ALEXANDRIA, La. - Business Facilities Magazine ranks the state as fifth in the nation for job creation and also named us "The State Of The Year." News Channel 5's Nolan Crane shows us what business owners here in Cenla think about the news.
I spoke with several small business owners who say they are happy with the recognition, but more importantly, they believe the recognition is on point, because they say they're hiring, and business is good.
"The community has been very good, I've had a really good response from everyone," says Dixie Johnson.
Johnson bought Hoity Toity less than a year ago, but she says in that short amount of time, business has been good.
"I have reoccurring customers of course all the time," Johnson says.
Just down the road, another store has been in the family for longer. Schnack's Fine Jewelry store has been in Alexandria for more than 147 years and the president says this year has been one of his best.
"Despite all of the doom and gloom our business is doing fine, we're up 17 percent so far for the year," says Carl Carstens.
As stores like Hoity Toity and Schnacks make more money, that means more people get hired.
"We have added one employee, a master jeweler, who is a big factor in our operation," Carstens says.
Employment is just one of the reasons Louisiana has been ranked as the State Of The Year by Business Facilities Magazine, and listed at fifth in the nation for business climate and job creation.
Cenla's Chamber of Commerce President Deborah Randolph says a lot of the credit belongs to laws that have been made that foster a good business model.
"Better business incentives that the legislature and the administration have put into place to help us to be able to offer incentives to businesses and be competitive with other states," Randolph says.
Randolph says being named in the top 5 in the magazine is in large part because of small businesses making a big difference.
"There is no small business when you think about it. The sum of the small businesses and their impact on out area," Randolph says.
Johnson says this impact has made it possible because the state we live and work in has a community that continues to be supportive.
"I think it's a good place to have your business. You know you can walk in the door and get one-on-one service because we're local," Johnson says.
For more information about the ranking system and to find the complete state-by-state list, visit www.businessfacilities.com
