New Orleans summit to help neighborhoods, businesses survive, grow

New Orleans CityBusiness, Feb 12, 2008

Helping neighborhoods and business districts stabilize while helping to attract and grow new businesses will be the focus of the second annual Small Business Sustainability Summit.

Events will be held on Loyola University's campus and in recovering neighborhoods Feb. 21-23.

"Survival and sustainable growth is dependent on all of us working together," said Carmen Sunda, director of the Louisiana Small Business Development Center of Greater New Orleans. "Neighborhood by neighborhood, business by business, this conference is about working smarter and about being prepared."

The agenda includes practical ideas, tools and interactive sessions designed to "empower small business owners to create their own sustainability."

Scheduled seminars include:

Insurance-What Works, What You Can Negotiate

6-8 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Roussell Hall, Music Building, Loyola University.

Donna Childs with Childs Capital will provide strategies and tips for negotiating rates with an insurance company, followed by a panel discussion on what is working in the area. The panel includes business owners, advisers and representatives from the insurance industry. A networking reception immediately follows.

Neighborhood Check-Up -- How are we doing?

8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 22, various neighborhoods.

Attendees will travel to three key neighborhood commercial districts -- St. Claude, Gentilly and Freret -- to witness ongoing efforts to organize local businesses and encourage further development. Local businesses and the advocates they work with will discuss their work, share experiences and identify key issues to be resolved. For more information, call (504) 232-7821.

Now What? Strategies for Economic Resilience

8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 23 at Miller Hall, Room 114, Loyola University.

The full-day event will include strategies and information starting with a morning session where Childs will present cost- effective solutions to safeguard businesses and livelihoods. Childs will discuss how an investment in contingency planning will yield an immediate return by improving the efficiency of operating processes, even if disaster never strikes. Lunch is provided, followed by a panel discussion on sustainable growth strategies.

The summit will conclude with an update on Phase II of the small business grant and loan program from Louisiana Economic Development, as well as other updates, special presentations and opportunities to network. For more information or to register, go to www.staylocal.org/summits/ or call (504) 831-3730.