New Orleans CityBusiness articles from May 2009

New Orleans CityBusiness archives from May 2009

Meeting to focus on proposed closure of N.O. Adolescent Hospital.
May 1, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report A community meeting will be held on the planned closure of New Orleans Adolescent Hospital. The event will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. May 12. Members of the City Council, city officials, mental health...

N.O. area sees dip in first-time unemployment claims.
May 1, 2009... Byline: Christian Moises The New Orleans area saw a drop in initial unemployment claims for the week ending April 25 to 1,001 from 1,310. The area, comprised of Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John...

Gretna contractor arrested in false records case.
May 1, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report A Gretna contractor has been arrested for allegedly submitting to the state Department of Environmental Quality documents containing false information about inspections. On Thursday, the Criminal...

State of La. issues business advisory for swine flu precautions.
May 2, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff There have been no confirmed cases of swine flu in Louisiana, but state officials are asking businesses to follow safety guidelines in light of the threat the virus poses. The Louisiana Workforce Commission and...

Louisiana Hospital Association pans health care budget cuts.
May 2, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff The Louisiana Hospital Association, which represents 180 hospitals and health care providers in the state, is voicing its displeasure with additional cuts to the state budget affecting their industry. John...

Input sought on Federal City master plan in Algiers.
May 2, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff The Algiers Development District is holding a series of three meetings designed to draw public input on the master plan for Federal City, a high-tech, advanced security campus of military headquarters with...

FEMA trailer deadline passes in Jefferson.
May 2, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Jefferson Parish resident who are still living in temporary trailers nearly four years after Hurricane Katrina are making plans today on what to do with them now that a deadline has passed to have them removed....

Cultural ambassadors convene at Jazz Fest in New Orleans.
May 3, 2009... Byline: Greg LaRose Cultural ambassadors from around the world convened at the Jazz and Heritage Festival on Saturday to share the connections their respective countries have with Louisiana. The commonalities in music and food were steps...

Commentary: Zurich's PGA pledge ensures good times.
May 4, 2009... Byline: Mark Singletary It's really great news that Zurich Financial has pledged its support for our Professional Golfers' Association Tour stop until 2014. That means we get to see some of the world's greatest golfers play here for at...

Commentary: Casbarian touch still evident at Arnaud's in N.O.
May 4, 2009... Byline: Tom Fitzmorris When Archie Casbarian died a couple of months ago, the question was floated: Will Arnaud's survive without him? The stylish, marketing-savvy, brilliant owner of the restaurant saved it from an almost certain demise...

Commentary: Saints-state deal holds promise.
May 4, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff It's been years in the making, but the fruit may well be worth the toiling. On Thursday, Gov. Bobby Jindal and New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson signed a tentative agreement that will keep the team in the city...

Commentary: Louisiana's on the recession ride.
May 4, 2009... Byline: Deon Roberts Popular opinion has it Louisiana is good for just a handful of things: food, music and passing a good time, cher. When it comes to fighting crime and educating our kids, though, the state doesn't usually earn high...

Commentary: Jindal logs early legislative victories, popularity boost.
May 4, 2009... Byline: Jeff Crouere Gov. Bobby Jindal did not waste any time scoring victories in this young legislative session. On the second day of the session, the governor and his allies were successful in killing a proposal by state Rep. Karen...

Urban farmers in N.O. envision fertile business opportunities sprouting up around the city.
May 4, 2009... Byline: Emilie Bahr Jeanette Bell, who once taught business classes to high school students, sees a money-making opportunity in her second calling. But for the 65-year-old retiree, her motive is more passion than profit. Bell has built a...

Expansion plans evolve for N.O.-based Camellia Grill.
May 4, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Now that Camellia Grill has opened Destin, Fla., and plans are under way for a Baton Rouge location, owner Hicham Khodr is considering expansion in Houston and Austin, Texas, to stick with his original intention...

How is the summer event calendar, notoriously a slow time in New Orleans, shaping up this year?(Calendar)
May 4, 2009... Byline: Jennifer Nall Andrea Apuzzo owner and executive chef Andrea's Restaurant and Catering Andrea's continues to hold our own during the summer months. We still have plenty of available space, but I think we're holding our own. We...

Subcontractors in N.O. face chance of sunshine.
May 4, 2009... Byline: Jaime Guillet City contracts and the details of who is getting paid for what work has figured prominently in New Orleans conversations of late. One facet of city contracts that remains a mystery is subcontracting -- the smaller...

Armstrong Airport in Kenner privatization in mid-air.
May 4, 2009... Byline: Jaime Guillet With money woes bearing down on countless corporate shoulders around the globe, it's no wonder talk of privatizing Armstrong Airport has been barely audible in recent months. Proponents of turning over Louis...

Internet site seeks input on public policy issues in N.O.
May 4, 2009... Byline: Emilie Bahr When someone comes up with a great idea for how to improve their community, they might tell a friend, send an e-mail or post it on their Facebook or Twitter page. Zach Kupperman has added another option with his Web...

Foundation president upbeat despite economic challenges in N.O.
May 4, 2009... Byline: Stephen Maloney Albert Ruesga doesn't really think misconceptions about New Orleans are driving up global temperatures. But the Greater New Orleans Foundation president and CEO who took over in January said the oddball connection...

Covington based- Statewide Bank: FDIC order is water under bridge.
May 4, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff The head of Statewide Bank says a cease and desist order from federal regulators points out problems that were corrected well before those regulators performed their annual review of the institution. A March 25...

Louisiana braces with rest of nation as baby-boomer teachers start to exit the classroom.
May 4, 2009... Byline: Stephen Maloney As baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964 approach retirement age, school districts nationwide are bracing for a potential teacher shortage as classroom veterans retire. The demographics of the New Orleans teacher...

New Orleans Fair Grounds to start season even earlier.
May 4, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Opening day has been pushed up for a second year in a row at the New Orleans Fair Grounds, which will kick off its 2009-10 season one week earlier than last season. The Louisiana State Racing Commission approved...

Ochsner Health System in La. goes 'down under' for more docs.
May 4, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Ochsner Health System hopes a new partnership with Australia helps to ease a physician shortage in Louisiana. Ochsner announced last week its partnership with the University of Queensland Medical School in...

N.O. CityBusiness earns nine LPA awards.
May 4, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff New Orleans CityBusiness received nine awards, including four first place honors, when the Louisiana Press Association announced the winners of its 2008 Better Newspapers Competition on April 25. Staff writer...

Southern University of New Orleans touts economic impact.
May 4, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Southern University of New Orleans is circling its wagons in light of a legislator's proposal to merge the school with the nearby University of New Orleans. An economic impact study SUNO released Thursday details...

New Orleans pitches in to help city employees quit smoking.
May 4, 2009... Byline: Richard A. Webster In an effort to curb health care costs, the city of New Orleans is offering an anti-smoking course to city employees desperate to beat their tobacco habit. The eight-week program started in March provides weekly...

$2M to make state ag buildings in La. more storm-resistant.
May 4, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff The federal government is giving more than $2 million to make Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry facilities more hurricane-resistant so that emergency response is not hampered after a disaster such...

Roosevelt New Orleans hotel to hire 400.
May 4, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff The Roosevelt New Orleans hotel, which is being renovated for a summer opening, will hold an employment fair as it plans to hire a work force of approximately 400. The event will be held in Hall A of the New...

National Trust sues over N.O. hospital plans.
May 4, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff The National Trust for Historic Preservation is suing over plans to build two hospitals in downtown New Orleans, saying the federal government broke the National Environmental Policy Act. The National Trust on...

2 weeks left to reserve seats at Health Care Heroes event in N.O.
May 4, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reservations are being taken for CityBusiness' 2009 Health Care Heroes cocktail reception to be held from 5-8 p.m. May 14 at the New Orleans Museum of Art. Groups of 10 can register for $750 by contacting Tom...

Gentilly post office makes comeback.
May 4, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Gentilly takes a step forward in its recovery today with the reopening of a post office. A ribbon-cutting for New Orleans Gentilly Station, at 2051 Caton St., will be held at 11:30 a.m. The residents of the...

N.O. schools tell parents to be vigilant about flu.
May 4, 2009... Byline: Stephen Maloney As New Orleans joins the growing list of cities dealing with the global spread of the H1N1 virus, local school officials are urging parents to remain vigilant but calm. Orleans Parish School Board spokesman Steve...

PJ's to open on Canal Street in N.O.
May 4, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff A PJ's Coffee franchise is slated to open this summer at 622 Canal St., the Downtown Development District said. The coffee house, part of a locally-owned franchise, will be housed in a 925-square-foot space...

Off the Clock: Kirk Coco, Nola Brewing president in N.O.
May 4, 2009... Byline: Christian Moises Age: 41 Family: wife, McKenzie; son, K.C., 16 Education: bachelor's degree in business administration, Louisiana State University; juris doctor, Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center; master's degree...

May 6-9.
May 4, 2009... Byline: From CityBusiness Staff Reports May 6 The New Orleans Museum of Art will host an informal tour of its latest collaboration with the Historic New Orleans Collection at 6 p.m. Women Artists in Louisiana, 1825-1965: A Place of Their...

New Orleans CityBusiness Question of the Week results: Voters want more tax cuts.
May 4, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Even though the state is projected to have a a $1.3 billion drop in general fund revenue next year, most voters to CityBusiness' Question of the Week say they support cutting more taxes to stimulate the economy....

Jazz Fest attendance in N.O. tops 400K.
May 5, 2009... Byline: Stephen Maloney Despite early fears that the economic recession would negatively affect attendance at this year's Jazz and Heritage Festival, officials attendance numbers tell a different story. Festival spokesman Matthew Goldman...

City officials to attend New Orleans Day in Baton Rouge.
May 5, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff New Orleans Adolescent Hospital. Staffing at LSU Interim Hospital. Port consolidation. Extending tax incentives for the film industry. Those are among the issues Mayor Ray Nagin, members of the City Council and...

Jefferson Parish Council could lower rent for Veterans businesses.
May 5, 2009... Byline: Deon Roberts Businesses in one section of Jefferson Parish could get some financial relief during the recession, if the Parish Council backs a plan by Councilman Tom Capella. Capella wants to cut by 30 percent payments that...

N.O. chef to dish up first cookbook.
May 5, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Chef and restaurateur John Besh will release his first cookbook this fall. "My New Orleans," published by Andrews McMeel Publishing, is slated for release in October. It will sell for $45. A press announcement...

N.O. average gas price rises to $1.94.
May 5, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff City gas prices rose slightly overnight, from an average $1.937 per gallon of regular grade Monday to $1.942 today, according to AAA. A month ago, the average stood at $1.958. A year ago, it was $3.52. The...

N.O.-based Gulf Coast CEO predicts recession will end this summer.
May 5, 2009... Byline: Greg LaRose The national foreclosure crisis is a mass media concoction, according to the CEO of Gulf Coast Bank and Trust, and once homebuilders recognize that, the nation will emerge from recession. Guy Williams predicts they will...

Chinese drywall conference coming to N.O.(Conference news)
May 6, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff A conference on Chinese drywall, which is being accused of emitting smelly, corrosive gases in American homes, will be the subject of a conference here that will also discuss the liability of builders,...

Affordable energy group in N.O. backs review of council's advisers.
May 6, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff A New Orleans nonprofit that promotes affordable, clean energy says it supports the hiring of a contractor to review the City Council's use of legal and technical regulatory advisers. The council is scheduled to...

Lafayette firm wins $2M N.O. floodwall contract.
May 6, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a $2.19 million contract to a Lafayette firm to strengthen a section of floodwall that will protect parts of New Orleans and St. Bernard Parish. Progressive...

MMS awards $6M grant for Plaquemines Parish coastal restoration.
May 6, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff The Minerals Management Service has awarded a $6 million grant through the Coastal Impact Assistance Program for a restoration project at East Grand Terre Island in Plaquemines Parish. The money will be combined...

Jefferson Council defers vote on break for Veterans Boulevard businesses.
May 6, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff At the request of newly elected Councilwoman Cynthia Lee-Sheng, the Jefferson Parish Council has decided to wait until May 20 to make a final vote on an ordinance that would lower fees for Veterans Memorial...

City pays $1.6M for N.O. teachers union building.
May 6, 2009... Byline: Deon Roberts The city of New Orleans has bought another building from the United Teachers of New Orleans. UTNO's Health & Welfare Fund Building at 4600 Paris Ave. sold last week for $1.6 million, said Skip Weber, a commercial sales...

N.O. average gas price up 3 cents overnight.
May 6, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff City gas prices rose slightly overnight, from an average $1.942 per gallon of regular grade Tuesday to $1.973 today, according to AAA. A month ago, the average price stood at $1.957. A year ago, it was $3.523....

Port of N.O. to give presentation on controversial cold storage facility.
May 6, 2009... Byline: Deon Roberts The Port of New Orleans today will give a presentation to the Vieux Carre Commission on a proposed cold storage facility that some are opposed to. Yard signs have sprouted up in opposition to relocating New Orleans...

Donelon urges property owners in Louisiana to buy flood insurance.
May 6, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Despite experts predicting an average hurricane season this year, Louisiana Commissioner of Insurance Jim Donelon is urging property owners to buy flood insurance. The Atlantic hurricane season, which is less...

Reservations still available for N.O. CityBusiness' 2009 Health Care Heroes event.
May 7, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reservations are being taken for CityBusiness' 2009 Health Care Heroes cocktail reception to be held from 5-8 p.m. May 14 at the New Orleans Museum of Art. Groups of 10 can register for $750 by contacting Tom...

N.O. average gas price above $2.
May 7, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff City gas prices rose again overnight, crossing the $2 threshold. The average price of a gallon of regular grade stands at $2.008 this morning, up from $1.973 Wednesday, according to AAA. A month ago, the average...

Winn-Dixie chooses Covington for first new store since 2004.
May 7, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Winn-Dixie has chosen Covington for the site of the national grocery retailer's first new store in five years. The 55,000-square-foot store, to be built in Market Place 21 shopping center, is scheduled to open...

City of N.O. cites owners of former Marigny grocery store.
May 7, 2009... Byline: Emilie Bahr Owners of the hulking green building at the intersection of St. Claude and Elysian Fields avenues in the Marigny that most recently operated as a grocery store have been cited under nuisance property rules, according to...

Report: N.O. metro area rents, occupancy down.(Report)
May 8, 2009... Byline: Deon Roberts Landlords are collecting lower rents and occupancy rates are down in apartments across the New Orleans metropolitan area, according to a report released today. The metro area continues "to avoid the really large...

Cash-strapped Orleans Public Defenders waiting on funds.
May 8, 2009... Byline: Richard A. Webster The City Council approved a $500,000 allocation to the Orleans Public Defenders in January, but the embattled defense attorneys have yet to see a dime. The city, which is responsible for dispensing the funds,...

Litigation blamed for delaying repairs to former Marigny grocery store.
May 8, 2009... Byline: Emilie Bahr Owners of the hulking green building at the intersection of St. Claude and Elysian Fields avenues in the Marigny that most recently operated as a grocery store have been cited under nuisance property rules, according to...

N.O. hospitality industry to highlight importance of tourism.
May 8, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Hundreds of members of the city's hospitality industry will rally on Canal Street Tuesday to send a message to lawmakers about the importance of tourism to New Orleans' economy, the New Orleans Convention...

N.O. area first-time unemployment claims continue slide.
May 8, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The New Orleans area saw a second-straight drop in initial unemployment claims for the week ending May 2 to 947 from 1,001. The area, comprised of Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles,...

Barriere Construction heads up $13M West Bank roadway project.
May 8, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Barriere Construction Co. will head up a $13.3 million, year-long job to complete the extension of Harvey Boulevard from Wall Boulevard to Engineers Road. Once completed, Harvey Boulevard will have new...

Sen. Landrieu worries about impact of Obama's budget on Louisiana.
May 8, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report While Sen. Mary Landrieu is praising aspects of President Barack Obama's 2010 budget released Thursday, she is taking issue with facets that she said would hurt Louisiana economically. President Obama's...

New Orleans-based Boh Bros. wins $9M corps breakwater contract.
May 8, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The Army Corps of Engineers has awarded Boh Bros. Construction Co. a $9.15 million contract to build a breakwater for the Bonnabel Pump Station on the Jefferson Parish lakefront. Breakwaters are structures...

New Orleans nonprofit hopes plan sells art and real estate.
May 8, 2009... Byline: Emilie Bahr Can art move real estate? A newly formed nonprofit focused on expanding exhibition opportunities for emerging artists believes that it can help. Representatives of the Bridge for Emerging Contemporary Art...

Bar owners in La. shrug off looming smoking ban.
May 9, 2009... Byline: Emilie Bahr Ricky Christiana is bracing for the day he has to tell customers they can no longer enjoy a burger and a smoke inside his Metairie sports bar. Christiana, owner of Sidelines Bar and Grill, said he saw a surge in new...

Metairie-based Biloxi Marsh Lands 1Q revenues half of last year's figures.
May 9, 2009... Byline: Autumn C. Giusti First-quarter revenues for Biloxi Marsh Lands Corp. were half of what they were last year at this time, according to the Metairie-based company. Total revenue for the first three months of this year were $995,122,...

BioInnovation Center team spreading word of boom in N.O. industry.
May 11, 2009... Byline: Stephen Maloney The New Orleans BioInnovation Center will lead a delegation of scientists, researchers and economic development leaders to the 2009 Bio International Convention in Atlanta from May 18-21 to lay the groundwork for an...

Women's Rebuild project targets 20 homes in St. Bernard.
May 11, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff More than 200 women will gather in St. Bernard Parish this week to help rebuild 20 homes for the St. Bernard Project's third annual Women's Rebuild Week. The event is intended to spotlight the role women play in...

Last-minute reservations available for CityBusiness' 2009 Health Care Heroes event in N.O.
May 11, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reservations are being taken for CityBusiness' 2009 Health Care Heroes cocktail reception to be held from 5-8 p.m. May 14 at the New Orleans Museum of Art. Groups of 10 can register for $750 by contacting Tom...

United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area sets fundraising record for second straight year.
May 11, 2009... Byline: Stephen Maloney United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area is celebrating its second straight record-breaking fundraising year, after local and national donors brought in nearly $23 million during the 2008-09 fundraising drive. A...

City Council members to discuss N.O.'s future with Cuba.
May 11, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Members of the New Orleans City Council's Special Development Projects and Economic Development Committee are expected to explore how New Orleans can renew and expand its economic relationship with Cuba in the...

Eastern St. Tammany logs 49 percent drop in home prices since January.
May 11, 2009... Byline: Christian Moises The average selling price of homes in eastern St. Tammany Parish has dropped 49 percent since reaching a post-Hurricane Katrina high of $233,794 in January, according to April statistics from the Gulf South Real...

La. Sen. Landrieu seeks to grow U.S. small business' opportunities with Cuba.
May 11, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Sen. Mary Landrieu has joined four other senators to push for more small business opportunities with Cuba. Landrieu, chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, today wrote to...

Slots are sweetening the pot for horse races in La.
May 11, 2009... Byline: Christian Moises The permanent slots facility at the Fair Grounds racetrack seems to have served its purpose of increasing purse amounts during the 2008-09 season. We were impressed with the increase, said Leverne Perry, director...

Bar owners in La. shrug off looming smoking ban.
May 11, 2009... Byline: Emilie Bahr Ricky Christiana is bracing for the day he has to tell customers they can no longer enjoy a burger and a smoke inside his Metairie sports bar. Christiana, owner of Sidelines Bar and Grill, said he saw a surge in new...

May 11-18.
May 11, 2009... Byline: From CityBusiness Staff Reports May 11 and May 13 The Louisiana Restaurant Association and Tales of the Cocktail will offer a free seminar to pay homage to the Sazerac from noon to 2 p.m. at Bourbon House, 144 Bourbon St. The...

Budget shortfall in La. could doom tax break for small businesses.
May 11, 2009... Byline: Greg LaRose The state's $1.7 billion budget hole is imperiling all proposed and existing tax credit programs. Unless Louisiana lawmakers can match credits with corresponding spending cuts and make their effects immediate, Gov....

Off the Clock: Carol Irby, Riverland Credit Union president and CEO in N.O.
May 11, 2009... Byline: Greg LaRose Age: 53 Family: single Education: bachelor's degree in finance, Florida State University; master's business administration, University of New Orleans Hometown: Orlando, Fla. The 1985 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage...

Commentary: St. Bernard projects overhaul has solid potential.
May 11, 2009... Byline: Mark Singletary The old St. Bernard public housing projects were located three blocks from City Park. By any measurement, St. Bernard residents didn't regularly use park facilities. That should change dramatically if local...

In Other Words.
May 11, 2009... Byline: Jennifer Nall Boyd Boudreaux president and CEO Fidelity Homestead Savings Bank The federal government should basically allow community banks to continue to do business that benefits the markets they serve without further...

PJ's franchise converting Canal Street property in N.O.
May 11, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff A PJ's Coffee franchise is slated to open this summer at 622 Canal St., according to the Downtown Development District. The coffeehouse, part of a locally owned franchise, will be housed in a 925-square-foot...

Gulf Coast CEO predicts end to recession by this summer.
May 11, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff The national foreclosure crisis is a mass media concoction, Guy Williams said, and once homebuilders recognize that, the nation will emerge from recession. Williams, CEO of Gulf Coast Bank and Trust, predicts...

Businesses along Veterans Boulevard in N.O. could get financial break.
May 11, 2009... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Businesses along Veterans Boulevard could get some financial relief if the Jefferson Parish Council decides to put landscaping and aesthetic improvements along the corridor on the backburner. Councilman Tom...