Business Climate Survey to Detail Women’s Concerns

The Times is running a weekly series of stories on the state of small business in Southern California based on a first-of-its-kind poll of firms from San Diego to Ventura that was conducted by The Times and the USC Marshall School of Business. Here are upcoming stories:

Oct. 7: The Southland’s women-owned businesses are nimble and tech-savvy, but a lack of financing keeps some from expanding.

Oct. 14: Violent crime may be down, but small businesses continue to be plagued by the petty variety. From graffiti to vandalized pay phones, loitering to the use of sidewalks as public toilets, small-time crime--which often goes unnoticed by officials--hits entrepreneurs in the pocketbook and takes its toll in frustration.