Special to St. Tammany News | Sunday, April 25, 2010

St. Tammany Parish is a unique area in which tolive, work, and play. Our parish continues toexperience great growth in both business andculture. These areas are wonderful, but whenthey are combined with our parish’s excellencein education, artistic endeavors, and overallquality of life, it’s easy to see why we love thisarea of Louisiana so much.

We have everything from new business parks to a continued cul-tural increase within the parish. While we have all experienced someeconomic slowing due to the national situation in the past year, theeconomy of St. Tammany remains strong. New business continues tomove into the area, and our economic base continues to expand.

We can all help to keep business dollars in St. Tammany and bene-fitting our citizens by shopping locally. Our local merchants, artistsand shops all offer a wide array of services and unique products, andtaking advantage of these services invests right back into our localeconomy.

All of this equates to an unmatched quality of life shared by all in St. Tammany Parish. We hope youenjoy contributing to our local economy and seeing the results locally as well.

– Kevin DavisParish President

St. Tammany Parish

KEVIN DAVIS

Shop Locally – Shop St. Tammany

Buy Local –Prove we areproud to shopSt. Tammany

The East St.TammanyChamber ofCommerce pridesitself on support-ing the businessesin our area tohelp our commu-nity prosper andenhance our qual-ity of life. Whenbusinesses are thriving, the communityas a whole flourishes and local crime islow.

In St. Tammany Parish, small businesses find a healthybusiness environment that is conducive to growth and suc-cess. Small businesses are cultivated, supported and givenevery opportunity to prosper in the region.

Our local economy is dependent upon the citizens ofEast St. Tammany spending their money in this region. Asthe community prospers so does the opportunity for newbusinesses and industry to move into our area which inturn creates new jobs, improves our residential home salesand provides prospects to move into empty business loca-tions. For every $100 spent at a locally owned business,$45 goes back into the community and our tax base.

By shopping local you get better service. Local busi-nesses often hire people who have a better understandingof the products they’re selling, and take more time to get toknow customers. Local businesses also support local com-munity groups on an average of 350% more than non-locally owned businesses, which proves that local busi-nesses are owned by people who live here, work here andare more invested in the our future.

St. Tammany Parish offers you a variety of resources tosatisfy your needs. From cafés to fine dining, from clothingstores to upscale boutiques, from antique shops to profes-sional art paintings, from spas to health clubs, from autoparts to new automobiles. The list goes on and on. You canfind everything you need to satisfy your professional andfamily needs. Help keep our local economy rolling byspending your hard earned dollars to support the busi-nesses in our area and prove that we are proud of the busi-nesses located here and support “Buy Local”.

As our community continues to grow, the focus of thechamber is to help promote our region for new businessand assist with retention of the local businesses, throughproviding a voice of business, including networking andeducational opportunities for members. If you would likemore information on membership with the East St.Tammany Chamber of Commerce, please visit our websiteat www.estchamber.com.

– Dawn Sharpe Brackett, CEO, East St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce

DAWN BRACKETT

PAGE 2 | SHOP SLIDELL | SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 2010

SHOP SLIDELL | SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 2010 | PAGE 3

Visitors to St. Tammany means businessBy Erik Sanzenbach

St. Tammany News

Though St. TammanyParish does not have majorattractions like the FrenchQuarter or theme parks asin Florida, according to theSt. Tammany Parish Touristand Convention Com-mission, tourists do bring ina lot of money to the parish.

Data collected by theSTPTCC shows that in thepast 10 years, the number oftourists has increased,which translates into visi-tors shelling out more than$200 million to the localeconomy.

This is also good newsfor parish and city govern-ments, because that $200million means the govern-ment coffers have collected$16 million in state andsales taxes.

The increase in parishtourism has also meant anincrease in the creation oftourist-related jobs. Since2005 the number of thesejobs has increased 42 per-cent, or 9,797 jobs that hasan annual payroll of $27million.

According to RobinKientz, spokesperson forSTPTCC, the increaseshave more than doubledfrom what tourists broughtinto the parish 10 years ago.

One of the parish’sbiggest tourist attractions isthe Tammany Trace, and its30-mile bike and pedestri-an pathway that extendsalmost from one end of theparish to the other. TheSTPTCC estimates that150,000 visitors from allover the world have cometo St. Tammany Parish justto use the Trace. Not only

does the Trace providespace for bicycle riders, butalso it winds through someof the most historic parts ofthe parish, from Covingtonall the way to Slidell. Vis-itors who travel the Tracecan discover all the histori-cal sites, architecture andtreasures that are located insuch historical towns asAbita Springs and La-combe. Travelers on theTrace can also visit thetowns’ business districtsspending money on foodand lodging, further in-creasing the tourist econo-my.

The parish also has manyhotels and motels that pro-vide overnight lodging toover 20,000 visitors a year.A lot of these guests arewhat is known as sportstourism and come to theparish to participate in

baseball and basketballtournaments.

St. Tammany Parish isalso the gateway to touristspots to the south. Theparish has four welcomecenters throughout theparish, and STPTCCemployees man the centers,and not only point out thehistorical areas of theparish, but also direct thevisitors to the parish’s smallbusinesses.

These welcome centershandle more than 55,000visitors a year.

Another part of tourismis the convention business.St. Tammany Parish has theNorthshore Harbor Center,

the Castine Center, theGreater Covington Centerand other sites that canhandle large gatherings andconventions, further in-creasing the tourist dollarin the parish.

Believe it or not, there isa growing, vibrant filmindustry in the parish.Kientz said that film crewsfrom major and smallerproduction companiesbring in about $1.5 millioninto the parish when theyfilm.

Though not a strictlytourist-type industry, theSt. Tammany Parish FilmCommission is part of theSTPTCC.

The STPTCC itself is themajor marketer for tourismin the parish. Its operatingbudget comes from a 3 per-cent hotel occupancy tax,as well part of the 4 percentstate sales tax. TheSTPTCC spends a lot ofthat money on marketingthe parish to the outsideworld through advertising,its Web site, and magazines,which write articles aboutSt. Tammany Parish.

The parish has been thefocus of articles in the“National Geographic,”“Southern Living,” “AAASouthern Traveler” andnumerous newspapersfrom all over the world.

By Erik SanzenbachSt. Tammany News

Even though SlidellMayor Ben Morris present-ed a slimmed-down budgetto the Slidell Council sever-al weeks ago, and the econ-omy is in the doldrums, themayor is looking at thebright side for the future ofthe city.

“Right now, I’m cau-tiously optimistic about theeconomy of Slidell,” Morrissaid.

He admitted that thedownturn in the economyhas affected the city,because of the decrease insales taxes. He said beforeKatrina, Slidell was collec-tion $175,000 a month inrevenue. Last month, thecity collected $40,000.

“But it isn’t catastroph-ic,” Morris pointed out. “Weare not shutting thingsdown. City services willcontinue.”

He did have to lay offsome of the city’s part-timecontract workers, but hedoes not see any layoffscoming in the near future.He said, he has seen thesales tax revenue take amuch sharper dip earlier inthe year, but he thinks thedecrease is stabilizing.

Morris thinks that busi-ness is still doing well inSlidell.

In the past 90 days, thecity has issued 74 new busi-ness permits, which is agood sign that people arewilling to start a businesshere.

He points to the resur-gence of the stock market asa sign that things are com-ing back.

Textron Sea and Land, amajor employer in Slidelltold Morris the other daythat they are going to add totheir current 1,000-plusstaff, which is another goodsign.

One businessman, War-ren Bourg, who just openedup his third airplane hangarat the Slidell MunicipalAirport said he sees a greatfuture for general aviationin Slidell. He has seen anincrease in business at theairport and he sees that as a

barometer of the local econ-omy.

“We are fortunate to bein Slidell,” Bourg said. “Thecity is very enthusiasticabout working with localbusinesses.”

He also points out to the$10 million bond issue thatthe voters approved thatwill go to street anddrainage repair which willattract more business to thecity.

In the process of issuingthe bonds, it was discoveredthat Slidell bond rating hasimproved by two steps,going up to AA—.

“There is none higher inthe state,” the mayor said ofother municipalities. Such agood bond rating means amuch lower interest rate ondebt service which couldsave Slidell millions of dol-lars.

Morris also points toother signs of growth inSlidell. The SummitFremaux project, a $1 bil-lion development alongsideInterstate 10 that will have

a shopping center, hotels,offices and the UNO TechPark has been on hiatus forawhile because of thedownturn in the bond mar-ket. But with the marketreturning, Morris said he isoptimistic about theSummit starting up again.

“I see them starting to govertical this year,” he said.Already, the parish and thecity have paid for a mainroad through the projectand their part of that proj-ect has been finished.

Finally, Morris said thatbecause of good accounting,saving, and watching theirbudget, the city has plentyof money in reserve fundsthat will help the city tooperate even if the economygets much leaner. He saidSlidell has about $9.1 mil-lion in three differentreserve funds that can beused in case of an emer-gency.

“So, we are in fairly goodshape. Of course things canalways get better,” Morrissaid.

Mayor Morris says he is‘cautiously optimistic’

BEN MORRIS

By Suzanne Le BretonSt. Tammany News

The small town of PearlRiver is benefiting from anew Rooms To Go Ware-house and DistributionCenter, and the same areamay soon be getting anoth-er big distribution center tofurther boost its economy.

The parish and the statelobbied hard to get RoomsTo Go, the nation’s leadingfurniture company, tolocate its state-of-the-artwarehouse and distributioncenter in St. TammanyParish, and Sen. A.J. Crowepraised former state Sen.Pete Schneider for makingthe 60-acre tract of land offU.S. Highway 11 available.

“This would not happenif it would not have been forthe Schneider family, whomade the property avail-able,” Crowe said.

The facility is expectedto provide as many as 250jobs in the near future, andis already employing morethan 100 people.

“I’m so thrilled theycame to Pearl River,” MayorJames Lavigne said, callingthe employment and salestax boosts “wonderful forthe town.” He said con-struction of the facility alsogarnered the town’s fund-ing to upgrade its water sys-tem.

White-Spunner Con-struction, Inc., constructedthe 858,000-square-footdistribution and retail cen-ter. The project cost ap-proximately $50 millionand includes an 818,000-square-foot distributioncenter and 40,000-square-foot Rooms To Go retailoutlet, where the public cancome and shop.

The distribution centerservices stores throughoutthe Gulf Coast from BatonRouge to Pensacola, Fla.,including the four inLouisiana located in

Covington, Baton Rouge,Metairie and Gretna.

Now that the center inPearl River is up and opera-tional with 90 percent ofinventory retained in stock,Rooms To Go can nowexpand its next-day serviceat the showrooms in theGulf Coast region.

“We are thrilled thatRooms To Go has built thisstate-of-the-art distribu-tion facility in our Parish.It will create jobs in thenear and long terms, as wellas providing our residentswith a convenient new fur-niture shopping alterna-tive,” said Brenda Reine-Bertus, Executive Directorof the St. TammanyEconomic DevelopmentFoundation.

“This facility will allowus to strengthen our pres-ence in the Southeast and

continue to provide top-level customer service toone of our most importantcommerce hubs whilestrengthening our commu-nity involvement in one ofour key markets,” Rooms ToGo CEO Jeffrey Seamansaid. “We are both pleasedand proud to be expandingour Louisiana presence.”He added that the openingof the Pearl River facilityshowcases the company’s“commitment to the re-building of Louisiana.”

The town and the parish

Economic DevelopmentFoundation are now negoti-ating with a frozen foodcompany, which is lookingto move in the same area.

Both are remaining mumon the project as negotia-tions continue. However aspokesman with the St.Tammany EconomicDevelopment Foundationsaid the company is lookingto build a 700,000 squarefoot distribution facilityand looking to make a $70million capital investmentin the community.

PAGE 4 | SHOP SLIDELL | SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 2010

Lacombe Chamber unites communityBy Suzanne Le Breton

St. Tammany News

Lacombe is the largestunincorporated communityin St. Tammany.

Without a municipal citycouncil or mayor to speakup for the residents, theLacombe Chamber ofCommerce has trulybecome the voice for thecommunity.

With 50-60 members,many of which are not busi-ness owners, the group isfocused not only on pro-moting business in the areabut also on educating thepublic on issues concerningthe area and its residents.

It recently started hold-ing regular public forums asit had in the past.

The first was on eco-nomic development in thearea.

President AnthonyThomas hopes to have onea month.

“We want to get the com-

munity more involved inwhat is going on,” he said.

The group also sponsorsthe annual Christmas onthe Bayou celebration,where Santa Claus arrived

in a skiff and parades downto Bayou Lacombe MiddleSchool, where a band playsChristmas songs as Santahears Christmas wishesfrom local children.

The chamber is alsoresponsible for the lightsput up every Christmas.

“Those are just thingsthe group has done forev-er,” Thomas said. “It helps

bring the community to-gether. Most people don’teven realize the chamber isthe one that does it.”

He said the lights bringattention to the businessarea.

“When they see thelights they know they are inLacombe,” he said.

The chamber has no paidemployees and 100 percentof the money raisedthrough dues is used to payfor the events the chamberputs on and an annual$1,000 scholarship that isawarded to a Lacombe resi-dent.

They help promote itslocal businesses and to helpthem network and shareresources. The chamberalso sponsors BusinessAfter Hours events, whichare held at local businesses.A different business is spot-lighted at each event, andother business owners usethis time to network andhand out business cards.

Justice of the Peace Dewey Spies inducts the new Lacombe Chamber ofCommerce Board of Directors, from left, Ronald Cressy, Ann Gniady, JohnGniady, Robert Arthurs and Dorothy Calderone. Not pictured is Pat Johnson.

RTG giving Pearl River shot in the armAnother distribution plant may be on town’s horizon

Rooms To Go held the official grand opening for its new distribution facility in Pearl River in December.Pictured cutting the ribbon are, from left, Parish Councilman Al Hamauei; East St. Tammany Chamber ofCommerce CEO Dawn S. Brackett; Pearl River Board of Aldermen member Virgil Phillips; Parish PresidentKevin Davis; Rooms To Go President Steve Buckley; Pearl River Mayor James Lavigne; state Sen. A.G.Crowe; Business Development Manager for the St. Tammany Parish Economic Development FoundationMike Tomlinson; former state Sen. Pete Schneider; Pearl River Board of Aldermen members DavidMcQueen, Ruby Gauley and Marie Crowe; and East St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce Marketing DirectorJo Beth Cavanaugh. (Staff Photo by Suzanne Le Breton)

SHOP SLIDELL | SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 2010 | PAGE 5

Local cultural economy paints successBy Debbie Glover

St. Tammany News

Imagine owning one ofGeorges Rodrigue’s bluedog originals or a limitededition and saving hun-dreds of dollars in sales tax.In Louisiana’s cultural artsdistricts, it’s possible, with afew restrictions.

The idea of creating cul-tural districts is the brain-child of then-Lt. Gov., nowmayor elect of New OrleansMitch Landrieu and wascreated in 2007. Covington,Mandeville, Abita Springs,Madisonville, Slidell andLacombe all offer originalartwork with no sales tax.

In addition to the tax-exempt original art pur-chases, preservationistsand those wanting therestore historic buildingsalso get a tax break onbuildings 50 years old orolder.

The cultural districtswere designed to become a

catalyst in communities fortourism and to stimulatethe economy. Though thetax-free art itself may notadd to tax revenue, theinflux of more tourists andvisitors means more cus-tomers at local restaurantsand other shops, whichstimulates the local econo-my, and does add to theparish’s tax revenue.

Also, not all art is tax-free.

Tax exempt works of artmust meet following crite-ria: it must be original, oneof a kind visual art, con-ceived and made by handby the artist or under hisdirection and not intendedfor mass production. Forexample-visual arts andcrafts, including but notlimited to drawing, paint-ing, sculpture, clay, ceram-ics, fiber, glass, leather,metal, paper, wood ormixed media.

Some limited editionsmay also qualify but they

must be limited to 100.Gallery owners and/or

artists take care of thepaperwork with the state.Art lovers get to own anoriginal as part of theirhome. And art businessesprofit from other sales fromcustomers they may nothave had—a winning stimu-lus for local communityeconomies.

According to the statecriteria for a cultural dis-trict, a cultural districtshould accomplish the fol-lowing: revitalize a neigh-borhood or area; stimulatethe economy; engage resi-dents; draw tourists; pro-vide a sense of community;serve as a gathering place;encourage creativity;strengthened communitypartnerships; promote thearts and support artists;develop a positive image forthe area; enhance propertyvalues; and capitalize onlocal, cultural, economicand social assets.

The Slidell Antique’s Street Fair is held the last full weekend in October and thethird weekend in April. The Slidell Antique Association has hosted this eventfor more than 28 years. The event includes vendors with antique furniture,depression glass, vintage jewelry, art, pottery, dolls, toys, collectibles, hand-made crafts and plenty of food and is held in the heart of Olde Towne Slidell onis on First, Second and Erlanger streets.

Olde Towne plus antiquesequals good business

By Erik SanzenbachSt. Tammany News

One of Slidell’s premiereevents, the Slidell SpringAntique Street Fair, washeld April 17-18 in OldeTowne, and though thecrowds were a bit lean,Jeanette Tetreau, secretaryof the Slidell AntiqueAssociation that sponsorsthe fair, said the businessowners in Olde Townewere satisfied with theturnout.

The fair, which is now 30years old, is a unique blendof the old and the new. Twostreets in Olde Towne, Firstand Erlanger are blockedoff, and over 110 vendorsfrom here, Mississippi,Alabama and Georgia set uptheir wares of antique fur-niture, glass, jewelry andeven antique dolls. Usually,the fair is crowded withshoppers looking for thatspecial piece of furniture orother unique antique item.

The fair has becomesuch a success that the SSAsponsors the event twice ayear, once in the spring andagain in the fall. The nextSlidell Antique Street Fair isslated for the weekend of

Oct. 24.Tutreau, who works out

of the store’s TreasureFound and Barbara’s Vic-torian Closet, said the fairattracts people because ofits locale in Olde Towne.

“Olde Towne is a veryunique area. Very few othercities have such an area,and that makes it unique tothis part of the country,”Tutreau said.

She stresses that the SSAis not just made up ofantique dealers, but is com-prised of all the differentbusinesses in Olde Townesuch as gift shops, andrestaurants. The SlidellAntique Fair helps all thebusinesses, not just theantique dealers.

She admits that businesshas been slow at this year’sfair, but she chalks that upto the poor economy andpeople not having extramoney to spend on luxuryitems.

Plus, she added, thehousing market is alsodown, which means thereare not as many shopperswho want to furnish theirnew homes.

“But we are holding ourown,” Tutreau said. “It [the

fair] has grown over theyears.”

She is optimistic aboutthe Slidell Autumn AntiqueStreet Fair. She said that asa rule, more people showup then to shop in OldeTowne.

“We do a lot more busi-ness. People are looking forChristmas presents and theweather is a bit cooler,”Tutreau said. She addedthat the fall is a good timefor businesses in OldeTowne.

As far as Tutreau is con-cerned, it is Olde Townethat is the real drawing cardfor Slidell and that moreshould be done to marketthe area. She goes toantique fairs in other partsof the state, but saysSlidell’s fair is the mostunique.

“Olde Towne is the bestof all the rest,” Tutreau said.She just wishes the citywould allow the fair toexpand farther down Firstand Erlanger streets so thatmore vendors would set upshop. She said that there is ademand by other vendorsto sell their wares at theSlidell Antiques StreetFairs.

Shoppers take a look at the antiques for sale during last weekend’s SlidellSpring Antique Street Fair in Olde Towne. (Staff Photo by Erik Sanzenbach)

PAGE 6 | SHOP SLIDELL | SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 2010

Camellia City Marketevery Saturday

The Camellia City Market is everySaturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and bestof all, its free.

The Camellia City Market is a truefarmer’s market which focuses primari-ly on regionally grown fresh produce,but also incorporates produce relatedgoods and food service items as well aslocal entertainment to provide a senseof the local culture.

‘Ragtime’ Presented by Slidell Little Theatre

“Ragtime,” presented by Slidell LittleTheatre, is running today through May16.

Based on E.L. Doctorow’s distin-guished novel, Ragtime intertwinesthree distinct stories that poignantlyillustrate history’s timeless contradic-tions of wealth and poverty, freedomand prejudice, hope and despair, andlove and hate.

For more information, visitwww.slidelllittletheatre.org.

Slidell Heritage Festivalupcoming

The Slidell Heritage Festival will beheld July 4.

The 13th annual 4th of July celebra-tion will featuring bands, fireworks,food and family activities, supportinglocal charities.

The festival will from 3-11 p.m. inHeritage Park. Admission is $7.

For more information, visitwww.slidellheritagefest.org

Olde Towne Fall Antique Street Fair

The next Olde Towne Slidell FallAntique Street Fair will be held Oct. 23-24.

This event takes place in the heart ofOlde Towne Slidell on First, Second andErlanger streets. Expect over 100 ven-dors with antique furniture, depressionglass, art, pottery, jewelry, dolls, col-lectibles, unique gifts, handmade crafts,and plenty of food.

Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. bothdays, and admission is free.

For more information, visitwww.slidellantiques.com,

Upcoming community events

One way to give back andhelp your fellow St. Tam-many residents this year,and always for that matter,is to shop at the local smallbusiness establishments.

Dawn S. Brackett, CEO ofEast St. Tammany Chamberof Commerce, said shop-ping locally not only helpsto boost the local sales taxrevenue it also helps to putmoney back in locals’ pock-ets.

“What people don’t real-ize is when you shop locallyso many of those dollarsstay right here in the com-munity,” she said.

Lou Ann Johnson, presi-dent of the Slidell AntiqueAssociation and small busi-ness owner, re-emphasizedthat statement.

In her shop, for example,she has items for sale fromdifferent dealers. She saidthese are all local familiestrying to a make a living byselling antiques. When youbuy something from themthat is putting moneydirectly in their pockets.

“It’s a domino effect,” shesaid, because then thosedealers can take the money

you just paid them and turnaround and buy things fortheir own families.

Brackett said many smallbusinesses hire otheremployees, and when youbuy something in theirstores, that money is thenused to pay those individu-als’ salaries.

Those individuals thengo back into the communityand spend those dollars at alocal grocery store to buyfood and the cycle contin-ues.

“The money you spend isrecycled back into the com-munity,” Brackett said.

The downtown districtsin the local towns and citiesare bursting with smallbusinesses like Johnson’s,including restaurants, bars,shops and theaters, andthey all need business rightnow.

“You are helping maybeyour next door neighbor, afamily member or a churchmember,” Johnson said.

In addition to in theantiques districts, a lot ofsmall businesses are locatedup and down GauseBoulevard in Slidell as well

as throughout the OldeTowne district.

“Small businesses are thebackbone of America,” shesaid. “Small businesses arewhat keeps America going.”

The taxes paid on itemsbought locally go to thelocal government to pay forstreet and drainage im-provements as well as theother expenses of keepingthe parish running.

Shopping locally, John-son said, “helps a communi-ty help itself,” and that isimportant in the economicstimes we are in now.

Even if that special itemyou want to purchase canonly be found at one of thebig box businesses, Brackettsaid, it is still better to driveto the business to do yourshopping then to shoponline because then at leastpart of the money youspend is going back into thecommunity through em-ployee salaries and salestax.

“Shopping locally is away to keep money hereinstead of allowing it to belost in cyberspace,”Brackett said.

Support your communityby shopping local

APRIL 25

Bayou JamConcert

The City of Slidell’s Bayou JamConcert Series continues in HeritagePark, behind the historic Slidell TrainDepot on Front Street featuring SoulVaxxination.

Location: Heritage Park/SlidellHours: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

MAY 8-9

Bead show upcoming

The Intergalactic Bead & JewelryShow will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May8-9 at the Northshore Harbor Center,100 Harbor Center Blvd., Slidell.

The exhibitors come from across theUnited States to offer a wider andunique selection of beads than you’llfind in your local area.

There are thousands of beads semi-precious and precious gemstone beads,seed beads, handmade glass beads,pearls, exotic beads and much more.You can see the color, cut and qualitybefore you buy.

The show is open to the public.

1ST SUNDAYS

Museum tours

Tours open to the public, 2-5 p.m.,Bayou Lacombe Rural Museum.Special tours can be arranged for othertimes. Call 626-3505.

Other events:

SHOP SLIDELL | SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 2010 | PAGE 7

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