H
ere are the business headlines you might have missed this week:

    Biz New Orleans Data Hub reports Louisiana’s public companies had a mixed 2024. Utilities led profits; advertising and distribution firms held up despite thinner margins. Banks split; tech struggled to turn cash into earnings; healthcare and industrial services added steady income.

    Corporate Realty, Inc. has listed the historic Pythian Building at 234 Loyola Avenue. The nine‑story, 123,266‑sq‑ft property, redeveloped in 2017, now hosts 69 residential units, modern offices, an event space, and a ground‑floor retail area that once housed Pythian Market.

    Noble Plastics, a woman‑owned molding firm, is investing $8.5 million to expand its St. Landry headquarters, boosting capacity to supply First Solar’s Iberia plant.

    Veteran WDSU anchor Gina Swanson moderated the “Small Business IS Economic Development” Mayoral Forum at Propeller. Senator Royce Duplessis (District 5) and Councilmember Oliver Thomas (District E) discussed infrastructure, equity, and entrepreneur support.

    Additional highlights this week:

    • UNO launches AI for Small Business speaker series

    • Real Estate Symposium spotlights the new economy

    • Downtown New Orleans reinvents itself

    • Coast Guard awards Bollinger 10 cutters in $25 B plan

    • Tulane announces Institute of Advanced Energy Studies & $1.5 M gift