GoalTo provide a variety of business options, and expand economic opportunities that are designed primarily to benefit low and moderate income persons.
The Business Development Unit is comprised
of the following business opportunities and neighborhood
initiative programs:
The unit provides financial business assistance, general
business counseling, educational opportunities, and direction on
state business tax incentive programs such as Enterprise Zone,
Restoration Tax Abatement and Quality Jobs –
Louisiana Incentive Programs
The Economic Development Initiative (EDI)
program is a city loan program that is funded by HUD to
stimulate economic development. The EDI objective is to “finance
projects and activities that will provide near-term results and
demonstrable economic benefits, such as job creation and
increases in the local tax base”. The EDI funds are allocated to
small businesses and are limited in its usage to the designated
targeted neighborhoods of the City of Shreveport. (Source:
Federal Register/ Vol. 65, No. 37) In order to be considered,
applicants applying for EDI funds must first be turned down by a
local lending institution. The loan limit is $250,000.
Click here for EDI underwriting guidelines and
loan application.
The Business & Entrepreneurial Skills Training
(BEST) Program is a city-wide 12-week training program that is
offered to the Shreveport-Bossier community on an annual basis,
during the months of September through December. Five partnering
agencies work together to offer a business training class,
taught by business professionals in the community who provide
existing businesses and potential entrepreneurs with the
fundamental knowledge essential to successful small business
ownership. The class includes basic instructions in marketing,
management, business law, cash flow analysis, financing,
insurance, record keeping business plan development, and taxes.
These practical, interactive classes provide the BEST
participants with great opportunities for networking with other
entrepreneurs.
Click here for BEST information and
application.
The Technical Assistance Partner Agencies work together by collaborating ideas, resources,
knowledge, education, and talents for the benefit of those seeking assistance in various areas while striving to
develop or expand a small business.
The following agencies are good business development resources:
A. SCORE (Service Core of Retired Executives)
- - www.bplans.com/score or
www.score.org
B. LSUS-SBDC (Louisiana State University –Shreveport – Small Business Development Center) - -
www.lsbdc.org
C. Southern University Incubator - - www.susla.edu
D. VOA (Volunteers of America) - - www.voanorthla.org
Additional Programs - These programs encompasses
education, business counseling, permits and license
assistance, financing, technical assistance and business
tax incentives and surety bonding service.
Enterprise Zone Program, the
Restoration Tax Abatement Program,
Quality Jobs and
Disadvantaged Business Enterprises
FAQ's for Business Development
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