Blog

The Leadership EXCEL Advisory Board is pleased to announce the conclusion of their 2020-21 year.  The 26th Graduating Leadership EXCEL Class met at Grand Opera House of the South on Wednesday, November 17 for a reception and graduation ceremony. The evening began with an informal reception prior to the graduation where graduates, sponsors, and families ofRead more

The COVID small business crisis and prolonged and uneven, inflicting a disproportionate toll on microbusinesses in underserved communities that are the lifeblood of their local economies. While much attention has been paid to small business closures in urban communities across the country, the same dynamic is unfolding in underserved rural areas, with dire consequences. StillRead more

Everyone is looking to grow in the beginning of the year. Individuals make New Year’s resolutions and try to better themselves in whatever way they choose. Businesses are no different! Many of our local small businesses will be taking stock of what they can do to create growth for the next year. What better placeRead more

Due to the pandemic, the way businesses have had to conduct themselves and their business has altered dramatically. The digital age has indeed come full force upon us, with Zoom conferences, online classes, and digital marketing being utilized by every industry. Yet even with this emphasis on digital means of connecting, local businesses still relyRead more

As Thanksgiving approaches, many of us begin to get in gear for one (if not THE) of the biggest shopping days of the year: Black Friday. Also, with the rise of ecommerce and the success of sites like Amazon and other online retailers, Cyber Monday has become a hot day of those internet-savvy individuals whoRead more

Opportunity Machine is partnering with local subject matter experts to bring small business owners and startup founders a new video series titled ‘Click to STARTup.’ These experts will answer entrepreneurs’ most frequently asked questions via quick and easy how-to videos. “The demand for business education content offered through virtual channels has skyrocketed over the lastRead more

Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Monday, April 27 that he is extending his stay-at-home order through May 15, saying some regions of Louisiana haven’t shown enough progress in fighting the coronavirus outbreak to lessen widespread restrictions on businesses and public gatherings. But if the state’s rate of infections continues to decline, Governor Edwards said heRead more

The Small Business Administration’s $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has officially run out of funds. In an SBA PPP report published on Monday, April 13, over 17,000 applications and $3.75 Billion had been approved through the forgivable loan program. The notification on the SBA’s website, states the “SBA is currently unable to accept newRead more

Over one-fifth of Americans are directly employed in retail and hospitality, including stores, bars and restaurants, tourism, and entertainment. That’s more than 32 million people working in an industry that’s currently being shaped by widespread closures and layoffs. Our small businesses need us now more than ever. Remember when they sponsored your child’s recreation team?Read more

**Updated March 30, 2020** Please note that as our nation and state take the necessary steps to address COVID-19 in Louisiana, the Acadia Parish Chamber of Commerce will do the same. All scheduled meetings are on hold, and our staff will be working remotely as much as possible as we all work together to prevent theRead more