Downtown Lake Charles

Small businesses accounted for 65% of all net new jobs over the past 17 years.
Small businesses employ 77 million Americans.
89% of consumers agree that independent businesses contribute positively to local economies.
Residential neighborhoods served by a successful independent business district gained, on average, 50% more in home values than their citywide markets.
Independent retailers return more than three times as much money per dollar of sales than chain competitors. Independent restaurants return more than two times as much money per dollar of sales than national restaurant chains.
If independent businesses regained their 1990 market shares, it would create 200,000 new small businesses, generate nearly $300 billion in revenues and employ more than 1.6 million American workers.
If just half the U.S. employed population spent $50 each month in locally owned independent businesses, it would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue.
For every square foot a local firm occupies, the local economy gains $179 vs. $105 for a chain store.
Sources: Small Business Administration; Intuit Small Business Innovation Study; American Express OPEN Independent Retail Index; Civic Economics/American Booksellers Assoc., U.S. Dept. of Labor