Nick Brancheau lost his job five months ago, after coaching gymnastics for 30 years.

"I was close to feeling very sorry for myself, with no job, no income," he said. "Collecting $0 each week. Didn't have money to pay the bills. Credit went bad. And I started praying."

He always dreamt of opening a gymnastics studio. A member of his church put up the money for him to get started. And today, he manages Nick's Flippin Kids, a gymnastics studio at 101 Bestwood Drive in Clayton.

"It's just one big miracle from God," he said.

He opened four weeks ago and already has more than 60 students.

"Just one after another is coming right in the front door," he said.

He is not alone. Almost 30 small businesses have opened in Clayton this year, according to the Clayton Area Chamber of Commerce.

"It doesn't surprise me because people, they become creative only when they're put in the position to learn what they need to do to be creative," said Tony McKinney, the chamber's president.

Some, like Scot Schwichow, already had plans to open a business. But when he got laid off by a pharmaceutical company, it happened faster.

"It sped it up just for the simple fact that I had more time to dedicate to working on the school," he said.

His martial arts school, Revolution Self Defense at 34 Oleander Drive, opened this week.

"You can't wait for a perfect time to open a business," said Schwichow, who has practiced martial arts for almost 20 years. "I could wait a year or two hoping the economy would come around. And then who knows where I am in life at that point."