Growing a Small Business in Louisiana

Growing a business can be challenging, but Louisiana has several programs and resource providers that offer small business owners the assistance they need to grow their businesses. Learn about each of the available assistance programs below.

Small And Emerging Business Development Program
Louisiana Economic Development’s Small and Emerging Business Development (SEBD) program is designed to increase the managerial and technical skills of business owners, which may include hiring consultants to help businesses overcome impediments to growth.

Louisiana System for Integrated Growth Program
The System for Integrated Growth Program (SIG) is a competitive, application-based program that provides Louisiana’s potentially high-growth small businesses with the resources they need to grow and succeed. Through technical assistance and research, an experienced team will provide customized services tailored to your business needs.

Louisiana Small Business Development Centers
Louisiana’s Small Business Development Centers (LSBDC) provide one-on-one business counseling, workshops, and seminars throughout the state that can help you evaluate your growth options, prepare your business for expansion and inform you about resources that may be available to help you achieve your goals.

U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provides an information portal for exploring the various growth options you may want to consider, including online training courses and webinars for small business owners.

Protecting your intellectual property and company branding can be important components to creating wealth and prosperity within a growing business. Contact one of our experienced partners to guide you through the process.

The Technology Transfer Office within the Louisiana Business & Technology Center (LBTC) works with businesses to assess their technical needs, assist with Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant applications, and help facilitate technology transfer between federal agencies and Louisiana businesses.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is the federal agency for granting U.S. patents and registering trademarks to protect your inventions and other unique business assets.

Although Louisiana Economic Development’s programs are race and gender neutral, there are several federal, state, and local organizations that provide these types of certifications. Contact one of our resource partners below for additional information.

The Louisiana Minority Supplier Development Council (LAMSDC) offers Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE) certification and also helps businesses develop or enhance their minority vendor programs.

Women’s Business Enterprise Council South (WBEC) is a certifying partner organization of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, which provides Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) certification.

The U.S. Department of Transportation offers the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certification for small socially and economically disadvantaged businesses.

The SBA 8(a) program helps small and disadvantaged businesses compete in the marketplace and helps them gain greater access to federal and private procurement markets.

Louisiana supports our veteran-owned businesses by providing the opportunity for growth through government purchasing and contracting. Federal and state governments are committed to growing veteran-owned small businesses.

Through the Veteran Initiative program (LaVetBiz), Louisiana Economic Development certifies Louisiana’s eligible veteran-owned and service-connected disabled veteran-owned, small businesses to help them gain greater access to purchasing and contracting opportunities available at the state government level.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) provides assistance to veteran-owned businesses through their business verification and procurement assistance program and their veteran-owned Small Business Mentor-Protégé program.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Veterans Business Development is responsible for providing business training, counseling and assistance, and overseeing the federal procurement programs for veterans and service-disable veteran-owned small businesses.

Through SCORE’S Veteran Fast Launch Initiative, veterans and active duty military personnel, and members of their immediate family, can receive entrepreneurial training, mentoring, and free or significantly discounted resources for starting a business.

Louisiana offers workforce development programs that aid in strengthening the state’s economy, giving it a competitive edge.

The IWTP Small Business Employee Training Program (SBET) is designed to benefit business and industry by assisting in the skill development of existing employees through individual, standardized (off-the shelf) training.

The Louisiana Virtual OneStop website provides access to a complete set of employment and training tools designed for job seekers, students, case managers, employers, training providers, workforce professionals, and others.

Louisiana is focused on assisting businesses with gaining access to new opportunities in international markets. The following programs and agencies will assist in finding export opportunities and incentives in the global marketplace.

The State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Program provides up to $9,000 of funding support to small businesses that participate in export development related activities that will help them start exporting or increase the value of their current exports.

The U.S. Commercial Service provides business matchmaking services through their coordination of inbound and outbound trade missions, and specific programs to expand exporting opportunities.

U.S. Export Assistance Centers offer trade counseling, market intelligence, matchmaking, and commercial diplomacy to help U.S. businesses connect with lucrative international business opportunities.

The World Trade Center in New Orleans conducts import-export training, language courses, consulting, matchmaking and trade missions.