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Self-Made in America

Visionary Ideas To Rebuild A City After Rita--A Small Sample

Penny LeLeux
possibly "Chaos Theory" as yet unknamed.
Orange - TX

When hurricane Rita hit, the city of Orange, TX, was in the direct path of the eye. Approximately 90% of the local businesses were damaged. After almost 6 months many have not yet reopened, and they are predicting that 30% will never reopen nor will they relocate.

Orange chooses to see the disaster as a great opportunity for rebuilding and improvement in tourism. They have plans in place to promote tourism including the creation of a small resort and shopping district.

For years, I have known I would enjoy a shop such as one on the River Walk in San Antonio or on the Strand in Galveston. It would be a shop that would showcase items handcrafted by local artisans with a different artisan "featured" on a monthly or quarterly basis. I would also include a classroom/workspace for demos. I also have several "product" ideas to directly promote our town, Orange, Texas.

This would be the perfect outlet for me. I have experience as a photographer, jewelry maker, pottery, floral design, desktop publishing, photo restoration, and retail sales. I am very familiar with various other "arts and crafts" techniques. Some I have learned on my own, some I learned at university. I consider myself the "self-training model."

I have been in management positions, so I am very adept at hiring, training, scheduling, and customer service: I've even had to fix a machine or two. I feel my strongest assets are my creative thinking and problem solving skills. I have been offered jobs in the past that I wasn't even looking for; because of the way I handled situations.

I've got the skills, just short on the funds. $10,000 to me would be like giving someone else $20,000 because of the skills I have. Less out-sourcing, more bang for the buck!