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Danos & Curole Marine Contractors, which currently is based in Lafourche Parish, said it will build a new $10 million headquarters in Terrebonne Parish and is evaluating multiple Louisiana ports as potential sites for a $20 manufacturing and fabrication facility. The company, now based in Larose, is a construction and services partner for major oil and gas … Continue reading →
Cohn Turner, the high-end clothing retailer that has been in Baton Rouge for more than five decades, officially changed on Tuesday to Perlis, the New Orleans-based company that bought it in November. Perlis, the apparel retailer known for its crawfish logo, has renovated the Jefferson Highway store and will carry many of the same Cohn Turner had, … Continue reading →
A loan review committee of the East Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority granted a favorable score Tuesday to Danny McGlynn’s planned renovation of the Darensbourg building and the northern side of the Government Street block just west of it. McGlynn is requesting $700,000 in gap financing for the project from the RDA, whose full board will consider the … Continue reading →
A vice president and general manager has been named for Avondale Industries Inc., responsible for developing parent company Huntington Ingalls Industries’ energy infrastructure business in Avondale. Rene Mathieu will work in Avondale and at Avondale’s business development office in Houston, HII said in a news release. HII opened the Houston office to pursue energy infrastructure projects … Continue reading →
Adams and Reese LLP is acquiring Ellis Lawhorne, a law firm in Columbia, S.C., effective June 1. With the addition of 23 attorneys in Columbia, New Orleans-based Adams and Reese said it will have more than 340 attorneys and advisers in 16 offices in seven states throughout the South and Washington, D.C. The announcement was made … Continue reading →
A national search company has been selected to find the first chief executive officer for Step One Ventures, a new fund aimed at helping fledging Baton Rouge companies. Brill Neumann, a Boston-based search company, is leading the search, said Stephen Loy, executive director of the Louisiana Technology Park. The tech park and JumpStart, a Cleveland nonprofit venture … Continue reading →
SAN FRANCISCO — Yahoo is buying online blogging forum Tumblr for $1.1 billion as CEO Marissa Mayer tries to rejuvenate an Internet pioneer that had fallen behind the times. Tumblr has emerged as a trendy online hangout by providing a service that makes it easy to share blog posts, photos, video and other content in … Continue reading →
NEW YORK — Rival online takeout services Seamless North America and GrubHub on Monday announced plans to combine and create a new company covering more than 20,000 restaurants in 500 cities across the U.S. Financial terms were not disclosed and it’s unclear what the combined company will be called. GrubHub CEO Matt Maloney will become … Continue reading →
The city-parish Planning Commission on Monday approved the rezoning for a haunted house and outdoor Halloween attraction just south of Central and shot down a subdivision near Pecue Lane and Perkins Road because the density of homes there would be out of step with the area. The commission voted 6-2, with commissioners Tara Wicker and Sarah Holliday-James voting against and W.T. … Continue reading →
LEEVAC Shipyards Jennings LLC has signed contracts with Hornbeck Offshore Services LLC, an affiliate of Hornbeck Offshore Services Inc. of Covington, for the construction of two marine supply vessels. “These will be the 23rd and 24th vessels to be built by LEEVAC for Hornbeck” said Christian Vaccari, president and CEO of LEEVAC Shipyards LLC, parent company of … Continue reading →
Globalstar, the Covington-based satellite phone company, has reached an agreement with creditors and lined up $85 million in financing to bolster its long-term liquidity. The agreement, announced Monday evening, clears up an issue Globalstar had with noteholders, who had the right to surrender their securities and claim nearly $70.7 million last month. The company didn’t have … Continue reading →
RoyOMartin will spend $20 million to modernize and expand its Martco plywood mill in Natchitoches Parish, a move that will create 24 new jobs. Along with the new jobs, which will have an average salary of $42,000 plus benefits, the Louisiana Economic Development department estimates the expansion of the Chopin facility will add 56 indirect jobs. RoyOMartin … Continue reading →
Baton Rouge Metro Airport will give a standard incentive package to Elite Airways when the company begins flying out of the market in July. Elite Airways will get a two-year waiver on landing fees and rent, said Jim Caldwell, an airport spokesman. Metro Airport will also help support advertising for the startup airline and could put up … Continue reading →
Danny McGlynn is seeking $700,000 in gap financing from the East Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority for his redevelopment of the Darensbourg building and a “model block” project on Government Street. An RDA loan review committee will look over the application at 9 a.m. Tuesday in its office at 801 North Blvd. The gap financing sought … Continue reading →
Less than two months remain before Piccadilly Restaurants LLC submits its bankruptcy reorganization plan. But the company’s new business model — a leaner organization with a continued emphasis on institutional customers, such as schools, and on emergency services — is growing clearer. When it filed for Chapter 11 in September, Piccadilly had 81 open restaurants, three closed … Continue reading →
Piccadilly, whose emergency feeding business began after hurricanes Katrina and Rita, is an area of focus for a new division formed by the restaurant chain, complete with a mobile kitchen. “We’ve been to the International Disaster Conference in New Orleans, the National Hurricane Conference, also in New Orleans, and we just got back from the Governor’s … Continue reading →
NEW YORK — The surge in oil production in the U.S. and Canada and shrinking oil consumption in the developed world is transforming the global oil market. The threat of chronic oil shortages is all but gone, U.S. dependence on Middle Eastern oil will continue to dwindle, and oil will increasingly flow to the developing … Continue reading →
Richard O’Quinn, a physical therapist at Central Physical Therapy, has received the Herdman Certification for Vestibular Rehabilitation. The certification acknowledges the expertise to test and treat patients with vestibular issues like dizziness and loss of balance. GeoEngineers Inc.’s in-house laboratory in Baton Rouge has earned certification from … Continue reading →
Letti Lowe-Ardoin has been named chief operating officer at Hannis T. Bourgeois LLP, Certified Public Accountants. Lowe-Ardoin was with The Lowe Co., a firm she founded in 1996. She is a professor at LSU, teaching accounting and income taxation. Katherine “Kaki” Heiligenthal has been named … Continue reading →
BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU WHEN: Thursday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. WHERE: Belle of Baton Rouge Atrium, 103 France St., Baton Rouge EVENT: Business to Business Trade Show and a 5-6 p.m. After-Hours Program COST: General admission to the trade show is complementary Continue reading →
The LSU AgCenter’s LaHouse Resource Center will host a “Lead Certified Renovator Training” 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Thursday at 2858 Gourrier Ave., between Nicholson Drive and River Road, at the southwest edge of the LSU campus. The course is aimed at helping contractors meet EPA lead renovation, repair … Continue reading →
WASHINGTON — The Energy Department on Friday conditionally approved a Texas company’s proposal to export liquefied natural gas, only the second such project allowed to move forward amid a production boom that has led to glut of domestic natural gas. The action would allow Freeport LNG Expansion L.P. to export up to 1.4 billion cubic … Continue reading →
HOUSTON — Oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. says the number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. remains unchanged this week at 1,769. The Houston-based company said Friday in its weekly report that 1,408 rigs were exploring for oil and another 354 for gas. Seven were listed as miscellaneous. … Continue reading →
NEW ORLEANS — Leviton, a lighting and electrical products company that acquired New Orleans-based Home Automation Inc. last year, said it is negotiating for space in New Orleans’ Central Business District to house a training center and a Leviton product showroom that includes home automation products. The showroom also will be used to demonstrate … Continue reading →
Louisiana added 16,000 nonfarm jobs during the 12 months ending in April, finishing up just under 1 percent at 1,943,700 jobs, according to seasonally adjusted data released Friday by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. The private sector added 21,100 jobs during that period, but state, local and federal government employment fell by 5,100 jobs. The … Continue reading →
The number of homes sold in the Baton Rouge metro area rose 28 percent in April, a strong gain even by recent standards in a rebounding market. Realtors sold 783 homes in the eight-parish area, compared with 611 in April 2012, according to figures released by the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors. The median sales … Continue reading →
Sempra Energy has signed joint venture and 20-year supply agreements with three companies to support the financing and construction of a liquefied natural gas export facility at its Cameron LNG terminal in southwest Louisiana, the company said Thursday. The joint venture agreement calls for affiliates of GDF Suez SA; Mitsubishi Corp., through a related company established with … Continue reading →
Three business leaders with south Louisiana ties were named as people making a difference in Southern economic development, according to a regional business magazine. Along with recognizing Mike Eades, president and CEO of the Ascension Economic Development Corp.; Michael Hecht, president and CEO of Greater New Orleans Inc., and J. Wayne Leonard, former Entergy chairman and CEO; … Continue reading →
Globalstar, the Covington-based satellite phone company, has introduced the first satellite phone that can be purchased at retail stores such as Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s and West Marine. The SPOT Global Phone retails for $499, and there’s a required subscription service that starts at $24.99 a month. The phone is aimed at hunters, hikers, boaters and … Continue reading →
NEW ORLEANS — Entertainment Partners, which provides payroll, residuals and production services, is moving to a larger building to accommodate Louisiana’s growing film industry. EP’s new office is located at 935 Gravier St., Suite 1110 in New Orleans, in the same building as FotoKem, LEAP Productions and various production offices. EP, which has been … Continue reading →
Business and consumer spending in East Baton Rouge Parish fell by 1 percent in March and is down 2 percent for the first quarter, figures released by the city-parish Finance Department show. Retail sales tax collections indicate spending — not including often-volatile vehicle sales — totaled $708.5 million in March, compared with $716.3 million that month in … Continue reading →
PAULINA — Wolverine Terminals LLC plans to invest $30 million in a crude oil terminal and blending operation on a 15-acre Mississippi River site in St. James Parish, state and company officials said Wednesday. Wolverine will create 20 jobs, with an average annual salary of $62,000, plus benefits. The Louisiana Economic Development … Continue reading →
WASHINGTON — U.S. manufacturers cut back on production in April, as auto companies cranked out fewer cars, factories made fewer consumer goods and most other industries reduced output. The weakness suggests economic growth may be slowing. On a positive note, confidence among U.S. homebuilders rebounded this month, reflecting improved sales trends during the spring … Continue reading →
NEW YORK — U.S. airlines collected more than $6 billion in baggage and reservation change fees from passengers last year — the highest amount since the fees became common five years ago. Passengers shouldn’t expect a break anytime soon. Those fees — along with extra charges for boarding early or picking prime seats — have … Continue reading →
Louisiana Small Business Award winners for 2013 were announced Wednesday by the Louisiana Economic Development department and the U.S. Small Business Administration in a private reception at the Governor’s Mansion. “The 2013 award winners demonstrate the crucial role that Louisiana’s entrepreneurial leaders play across a broad spectrum of small businesses and support services in the state … Continue reading →
Sherri Bolden has been named community relations coordinator at Lane Rehabilitation Center, an affiliate of Lane Regional Medical Center, responsible for marketing, communication, physician relations and business development. She was a registered nurse case manager at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. Cardiovascular Institute of the South in Houma has … Continue reading →
Three Midcity companies will split $20,000 from Capital One Bank as part of a program to help local small businesses in that part of the city. DNA Workshop, the architecture and design firm started by Dyke Nelson 18 months ago, won first place and $10,000. Nelson said DNA will put the funds toward a precision router … Continue reading →
Small businesses graded Louisiana with a B+ in overall business friendliness, giving the state high marks for training programs and labor regulations. The Thumbtack.com Small Business Friendliness Survey polled 7,766 small businesses across the United States about the friendliness of states and cities toward small business. Thumbtack.com is a website that puts local small businesses, such as … Continue reading →
Albemarle Corp. and Senze Meilu Co., of Shanxi, China, have agreed to establish a joint venture company in Lvliang, Shanxi, to build and operate a plant to make flame retardants based on Albemarle’s technology. The Albemarle Senze Chemicals (Shanxi) Co. Ltd. flame retardant product, Martinal, will principally be used in wire and cable applications. It is made … Continue reading →
NEW ORLEANS — Charges tied to 2011 acquisitions of insurance operations in the Caribbean and in Latin America pushed Pan-American Life Insurance Group pre-tax earnings down 27 percent in 2012, though overall revenue continued to grow, the company says. The New Orleans-based insurance group on Tuesday reported $25.6 million in pre-tax operating earnings for 2012, … Continue reading →
The new owners of Capitol Grocery will change the name of the Spanish Town store, extend the hours for part of the week, deliver groceries and serve a Sunday brunch. Taylor Blanche, who recently bought the business with his fiancée and brother, told the Downtown Development District’s board on Tuesday that Spanish Town Market will be … Continue reading →
A program to help the state’s seafood industry by establishing better ties between fishermen and consumers got a major boost Tuesday when one of the first products designated as “Certified Authentic Louisiana Wild Seafood” was unveiled. The one-pound frozen packs of Vermilion Bay Sweet White Shrimp are processed, packaged and distributed in Delcambre, said Thomas Hymel, project … Continue reading →
NEW ORLEANS — Hancock Holding Co., the parent company of Whitney Bank, is closing up to 45 branches within its five-state area by the end of the year, officials said. Hancock President and CEO Carl Chaney wouldn’t name the specific markets where the closures will occur, but said the closures would have “little impact” on … Continue reading →
NEW YORK — The stock market marched back into record territory Tuesday as investors seized on the latest encouraging news about the economy. This time, it was a report on the health of small businesses. Small business owners were slightly more optimistic in April, according to a survey released by the National Federation of Independent … Continue reading →
A startup company that wants to build three-wheeled vehicles at the old General Motors plant in Shreveport was displaying a prototype low-cost, fuel-efficient automobile at the Louisiana State Capitol on Monday. Onlookers, who ranged from tourists and Senate staffers to Rep. Ted James, D-Baton Rouge, took pictures of the silver three-wheeled vehicle from Elio Motors. Continue reading →