On March 23, 2012 We received our official certification from the Keep America and Keep Louisiana Beautiful organization! We are very excited and anxious to get started with projects and events for the town. Please stay tuned………
It’s Official!
April 19th, 2012Click on the map below to see Louisiana’s role in the “Campaign for Free Enterprise”
June 21st, 2011The National Chamber Foundation has teamed up with the US Chamber’s Campaign for Free Enterprise to spur the creation of 20 million jobs in this decade – restoring the 7 million jobs lost and creating the 13 million new jobs that our growing nation will need. The states will play a pivotal role in achieving this goal by creating the conditions for competition, innovation, and productivity through investments in workforce development and training, science and technology, and infrastructure. Enterprise-friendly policies at the state level can facilitate local job growth by championing entrepreneurship and mobilizing effective partnerships for improving the conditions for business and job growth.
Enterprising States connects the success of free enterprise to our nation’s economy by correlating key policy inputs and best practices in state-driven economic development with job creation and other substantive economic outputs.
Overview of the Study
Read the executive summary (pdf)
The Job Creation Imperative: America’s Challenge in the Coming Decade and Beyond is conducted by Joel Kotkin, author of The Next 100 Million: America in 2050. Joel Kotkin’s introductory piece (pdf).
The study indicates proactive state policies and best practices with proven impact showcasing high performing states in the following categories:
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Exports
- Infrastructure
- Workforce Development and Training
- Taxes and Regulation
Download the full study by Praxis Strategy Group (pdf)
Click on the interactive map below to access a brief case study that highlights key policies and best practices for each state. Note: Each case study is in PDF format.
Small Business Owners Nationwide to Discuss Federal Regulatory Enforcement and Compliance Issues During National Hearing
May 17th, 2011Small business owners nationwide are invited to share their concerns over excessive enforcement of federal rules during a national U.S. Small Business Administration Regulatory Fairness hearing in Columbia, Maryland on Tuesday, May 24 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.WHO: SBA National Ombudsman Esther H. Vassar will meet with members of the Regional Regulatory Fairness boards, representatives from federal agencies and small business owners nationwide (via teleconferencing) to hear issues and comments about federal regulatory enforcement and compliance actions. Small business owners, representatives of trade associations, community and business leaders are invited to comment about compliance actions, enforcement of regulations by federal agencies.
WHAT: The National Ombudsman will direct specific issues addressed at these hearings to the appropriate federal agency for a review of the fairness of the enforcement action. In many instances, the National Ombudsman’s action has resulted in federal agencies reducing or waiving penalties and/or compliance actions in cases of unfair or excessive regulatory enforcement. Testimony must be submitted in writing in advance.
WHERE: Horowitz Visual & Performing Arts Center—Smith Theatre
Howard Community College
10901 Little Patuxent Parkway
Columbia, MD 21044 (Free parking is available)
Small business owners, leaders from business organizations and trade associations may testify during the hearing by registering in advance. RSVPs should be made to Jose Mendez or Yolanda Swift in the Office of the National Ombudsman at (202) 205-2417, or by email to jose.mendez@sba.gov, or to yolanda.swift@sba.gov.
SBA Kicks Off National Small Business Week 2011 in Washington, D.C.
May 17th, 2011“Empowering Entrepreneurs,” is a three-day event at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and Conference Center made to highlight business owners from 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, whose business achievements have contributed to job creation, the economy and to the nation’s recovery. The National Small Business Person of the Year will be named from this group on Friday, May 20.
Events during National Small Business Week can be viewed virtually through SBA’s free, live webcasting accessible online at www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.com/webcast.php. Visit www.NationalSmallBusinessWeek.com to register for forums, and for the full Small Business Week schedule. A list of the 2011 state winners can be found online at http://nationalsmallbusinessweek.com/index.php?page=winners
Tobacco Tax
May 17th, 2011a House committee voted to set aside the 70-cent-per-pack cigarette tax increase that the author sees little chance of passing. The governor has promised to veto if it does.
Later, three Republicans joined committee Democrats to approve a 4-cent-per-pack tax but the governor’s office restated its opposition to it also. The measure would raise $14 million for the 2012-13 budget and beyond. It can’t be renewed next year during the non-fiscal session. In light of the governor’s opposition, the author of the bill is still scrounging for votes.
SAVE THE DATE!!! April 19th, 5:30 Keep Madisonville Beautiful Meeting!
April 6th, 2011If you are interested in becoming involved in Keep Madisonville Beautiful, please meet with us on April 19, 2011 at 5:30 at Bruce Danner’s office and conference room at 209 Hwy 22 West, Madisonville
SAVE THE DATE!! April 19th, 5:30 Keep Madisonville Beautiful Meeting
April 6th, 2011If you are interested in becoming involved in Keep Madisonville Beautiful, please meet with us on April 19, 2011 at 5:30 at Bruce Danner’s office and conference room at 209 Hwy 22 West, Madisonville
1099 Tax Provision Repeal
April 6th, 2011The Senate voted to pass H.R. 4, the “Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011” and send the legislation to the President’s desk to be signed into law.A bipartisan vote of 87 – 12 was cast in favor of repealing the section 9006 of the health care law, better known as the 1099 mandate.
Our economy needs jobs, not more paperwork, and this vote was the first step in ensuring small businesses are free to dedicate their time and resources to growing their company and creating opportunity — not paying for health entitlements. If Congress failed to repeal the 1099 provision, the health care law would have required any business that purchases more than $600 of goods or services from another business to submit a 1099 tax form to the Internal Revenue Service.
“SCORE” Northshore
December 21st, 2010….is part of SCORE “Counselors to America’s Small Business,” a national nonprofit association dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation, growth and success of the nation’s small businesses.
The Northore Chapter serves Tangipahoa, St. Tammany and Washington parishes. Counseling sessions are available at the Business Resource Center of the St. Tammany Parish Library in Mandeville, LA and at the Whitney National Bank branch at 1338 Gause Blvd. in Slidell, LA.
SCORE Northshore provides free and confidential business advice and counseling tailored to meet the needs of your small business and your personal objectives. SCORE Northshore also offers workshops, for a modest fee, for both start-up and in-business entrepreneurs.
SCORE volunteers are real-world professionals with time-tested knowledge who donate thousands of hours to help small businesses succeed. Counselors are experts in such areas as accounting, finance, marketing, management and business plan preparation. They have also assisted many clients in obtaining business loans.
Contact scorens@scorens.org, or call (985) 520-0929 to learn more!
Keep Madisonville Beautiful
December 20th, 2010A new organization dedicated to the restoration and beautification of the Town of Madisonville in order to sustain our unique heritage and culture. We are currently working through the pre-certification process through the Keep America Beautiful Organization and should be certified no later than January, 2011. Please submit suggestions, ideas and/or comments to keepmadisonvillebeautiful@gmail.com or call 985-778-7790.