BUSINESS RESOURCE GUIDE (Business Advice and Technical Assistance)
LOCAL
AGENCIES
City of Shreveport, Department of Community Development – An integrated business assistance unit incorporating several elements, including the following services:
Business and Entrepreneurial Skills Training Program (BEST) – Provides existing businesses and potential entrepreneurs with the fundamental knowledge essential to successful business ownership. Includes basic instructions in business law, accounting, cash flow analysis, financing, insurance, management, components of a business plan, and basic computer usage.
City of Shreveport’s Fair Share Program
– The Fair Share Program is designed to assist individuals and business
seeking to do business with the City of Shreveport. Every effort is made to
ensure opportunities are available for small businesses to participate in
the City’s letting of contracts and purchases. Contact: (318) 673-5060
Brownfields Assistance Program
– Assists in the development of Brownsfield properties. The program
enrolls properties that can benefit from the program’s assistance in
coordinating environmental services, promoting the site to developers, and
if funding allows, financing environmental assessments.
Contact: Department of Operational Services
(318) 673-7660
Chambers of Commerce – The local chambers of commerce provide a wide range of information, services, and programs for businesses.
Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce,
mission of the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce is to promote economic
growth for our region and to serve as a business advocate for our members.
Contact: (318) 677-2500
Minority Busniess Council/Hispanic Business Council/Women's Business Council,
are specialized agencies under the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce.
Contact: (318) 677-2508
Shreveport/Bossier African-American
Chamber of Commerce
Contact: (318) 459-1440
The Coordinating & Development Corporation
– A private, non-profit economic development organization that provides a wide variety of services for the business community. These services include business investment and finance, employment and job training, business development and incubation, marketing, international trade development, and state tax incentives information and servicing.
Contact: (318) 632-2022
Metro/Regional Business Incubator
– Owned by The Coordinating & Development Corporation
and operated by its affiliate, the Ark-La-Tex Regional Export &
Technology Center, Inc., the Metro/Regional Business Incubator provides
entrepreneurs and small businesses with a wide range of business assistance
on both an incubator and “incubator without walls” basis.
The Business Incubator facility offers low-cost light manufacturing
and warehouse/ distribution rental space, and shared facilities and
office equipment.
Contact: (318) 671-1050
AEP Southwestern Electric Power ®
– AEP SWEPCO is a leading provider of low-cost energy and related services.
Based in Shreveport, AEP SWEPCO serves more than 426,000 customers in northwest Louisiana, northeast Texas
and western Arkansas. The company’s Economic Development Department assists communities with the creation of new industries
and jobs. It also helps existing industry maximize expansion opportunities.
Contact: (318)
673-3170
SCORE –
Service Corps
Of Retired Executives
is an SBA-sponsored program that offers
advice, counseling and management training for owners and would-be owners
of small businesses. The local SCORE chapter counsels local entrepreneurs
on starting or expanding small businesses. “Going into Business”
Seminars are held quarterly; individual appointments are available each
Thursday.
Contact: (318) 677-2536
Government Procurement Center –
This agency helps companies find and secure government contracts, assists
with marketing and technical aspects of government contracts, and offers
specialized assistance to clients in areas such as construction and
environmental contracting and subcontracting.
Contact: (318)
677-2530
Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce Directory
– The Shreveport Chamber’s Department of Minority
and Women Business Development, Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce,
maintains a directory of products and services provided by City- Certified
Disadvantaged Businesses, and shares the information with the purchasing
agents in 21 major
Shreveport corporations/ organizations.
Contact: (318) 677-2508
Downtown Development Authority/Downtown Shreveport Development Corporation
– These non-
profit organizations provide a variety of services for companies located
or interested in locating in Shreveport’s Downtown Development
District. Services range from helping to locate an appropriate building,
to restoration tax information, and a low interest loan program designed
to provide rehabilitation funds for renovating downtown’s older
buildings.
Contact: (318) 222-7403
LSUS Small Business Development
Center (SBDC) – The LSUS SBDC is sponsored by the Small
Business Administration and the Louisiana Department of Economic Development
to identify the specialized management and technical needs of the small
business community. The SBDC provides counseling, serves as an informational
resource center, and coordinates and conducts continuing education programs.
Contact: (318) 797-5144
LSUS Center for Business and Economic
Research (CBER) – The CBER maintains a database of economic
indicators for the Shreveport- Bossier City Metropolitan Statistical
Area. The CBER publishes regular reports from the database information.
The CBER also performs contracted projects involving applied business
research for public and private organizations.
Contact: (318) 797-5141
Inner City Entrepreneur Institute
(ICE) – Provides technical assistance and referrals for
entrepreneurs and small businesses located or wishing to locate within
the City of Shreveport’s Inner City.
Contact: (318) 425-4234.
Biomedical Research Foundation
of Northwest Louisiana (BRF) – The BRF is a not-for-profit
corporation established to enhance and promote scientific capacity and
technology related development in Northwest Louisiana. Because Shreveport-
Bossier is a health care destination for the surrounding region, the
Foundation's goal is to build on the existing medical infrastructure
and create a nationally recognized biomedical/ biotechnology research
and development center.
Contact: (318) 675-4101
Center for Biomedical Technology
Innovation (CBTI) – The Center for Biomedical Technology
Innovation is dedicated to the support and development of advanced medical
technology. Its special mission is to support development of technologies
that promise not only an improvement in the quality of care, but also
a reduction in the cost of care. The Biomedical Research Foundation
created the Center with a $7 million grant from the U.S. Department
of Energy.
Contact: (318) 675-4102
Manufacturing Extension Partnership
of Louisiana (MEPoL) – MEPoL provides a comprehensive
source of business, management, and technical assistance to area manufacturers.
A low-cost annual membership entitles a manufacturer to eight free consulting
hours, with additional services provided at reduced hourly rates.
Contact: (318) 671-7675
Shreveport Green – An
affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, this non-profit agency provides
information related to the environment, environmental problems, and
recycling.
Contact: (318) 219-1888
Northwest Louisiana Council of
Governments – NLCOG is an intergovernmental agency for
Caddo, Bossier, and Webster Parishes that serves as a regional planning
and census data affiliate. The agency assists businesses by providing
information regarding demographics, mapping, and transportation issues.
Contact: (318) 841-5950
Commercial Banks –
As a major source of small business loans, commercial loan departments
of banks often provide advice and counsel to prospective small business
owners.
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