Economist: 60,000 of 115,000 New Orleans small businesses may disappear

[HughMoran]

http://www.wwltv.com/topstories/stories/WWL100205business.b535744c.html

Economist: predictions dire for N.O. small businesses

Economist Tim Ryan says he would not be surprised if New Orleans area business failures caused by Hurricane Katrina run much higher than the national average for disaster-related failures of 25 percent.

Ryan, who also is chancellor of the University of New Orleans, says one nugget of good news is that rebuilding efforts will likely create opportunities for new businesses.

The New Orleans area was home to more than 115,000 businesses in 2002 -- most are small companies or self-employed individuals.

If Ryan's worst fears come to pass, close to 60,000 small companies, from restaurants and travel agents to law firms and doctor's offices, will disappear from the New Orleans area.

That's a much larger number than any previous estimates.

[aquart]

1. BushCo wants to bring in large franchise stores: Gap. Banana Republic.

The charm of New Orleans was the survival of its very individual mom and pop stores which have no chance against the megastores.

[dweller]

2. might be the opportune time

for co-ops and liberal minded groups to step in and fill a niche.

sometimes the bottom dollars create a great foundation for an conscious environment to evolve.
dp

[Straight Shooter]

3. Small businesses are the heart and soul of any city.

F*ck you very much, george Worthless bush, for your never-ending destruction of the little things that make America great.