Vidalia &8212; Steve and Angie Weeks said they have been blessed by the business they have received at Weeks Furniture Warehouse thanks to Hurricane Katrina but they don&8217;t like to brag about it.

&8220;You hate to say that you&8217;re making a profit from the sufferings of others but I feel if you help out those people down there, when we run into hard times, the favor could return to us,&8221; Angie said.

Because of the economic effects of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and the coastal region of the Miss-Lou, the economy of Concordia Parish has seen some growth.

Steve Weeks said his sales have increased about 20 percent after Katrina.

&8220;We started selling and in some cases donating mattresses and bedding right after the storm to people who were moving to Vidalia or looking to refurnish their houses back home,&8221; Steve said. &8220;Some of our customers have even referred our business to their friends and as a result we&8217;ve had even more business.&8221;

A year later many people are now refurnishing their homes with other furniture besides bedding in places like Saint Bernard&8217;s Parish and in the Ninth Ward, Steve said.

&8220;Business really hasn&8217;t slowed down much,&8221; Steve said.

Vidalia mayor Hiram Copeland said he sees the effects of Katrina on the economy every day.

&8220;There&8217;s probably not a week that goes by where someone doesn&8217;t call wanting to start a new business in Vidalia,&8221; Copeland said.

Copeland said the signs of economic growth could be seen in retail shortly after Katrina.

&8220;Right after the hurricane people came up here to buy houses, cars and shop at our various retail stores for groceries and supplies,&8221; Copeland said.

Copeland said the impact of small business opening in Vidalia is a good signal.

&8220;You take a business like Taco Del Mar,&8221; Copeland said. People don&8217;t realize it, but every time someone opens a business like this it means new jobs, and that means economic growth.&8221;

When his thoughts turn to the future impact of Hurricane Katrina, mayor Copeland said the Miss-Lou has nowhere to go but up.

&8220;The industrial corridor from New Orleans to Baton Rouge is full,&8221; Copeland said. &8220;The area from Baton Rouge to Greenville Mississippi will be the next corridor to open and Concordia Parish has a massive land area to accommodate this growth.&8221;

&8220;That is why we are working with the Corp of Engineers to get the loading and unloading facility operational,&8221; Copeland said.

Copeland also said he would like to see Natchez and Vidalia take advantage of this growth and create a regional economic development district.

&8220;It is important for Natchez and Vidalia to work together for economic survival and success,&8221; Copeland said. &8220;We have already begun doing this by inviting Natchez city officials to our meetings and they do the same for us.&8221;

Other business owners and managers said they too experienced an increase in business prior to Katrina but have seen a drop after a year.

Linda Johnson, manager of Riverview RV Park

in Vidalia, said she guessed a 10 to 15 percent increase in site rentals because of Katrina.

&8220;After the storm we had people come and stay here for several months,&8221; Johnson said.

FEMA also had trailers for evacuees in the RV park after Katrina, but Johnson said one year later she is starting to see a decrease because FEMA has pulled some of its trailers.