About Us

The Gulf Coast Marketplace serves as an e-commerce website functioning as a consignment outlet for hand crafted products and services created by people living along the gulf coast. Our virtual marketplace serves as an economic stimulator for the Gulf Coast region as well as promoting and celebrating the rich diversity of the many cultures who call the Gulf States home.

On April 20, 2010 our lives were forever changed by the Deepwater Horizon explosion and the resulting oil spill which occurred in the Gulf of Mexico. While we as a region had experience in recovering from the devastation of numerous hurricanes over the last eight (8) years, this new and different disaster has challenged us all to develop new and different disaster response and recovery methods.

Our focus on the economic recovery of people as well as their emotional and mental recovery has led to the creation of the "Gulf Coast Marketplace" e-commerce site. In meeting the people impacted by the oil spill, we realized that many were artists and craftsman in addition to making their living from the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The many artists and craftsman of the Gulf Coast are the vendors of our marketplace. It is our hope that the Gulf Coast Marketplace will not only bring in supplemental income for the families impacted by the oil spill but will serve as an economic stimulator for the Gulf Coast region.

Click here to view our Advisory Board.

About Options for Independence:

Options for Independence is a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit social service agency with the goal of building better communities, one person at a time. Formed in 1992, Options for Independence has served as an integral part of our communities as we work to assist persons with disabilities to receive home- and community-based services to avoid the need for institutional care.
Over the years, Options for Independence has grown, partly through our own initiative, but largely through our response to calls for services from within the communities we serve. Our growth in services includes support for a wide variety of needs including support for persons with developmental disabilities, persons with serious mental illnesses, persons who are homeless, persons who struggle with chronic underemployment, persons with physical limitations and persons affected by natural disasters.
Our reach is both broad and deep with more than 3500 children and adults benefiting from our services each year. Following the 2005 storms, especially Hurricane Katrina, we have touched more than 240,000 persons through our crisis counseling and outreach. Our geographical reach includes a seven parish area that includes Assumption, Lafourche, Terrebonne, St. Mary, St. John, St. James and St. Charles.
Not quite a household name, Options for Independence works quietly in the background of the lives of the people we serve to assist persons to live and work in the community of their choice. At the departmental level of state, local and federal agencies, as well as among major benevolent foundations, Options for Independence is a well-know, proven and trusted partner, often engaged to assist other organizations achieve positive outcomes through pragmatic, well organized programs.
There is so much more to know and learn about Options for Independence. We welcome your inquiries and participation.