New Orleans CityBusiness articles from January 2009

New Orleans CityBusiness archives from January 2009

New Orleans N.O. Department of Public Works lists 2008 accomplishments.
January 2, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports The city's Department of Public Works says it reached many milestones in 2008 in repairing roadway damages caused by flooding from the 2005 hurricanes. Since January 2008, the department has begun 21...

Army Corps reschedules lower-Plaquemines Parish public meeting to Jan. 28.
January 2, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers public meeting to discuss an upgrade to a Plaquemines levee has been rescheduled from Jan. 14 to Jan. 28. The meeting will focus on a proposal to upgrade the West Bank...

N.O.-based TV commercials deliver big upside to industry.
January 4, 2009... Byline: Emilie Bahr They might not have quite the cache of their star-studded, big budget counterparts, but commercials using New Orleans as a backdrop have the potential to provide a big boost to the city and its burgeoning film and...

5 days left to submit the N.O. CityBusiness' 2009 Leadership in Law program.
January 5, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Nominations for CityBusiness' 2009 Leadership in Law program must be received by 5 p.m. Friday. Honorees will be recognized at a March 5 cocktail reception and a special insert will run in the March 23 issue of...

Fewer able to meet credit obligations.
January 5, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report A key economic gauge measuring the ability of consumers and businesses to pay their debt continues to drop, mirroring the overall economic decline. The seasonally adjusted Credit Manager's Index fell 2.1...

Northrop Grumman to start building new Slidell facility.
January 5, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Northrop Grumman Corp. will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for its new 3001 International facility in Slidell at 2 p.m. Wednesday, which once completed will be the company's sole facility in greater New Orleans....

Baton Rouge-based Shaw Group, Westinghouse awarded Florida nuclear plant contract.
January 5, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The Shaw Group and partner Westinghouse Electric Co. have been awarded contracts to build two nuclear power units for Progress Energy Florida's new power plant in Levy County, Fla. The units each have an...

'Safe Routes To School' opens grant application period in Louisiana.
January 5, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Schools, local governments and nonprofits can start applying today for the third round of grants from the Safe Routes to School Program. The program aims to improve the health of kids and the community by...

NASA names New Orleans native Stennis deputy directort.
January 5, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report NASA has named Patrick Scheuermann the deputy director of the John C. Stennis Space Center, its primary testing ground for rocket engines and propulsion systems. The promotion of Scheuermann, the center's...

N.O.-area ends year with decrease in first-time jobless claims.
January 5, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports The New Orleans area saw a decrease in initial unemployment claims for the week ending Dec. 27 to 573 from 846 for the week ending Dec. 13. Figures were not available for the week ending Dec. 20. The area,...

Taxing concerns: Unchecked use of city vehicles in N.O. raises IRS red flags.
January 5, 2009... Byline: Jaime Guillet The New Orleans inspector general's interim report on the city's administrative vehicle fleet made one thing acutely clear: City officials lack internal controls and accounting records regarding the use of take-home...

Marketing firms in N.O. see mixed bag in economy.
January 5, 2009... Byline: Jaime Guillet There is an old corporate axiom that says when business suffers, advertising and marketing budgets are the first to go. In New Orleans, the prognosis of many of the city's marketing and advertising agencies are a...

Auto sales slump in N.O. cuts into radio advertising.
January 5, 2009... Byline: Stephen Maloney With the demise of the American auto industry requiring a federal lifesaver, advertising revenues at local radio stations, traditionally buoyed by car ads, are sinking fast. Chris Claus, Entercom Communications...

FEMA Feud: City of N.O. presses feds for more money to rebuild infrastructure.
January 5, 2009... Byline: Jaime Guillet Federal Emergency Management Agency officials have made progress -- at least from their perspective -- negotiating the scope of work for repairs on about 300 properties damaged during Hurricane Katrina, though some...

Back after this message: N.O.-based TV commercials deliver big upside to industry.
January 5, 2009... Byline: Emilie Bahr They might not have quite the cache of their star-studded, big budget counterparts, but commercials using New Orleans as a backdrop have the potential to provide a big boost to the city and its burgeoning film and...

Survey says New Orleans has adequate tech support.
January 5, 2009... Byline: Greg LaRose A survey shows the New Orleans region is replete with information technology professionals, a finding sponsors hope will lead to economic development for the area. The Louisiana Technology Council, through a University...

University of New Orleans rebuilding Cove with sports bar feel.
January 5, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff The Cove, the center of University of New Orleans student life before Hurricane Katrina, is undergoing $3 million in renovations with plans to reopen in August. The project, which is being paid for with federal...

Weatherman Milham ends reign at WDSU in N.O.
January 5, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff WDSU weatherman Dan Milham is riding off into the sunset but will maintain ties to the station. He has handed over the role of chief meteorologist to Margaret Orr effective Jan. 1 and will serve as a consultant...

Greater New Orleans Inc. boots up digital media alliance.
January 5, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff A new alliance created by Greater New Orleans Inc. to grow the metro area's digital media industry has officially been launched. GNO Inc.'s Digital Media Alliance includes representatives of digital and new media...

Slow business sinks N.O.-based river barge hotel.
January 5, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff The only floating barge hotel on an inland American river has made its final voyage. The owner of Riverbarge Excursion Lines Inc. said fewer bookings and higher operating costs are forcing him to anchor the...

Foundation calls for smaller Methodist Hospital in N.O.
January 5, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff The closest hospital for residents of eastern New Orleans is in the downtown area, but officials with Methodist Hospital are looking into the feasibility of reopening their facility that has been closed since...

Terrebonne Parish expedites $30.2M in levee work.
January 5, 2009... Byline: Angelle Bergeron Parts of Terrebonne Parish that flooded during Hurricane Rita in 2005 are about to get some added protection from $30.24 million in improvements to non-federal levees. The improvements will provide greater flood...

Commentary: Improvements at Antoine's in N.O. doesn't affect timeless appeal.
January 5, 2009... Byline: Tom Fitzmorris Antoine's $$$$$$$ Classic Creole 713 St. Louis St., French Quarter 581-4422 www.antoines.com Price ratings are what one person should expect to spend on a meal. Each $ represents roughly $10 It's a tradition of...

Commentary: Even a bleak economy can create opportunities.
January 5, 2009... Byline: Autumn C. Giusti It's tough to be optimistic this New Year. The country is facing one of the deepest recessions since the Great Depression, unemployment reached a 26-year high in December and economists say we haven't seen the...

How a karaoke machine moved special needs students in N.O. into the mainstream.
January 5, 2009... Byline: Stephen Maloney Three years ago Bridget Seals had trouble coaxing more than two or three words at a time out of her special needs students at Grace King High School, but now she has to struggle to make her voice heard among the...

In Other Words: As layoffs rise, has there been a rise in enrollment for work force programs?
January 5, 2009... Byline: Jennifer Nall Ernest Frazier Jr. Director of work force development Nunez Community College We are working with local businesses and the Workforce Investment Act to provide opportunities to those employees who will be affected...

Off the Clock: Q&A with Sally Clausen, Louisiana commissioner of higher education.
January 5, 2009... Byline: Christian Moises Age: 63 Family: children, David and Rebecca Education: bachelor's degree in elementary and secondary education, master's degree in special education and psychology, doctor of education in school administration,...

Commentary: Automaker bailout has 'frozen tundra' mindset.
January 5, 2009... Byline: Mark Singletary Whether I played golf today is irrelevant; I could have. This time of year I can't help myself. I have friends in the frozen tundra of Wisconsin, Minnesota and upstate New York who can barely hide their disdain for...

Commentary: Sugar Bowl sweetens the pot for New Orleans.
January 5, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff It took the Bowl Championship Series championship game and National Basketball Association's 2008 All-Star Game to prove New Orleans is an attractive major sports event destination post-Katrina. Both events took...

Rep. Steve Scalise: $129.7M to help Louisiana hospitals.
January 6, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Metairie, Tuesday said the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is giving Louisiana $129.7 million. New Orleans-area hospitals that have suffered financial losses since...

La. state Senator Donald Cravins to resign Senate seat to work for Landrieu.
January 6, 2009... Byline: Jaime Guillet State Sen. Donald Cravins, D-Lafayette, will leave his legislative seat within the month to become staff director of the Small Business Administration and Entrepreneurship Committee at the request of Sen. Mary...

Blaine Kern Studios to open New Orleans East Bank complex.
January 6, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Blaine Kern Studios tonight celebrates the grand opening of its East Bank riverfront complex at the old Delta Queen Steamship Terminal and River City Casino sites. The Twelfth Night launch party will be...

HUD secretary to kick off C.J. Peete redevelopment in New Orleans.
January 6, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Steve Preston will join Mayor Ray Nagin, state officials and private partners at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday to break ground for the new C.J. Peete community that will...

New Orleans Corps: West Bank could become home to nation's largest pump station.
January 6, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report As part of storm surge-protection project proposed for the West Bank, the Army Corps of Engineers said it could build the largest pump station in the U.S. The Corps is in the planning stages for the Gulf...

St. Tammany president to not seek additional term.
January 6, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis today said he has asked the Parish Council to withdraw consideration of a proposition that would have allowed him to run for an additional term. Davis issued the...

Spanish Custom House in New Orleans' Bayou St. John neighborhood to be auctioned.
January 7, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness staff repor The Spanish Custom House in the Bayou St. John neighborhood will soon be auctioned. Neal Auction says the property will be sold Feb. 10. The auction house calls it one of the oldest and most historic...

FEMA: Pilot program speeds up Louisiana hurricane recovery.
January 7, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The Federal Emergency Management agency today said more than $190 million was approved as part of a Public Assistance Pilot Program to help Louisiana recover from hurricanes Gustav and Ike, which struck...

Worker dies following accident on the Twin Span construction project over Lake Pontchartrain.
January 7, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report A 65-year-old crane operator has died after he was involved in an accident last month while working on the Twin Span construction project over Lake Pontchartrain. Boh Bros. Construction Co. President Robert...

Fun Arcade to close after nearly 37 years in New Orleans area.
January 7, 2009... Byline: Christian Moises Paradise Lanes. The Putt-Putt golf course. The trampoline place. The Fun Arcade will join that list of gone-but-not-forgotten Veterans Boulevard recreational spots when the video game hangout closes at midnight...

New Orleans Saints part ways with defensive coordinator.
January 7, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Gary Gibbs is no longer defensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints, the team said Wednesday. In a press release, the team said Gibbs, 56, "was relieved of his duties." The graduate of the University...

New Orleans average gas price rises to $1.61.
January 7, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report City gas prices rose slightly overnight, from an average $1.578 per gallon of regular grade gasoline Tuesday to $1.611 today, according to AAA. The statewide average is $1.613. The national average is...

Commander's Palace in New Orleans reclaims top spot in Zagat Survey.
January 7, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Commander's Palace is New Orleans' most popular restaurant, according to the 2009 Zagat Survey, which today released the results of its 2009 New Orleans travel survey today. It is a designation the famed...

Actor Michael Douglas to speak at N.O. fundraisers conference.(Conference news)
January 8, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Actor Michael Douglas will be one of the featured speakers at the Association of Fundraising Professionals' 46th International Conference on Fundraising in New Orleans March 29-April 2. The event is...

Less than 48 hours left to submit Leadership in Law nominations to N.O. CityBusiness.
January 8, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Nominations for CityBusiness' 2009 Leadership in Law program must be received by 5 p.m. Friday. Honorees will be recognized at a March 5 cocktail reception and in a special insert that will run in the...

Feds win permission to garnish Barre's and DeCay's Louisiana state pensions.
January 8, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report State pensions for Stanford "Pampy" Barre and Kerry DeCay will be garnished, U.S. Attorney Jim Letten said Wednesday. Last year, Barre and DeCay pleaded guilty to mail fraud, conspiracy to commit mail...

N.O. average gas prices rises to $1.64.
January 8, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report City gas prices rose slightly overnight, from an average $1.611 per gallon of regular grade Wednesday to $1.649 today, according to AAA. A month ago, the average price stood at $1.628. A year ago, it was...

Macy's closures do not include Louisiana.
January 8, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Macy's Inc. today announced it will close 11 underperforming stores, but none of the closures are in Louisiana. These closings are part of our normal-course process to prune underperforming locations each...

N.O.-area first-time unemployment claims increase after dip.
January 9, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports The New Orleans area saw an increase in initial unemployment claims for the week ending Jan. 3 to 597 from 573. The area, comprised of Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James,...

New Orleans named 'Best Domestic Business City'.
January 9, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports New Orleans is the "Best Domestic Business City," according to 31,457 readers surveyed by Global Traveler Magazine, which published the results in its December issue. The survey was conducted last year,...

'Reinventing the Crescent' first phase kicks offs.
January 9, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports The first phase of a major redevelopment of riverfront land is under way. Next week, the "Reinventing the Crescent" design team will gather in New Orleans to advance the initial $30 million phase,...

TCI goes green adding 15 new fuel-efficient trucks to New Orleans fleet.
January 10, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports Transportation Consultants Inc., an international trucking and warehousing company that specializes in containerized cargo, entered into a contract with Southland Idealease for 15 new 2009 Kenworth...

Congressman Steve Scalise, R-Metairie, appointed to Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
January 10, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports Congressman Steve Scalise, R-Metairie, was named to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee last week. He will also maintain his seat on the Veterans' Affairs Committee and the Subcommittee...

New Orleans man gets suspended sentence for animal cruelty.
January 10, 2009... Byline: Richard A. Webster Fabian Mumme, found guilty of aggravated animal cruelty in December, was sentenced today to a three-year suspended sentence and three-year probation. The sentences are to be served concurrently. Mumme, 62, of New...

Jefferson Parish to Honor Jefferson Heroes during Family Gras 2009.
January 10, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports Jefferson Parish officials announced today the opening of nominations for the first annual Jefferson Heroes Awards. The Jefferson Heroes will be honored during Family Gras, Feb. 13-15. The weekend will...

SBA announces closure of nine disaster loan outreach centers.
January 10, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports Michael W. Ricks, director of the U.S. Small Business Administration's Louisiana District Office, announced the closing of nine SBA's Disaster Loan Outreach Centers. The centers in Avondale, Gonzales,...

New Orleans tops Southern Living's readers' choice awards for food.
January 10, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports Southern Living magazine asked readers to name their favorite destinations in the South to vacation, eat, shop and more. More than 41,000 votes were cast for the 13th annual Southern Living Readers'...

The Invisible Population: Homeless people living in New Orleans-area blighted buildings.
January 12, 2009... Byline: Richard A. Webster Jimmy Kelly and Deborah Williams invited a group of social workers into their temporary home -- the second floor of a blighted house in Central City. The women, dressed in business suits and high heels, made...

Feds sit on dredging funds: New Orleans-area maritime organizations work to recover money.
January 12, 2009... Byline: Jaime Guillet A group of New Orleans-area maritime organizations, including the Port of New Orleans, are party to a growing effort to recover billions in shipping-industry money that should have been dedicated to dredging...

Jan. 16-24.
January 12, 2009... Byline: From CityBusiness Staff Reports Jan. 16 The New Orleans Museum of Art will open Evening in Paris: Posters and Photographs of the City of Light from the Permanent Collection in the Stafford Gallery, 1 Collins Diboll Circle in City...

Bracketology: Tax payers taking advantage of low taxes now, expecting rates to rise.
January 12, 2009... Byline: Tom Leggett President-elect Barack Obama campaigned on a platform that included allowing Bush administration tax cuts to expire and raising income tax rates for people earning more than $250,000 annually. Some tax planners say the...

New Orleans Financial Briefs: January 12, 2009.
January 12, 2009... Byline: Greg LaRose Sometimes it pays to be a big loser -- as a gambler. Rulings in federal court cases have bailed out gamblers who were allowed to claim losses on their tax returns. Francis Gagliardi won $26 million in the California...

In Other Words: New Orleans-area accounting and consulting firms.
January 12, 2009... Byline: Jennifer Nall Ralph A. Litolff Jr. Director of business consulting services Bourgeois Bennett Given the current economic situation, businesses should consider restructuring their debts. With interest rates at historically low...

Commentary: Finding havens for the homeless in New Orleans.
January 12, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Editorial Unity of New Orleans, a collaborative of 70 homeless advocacy agencies in Jefferson and Orleans parishes, estimates there could be as many as 10,000 people living on the streets of New Orleans. Mayor C....

Commentary: Murder exacts a larger toll than body count.
January 12, 2009... Byline: Mark Singletary Friday, Jan. 2, was a slow news day, especially for the business beat. No mergers, no big bankruptcies, no local scandals -- just the first business day of a brand new year. Early that morning a local news brief...

New Orleans a player in video game industry.
January 12, 2009... Byline: Deon Roberts For years, Baton Rouge has been racking up points when it comes to developing its video game industry, while New Orleans has pretty much stood by, seemingly content to watch Baton Rouge get its game on rather than pick...

Commentary: Davis opens door for St. Tammany presidency.
January 12, 2009... Byline: Jeff Crouere After first floating the idea that he wanted a fourth term, St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis changed course and decided last week that he will not seek four more years in office. The parish's home rule charter...

Ads for Stewart's funeral homes feature 'Bucket List' giveaway.
January 12, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports Funeral home advertising has traditionally been conservative -- and downright morose in most instances -- but Stewart Enterprises is injecting some life into its newest campaign. Working with the Red...

Brigtsen's, Commander's in New Orleans rate tops in Zagat Survey.
January 12, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports A trip to the National World War II Museum, dinner at Brigtsen's, drinks at the Polo Lounge and a night's stay at the Windsor Court rate as the best New Orleans experience, according to reviews in the...

New Orleans-based Blaine Kern Studios opens East Bank complex.
January 12, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports Blaine Kern Studios' East Bank riverfront complex will open to the public Feb. 1, but its namesake was not going to let the start of Carnival season 2009 go by without a party. The facility's grand...

Game over for Fun Arcade in New Orleans.
January 12, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports Paradise Lanes. Putt-Putt Golf. The Trampoline Jump Center. The Fun Arcade will join that list of gone-but-not-forgotten Veterans Boulevard recreational spots when the video game hangout closes at midnight...

Italian motorcycle maker Ducati helps expand New Orleans dealership.
January 12, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports The high-end Italian motorcycle maker Ducati helped pay for a $200,000 expansion at The Transportation Revolution, which opened its renovated showroom at Baronne and Julia streets Friday. The dealership...

Momentum continues in Louisiana for switch to charter schools.
January 12, 2009... Byline: Stephen Maloney Three years after its creation, the Recovery School District is undergoing a transformational change that will move New Orleans public education one more step away from a traditional school system. While charter...

Some find a silver lining in La. population decline.
January 12, 2009... Byline: Emilie Bahr American orthodoxy holds that population growth is invariably good. It tends to mean more jobs, more consumer spending, more construction, more tax dollars to keep governmental coffers flush, streets paved, services...

Commentary: Bon Ton Cafe sets early standard for Cajun food.
January 12, 2009... Byline: Tom Fitzmorris Bon Ton Cafe $$$ Cajun 401 Magazine St., Central Business District 524-3386 http://thebontoncafe.com Price ratings are what one person should expect to spend on a meal. Each $ represents roughly $10 Whenever...

Emergency services return to Ochsner Baptist Medical Center in New Orleans.
January 12, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report New Orleans added another emergency room today when Ochsner Baptist Medical Center celebrated the opening of its full-service ER and a 43-, all-private-room hospital wing at 2700 Napoleon Ave. in Uptown....

Ohio e-payables firm links to Receivables Exchange in New Orleans.
January 12, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report An electronic payables service in Ohio with more than 10,000 international customers has linked to the Receivables Exchange in New Orleans so its clients can trade their accounts payable online for working...

Kenner hotel reopens after $27M renovation.
January 12, 2009... Byline: Deon Roberts A Kenner hotel devastated by Hurricane Katrina is back in business. The Holiday Inn at 2829 Williams Blvd. was shuttered after Katrina, but about 14 months and $27 million later, the hotel has been rebuilt and reopened...

New Orleanians on the Move: January 12, 2009.
January 12, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report BANKING First Trust Corp. has named Peter Conner chief financial officer and executive vice president for the bank holding company. COMPUTER SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT Diamond Data Systems Inc. has named Tim...

'Disney-like' cleaning of New Orleans French Quarter to run until October.
January 12, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The sounds of pressure washing and street sweepers will sontinue to be heard throughout the French Quarter and downtown - at least until October, that is. Today, the City Council received a commitment from...

New Orleans Mayor Nagin's office: Saenger deal to be announced Tuesday.
January 12, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Mayor C. Ray Nagin is expected to announce Tuesday a deal has been reached to redevelop the Saenger Theatre, which has been shuttered since Hurricane Katrina. The mayor's press office said today a...

3 weeks left to submit Culinary Connoisseurs nominations to N.O. CityBusiness.
January 12, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report There is one month left to submit nominations for CityBusiness' 2009 Culinary Connoisseurs event. Nominations must be received by 5 p.m. Jan. 30. In its second year, Culinary Connoisseurs will recognize...

Barriere Construction levels East Jefferson Canal bank for $2.7M.
January 12, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Barriere Construction Co. will handle a $2.7 million job to level a canal bank as part of Transcontinental Drive and West Esplanade Avenue improvements. Starting today and ending Friday, one eastbound and...

Conference Board: U.S. economy could lose 2 million more jobs in '09.
January 12, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The U.S. economy could shed another 2 million jobs this year, according to The Conference Board, which today said its Employment Trends Index fell further in December. The index now stands at 99.6,...

More than half of charities report lower 4Q giving than in '07.
January 12, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report More than half of the charities throughout North America raised less money during the last quarter of 2008 compared with the same period a year ago, according to a survey by the Association of Fundraising...