Metairie office in January 2025. Getting involved in the New Orleans community has always been the priority — not as a marketing exercise, but because these neighborhoods deserve to have people in their corner.

Last summer, we partnered with Keyala to give away 432 backpacks filled with school supplies to students in the Treme neighborhood. In December, we hosted our first-ever bike giveaway in New Orleans. Through our Gordon Gives program, we’ve sponsored local charities, supported youth programs, and worked to make a real difference in the communities we serve.

This series builds on all of that. It’s another way we show up.

We’re Louisiana attorneys. But we’re also Louisiana people. Baton Rouge, Lafayette, New Orleans, Shreveport — these aren’t just markets on a map. They’re home.

Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys is a Louisiana personal injury law firm with offices in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, New Orleans (Metairie), Shreveport, and across the state. If you or a loved one has been injured and you have questions about your options, contact us for a free consultation. No fee unless we win.