Bright young minds had been fleeing New Orleans for decades, looking for opportunities that were not available in a city best known for jazz music and Mardi Gras celebrations. Somewhat surprisingly, the city has enjoyed an influx of young talent following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina as enterprising individuals sought to make their mark. However, there is concern that as the media attention fades and the opportunities are slow to materialize, that talent may seek new challenges in different locations.

The 504ward is a business plan competition put forward by the Idea Village to keep 23 - 35 year olds in New Orleans. The winner will receive $100,000 in cash and $100,000 in resources for the best idea.

You can access the challenge and post your solutions through Unleash It!, the crowd-sourcing site that is a focal point of Global Entrepreneurship Week.

So here’s a problem: California is developing a massive mosquito problem. I, being from Maine, know a thing or two about mosquitos. They grow larger in my home state than anywhere else, there are more of them and they can be a deterrent from doing things you normally enjoy. In short, having a mosquito problem is a huge problem.
So why is this problem popping up in California? (more…)