Statistics reported by central Louisiana’s economic development agency Louisiana Central recently showed that 85% of all jobs in LaSalle Parish come from small businesses that employ fewer than 20 people. Based upon this one piece of data, small businesses are very important for the overall economy of LaSalle, and yet, we continue to see our small businesses struggle, with information recently learned that some four brick-and-mortar businesses in the Jena area will close their doors by the end of this year.