APPLICATION PERIOD NOW OPEN FOR CEO ROUNDTABLES

LED program provides platform for small business leaders to work on, rather than in, their businesses

Louisiana Economic Development opened the application period today for CEO Roundtables, a popular peer program through which executives explore business challenges with each other under the guidance of an experienced facilitator. The application period will extend through March 31 for roundtables beginning July 2018.

Launched in 2014 to help established small businesses grow revenue and jobs, LED’s regional CEO Roundtables convene 15 to 18 qualified key decision-makers from the pool of applicant businesses. Participants meet 10 times for peer-to-peer learning, business networking and support in the yearlong program. Collaborative and growth-oriented, the meetings support a trusting environment in which executives explore business and personal solutions that spur business growth.

LED'S STEP GRANT OFFERS TRAVEL EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENTS FOR OFFSHORE EUROPE - SEPTEMBER 5-8, 2017 - ABERDEEN, U.K.

About Offshore Europe 2017

Offshore Europe features over 56,000 attendees and offers Louisiana companies an opportunity to engage directly with international market leaders and innovative technology companies. As Europe’s leading energy and petroleum event, the conference attracts global audiences of engineers, technical specialists and industry leaders. The 2017 conference will be held at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Center and is organized by the Society of Petroleum Engineers. 

STEP Grant Opportunity

LED’s STEP Grant will offer travel expense reimbursements of up to 75 percent for new-to-export companies and up to 50 percent for market-expansion companies, for total assistance of up to $2,500 per company for attending Offshore Europe.

Learn more about utilizing the STEP Grant for Offshore Europe by clicking here or by calling

Sheba Person-Whitley - Senior International Trade Manager
International Commerce Division - Louisiana Economic Development
T     225.342.2537
C     225.772.2981
Sheba.Person@la.gov

617 North Third Street
Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Louisiana Contractors Accreditation Institute - Classes starting Soon

Registration begins June 26, 2017 and last day to register for class will be September 11, 2017.

The Louisiana Contractors Accreditation Institute, a partnership between Louisiana Economic Development, Louisiana Community & Technical College System and the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors offers small and emerging construction Businesses critical information about construction management and how to prepare for the Business Law parts of the contractors state licensing exam.  

Business Dreams become reality for mom

For Nicole Reding, a native of Cut Off, opening a vintage re-sale clothing store in downtown Houma had been a dream she had been working toward for more than two years as she collected inventory at her home and struggled to find a location for her business.

SBDC Success Story - Martial Art Studio

Nathan Parfait, owner of Martial Art Studio, came to the SBDC to seek assistance with his loan package. Nathan worked with the SBDC to do the financial projections and loan packaging that resulted in capital formation of $145,135 ($130,135 Loan and $15,000 Owner Investment). Since Martial Arts Studio has received funding, they have expanded their program to an After School and Summer Camp program, and increased their sales by $96,000. The business has also added a program for when kids are out of school (School Year camps). Overall Martial Arts Studio has impacted the local economy by adding 1 Full Time and 6 Part Time employees. During the summer Martial Arts Studio employed 20 Part Time employees for the summer camp.

This year they are opening their 2nd location in Thibodaux. The company is looking to hire another Full Time and 4 Part Time Employees. Parfait says, "When this location gets moving and we have a solid growth like the Houma location, we will open a third location in either Raceland or Morgan City."

Martial Art Studio
130 Alliance Court, Houma
www.martialartstudio.net
985-772-1861