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Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have had a negative effect on small- business owners' attitudes and plans, according to two surveys.
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In August, before the hurricanes hit the Gulf states, only 15 percent of business owners expected the economic climate to hurt their firms, according to the Semi-Annual Small Business Monitor from OPEN from American Express. In September, 24 percent expect a negative punch. Women business owners were even more dour, with 30 percent expecting an economic hit post-hurricane, compared with 20 percent before.

Some of the other findings:

58 percent after the hurricanes said they expect to make capital investments, compared with 63 percent in August and 61 percent in fall 2004.

31 percent expect to add jobs in the next six months, compared with 37 percent before the hurricanes and 35 percent in fall 2004.

Separately, SurePayroll, a nationwide payroll service for small companies, said that hiring by small businesses dropped in September after six straight months of increase.

Inc. magazine looks to honor 30 young U.S. business leaders

Inc. magazine is seeking nominations for the "top 30 entrepreneurs under age 30 in America." Nominees must have proven ability to run a successful company, have a new approach for running a company or have created a successful product.

"Sergey Brin, Larry Page (founders of Google), Pierre Omidyar (eBay) -- these were the Gen X darlings of the last entrepreneurial explosion," said Inc.com editor Laura Rich. "Inc.'s (list) will offer an early look at tomorrow's business leaders."

Winners will be honored at an event in New York City in March 2006.

Nominations should be sent by Nov. 30. For more information, go online to www.inc.com/30under30 .

iBridge links colleges with firms that develop researchers' ideas

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, a Kansas City supporter of entrepreneur research and education, has created the iBridge program to match university researchers to companies and entrepreneurs.

At a recent conference co-sponsored by the foundation and the Technology Transfer Society, academics, technology transfer officials and economic development directors said that overwhelmed university tech transfer offices are a bottleneck in connecting promising research to commercialization.

University researchers can post their discoveries in iBridge's online database that entrepreneurs can search for new business ideas. The Web site is www.innovationbridge.org .

Copyright © 2005. Orange County Register.