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New portal will streamline applications for loans $150,000 or less for over 6.5 million businesses.  The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is launching a streamlined application portal to allow borrowers with Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans $150,000 or less through participating lenders to apply for forgiveness directly through the SBA. “The SBA’s new streamlined applicationRead more

By Andy Medici-Senior Reporter, The Business Journals, 7/16/21 The Small Business Administration officially closed its Paycheck Protection Program to new loan applications at the end of May, and subsequently closed its Restaurant Revitalization Fund grant program in early July, leaving small business owners with dwindling options for relief. But there are still some grant programsRead more

State policy leaders play a vital role in advancing credential transparency as a critical part of their larger economic and education strategy. Many organizations are encouraging state policy leaders to integrate transparency with efforts aimed at quality, attainment goals, equity and affordability. State policymakers can support quality assurance of credentials through the following actions: PrioritizeRead more

By Ty Kiisel, June 16, 2021 Small business owners in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Shreveport, New Orleans, and dozens of other Louisiana towns can’t always do it alone. They need resources to support them in launching, building, and growing their businesses. Whether that’s taking business courses from Louisiana Economic Development (LED), getting a mentor at aRead more

For those of us living along the Gulf Coast, hurricane season is a yearly issue, with new updates of possible storms and getting ready for the weather. Particularly in Louisiana, the extremely active 2020 hurricane season brought devastation to last year. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), there were a total ofRead more

On May 7, Director Tanya N. Garfield of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West reminded Louisiana private nonprofit organizations of the June 7, 2021, deadline to apply for an SBA federal disaster loan for economic injury caused by Hurricane Laura that occurred August 22-27, 2020. Private nonprofits that provide essential services ofRead more

Help is available for restaurants, bars, and other similar businesses impacted by COVID-19. The recently passed American Rescue Plan created a new $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), which provides grants to eligible entities like restaurants and bars to cover certain pandemic-related expenses. Date / Time: Monday, May 17 3:30 – 5 p.m. CDT JoinRead more

As a business owner, are you in touch with the needs of your target demographic group? Do you have an understanding of what they’re looking for and how your brand can meet their needs? Do you have a clear statement that outlines why the goods or services you offer are of better value and willRead more

As the work environment continues to change, whether through natural development of technology or due to the recent changes due to the global pandemic, one of the most critical challenges that face organizations is developing leaders with the necessary skills to succeed in that climate. In 2012, members of the ATD Forum explored many ideasRead more

Do you know if you’re resilient? A lot of people think they either are or aren’t born with resilience or that it’s a result of circumstance. The truth of the matter is that there are some important factors that affect our resilience. Anyone can be resilient to a point, but after a certain threshold there’sRead more