DANIEL TYLER GOODEN / L’Observateur / June 21, 2000

VACHERIE – Despite the torrent of rain and despite a confliction with a very important LSU baseball game, the West Bank Reception Hall was filled with owners and family of small businesses from St. James ParishThursday. The St. James Council and the St. James Economic DevelopmentBoard hosted the Third Annual Small Business Appreciation Banquet.

With over 400 small businesses in St. James and 220 RSVPs, the hall waspacked with owners of businesses as diverse as internet consulting companies to snowcone stand owners. “Every business got an invitation,”said Edie Michel, economic development coordinator.

The purpose of the banquet was to “honor the hard working business owners that have so much helped this community,” said Brenda Melancon, chairwomen for the Economic Development Board. She praised thecompanies, knowing that they had sponsored, donated, bought and cooked jambalaya, spaghetti and all sort of other dinners. Attending local sportsgames there’s always one of our business names on the back of the jersey, said Melancon. “This is what makes St. James a community and not just aparish,” she added.

Parish president Dale Hymel Jr. spoke of the importance of smallbusinesses, currently employing 65 percent of the parish. He explained thedesigns and hopes for the new St. James Parish Incubator, which is beingbuilt so small business owners can better move out of their homes or begin the business they’ve been dreaming about.

The audience was in high spirits as they all rose to introduce themselves and their companies after dinner. Many wise cracks were made and jokeswere told throughout the evening, keeping everyone rolling with laughter.

Danny Louque, owner of Quality Machine Manufacturing in Grand Point, was honored for his award from the Louisiana Economic Development Board.

“It’s good to be a business in St. James. I’m proud to be a business in St.James,” said Louque. He thanked first his wife, Sue, for her patience anddevotion in beginning the company. He also thanked members of the parishgovernment and officials for their help in his business.

“It took me a while to figure out why I was successful. It’s all aboutpeople. The working person gets less and less value. I was able to placegood people around me,” Louque said, offering valuable advice.

Guest speaker for the evening was Dr. Loren Scott, a well-known figurefor his work in Louisiana and national economics. Scott holds the titleprofessor emeritus at LSU having worked there since 1969. During hisemployment as chair of the economics department from 1983-1996 he brought the department’s ranking from 101 to 38 out of 3,000 other schools.

Scott stepped up to the mike and promptly brought everyone to their knees with laughter. Scott discussed the national and state economic statuswhile entertaining the audience with his quick-witted and sharp humor.

Focusing on growing technology and its impact on business, he stated, “It’s crazy to be pessimistic about the future, technology is going crazy,” and business are growing in accordance.

Elton Aubert, chairman of the St. James Parish Council, gave the closingcomments.

“We do a lot to promote industry, but it’s the small businesses that carry the parish,” he said. He commended the people who had taken that step ofbuilding a business.

“Industries may come and go, but you are here to stay,” said Aubert.

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