Small Business Programs

Offers seminars and courses to small and emerging construction businesses that assist in building a solid foundation of knowledge within the construction industry.

Provides developmental assistance, including entrepreneurial training, marketing, computer skills, accounting, legal and industry-specific assistance.

The Pathway to Assist Veteran Entrepreneurs program (PAVE) offers Louisiana veterans the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills that are necessary to effectively start or manage a business.

Prepares small businesses to compete for and successfully deliver projects with major corporations such as Hyundai and Meta. It helps businesses build the tools, knowledge, processes, and capacity needed to meet corporate standards, navigate procurement expectations, and become reliable, project-ready partners.

Louisiana businesses that are already prepared to work with major corporations, like Hyundai and Meta, are encouraged to register, verify, and update their information in this new statewide directory. The directory is designed to increase business visibility, strengthen connections with corporate buyers, and create more opportunities for qualified companies to be considered for major projects.

Helps veteran-owned and service-connected disabled veteran-owned small businesses gain greater access to purchasing and contracting opportunities at the state level.

Certification program offers greater access to purchasing and contracting opportunities at the state government level.

The program will allow for a veteran, active or reserve military, or Gold Star spouse who has a fifty-one percent ownership in a business to apply for and gain certification to recognize and promote their businesses. In addition, the program will create a searchable database for anyone seeking to patronize a veteran, active-duty or reserve military, or Gold Star spouse business.

Provides access to quality bid, payment and performance bonds at reasonable rates from surety companies when bonding capacity is needed on public or private jobs.

Provides financial awards to state and territory governments to assist small businesses with export development.

Aims to accelerate the growth of second-stage businesses in rural areas of Louisiana through peer-learning and developmental assistance.

Provides customized research and technical assistance related to business growth issues, whether they are internal problems or outside the walls of a company.

Peer groups that give executives the opportunity to discuss business practices and management strategies with other executives who deal with similar growth challenges.

The Louisiana Contractors Accreditation Institute's Residential Contractors Seminar provides foundational technical knowledge that is essential to a residential contractor aiming to take advantage of business opportunities within the residential construction industry.

The Louisiana Contractors Accreditation Institute's General Contractors Seminar provides foundational technical knowledge that is essential to general contractors in order to sustain a construction business.

The Business and Law Seminar provides small and emerging construction businesses critical information about construction management and operating a construction-related business.

The SSBCI credit support programs offer a flexible, effective and efficient use of SSBCI funds by providing direct support for small business lending and investment.

Louisiana Business Hub is a platform for entrepreneurs and business owners looking for resources to start or grow their business in Louisiana.