Celebrating small businesses

If you own a small business or work for one, you’re in the majority of Americans. The U.S. Small Business Administration reports that American small businesses create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year.

Small Business Week, held May 5-11, celebrated entrepreneurship across our great country. In Louisiana the SBA and Louisiana Economic Development honored banks and organizations that work with small businesses and recognized outstanding small business owners.

At an awards program held on May 9 at the Louisiana Governor’s Mansion, the Louisiana Small Business Development Center at Mc-Neese was named winner of the 2019 Service Excellence and Innovation Center Award for both Louisiana and for SBA’s Region VI (which includes Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, New Mexico and Louisiana).

For the operating year of 2017-18, clients of the LSBDC at McNeese reported that they started 18 businesses, added over 100 jobs and had capitalization (financial investment) of over $14.7 million. The Center had over 500 attendees at over 30 different workshops.

McNeese State University has hosted the LSBDC at McNeese for over 35 years. Other supporters include the Southwest Louisiana Alliance for Economic Development, Sasol North America, Louisiana Economic Development and SBA. The mission of the LSBDC is to help small businesses get started and grow. As part of the SEED Center, the LSBDC is one of the resources that assists entrepreneurs to build the economy in Southwest Louisiana.

You’ve heard that small businesses are the backbone of our economy. Think about the local restaurant that serves your favorite hamburger, the shop where you take your dry cleaning and the company that sponsors your child’s sports team. These places employ your friends and family, put money back into the local economy and support local activities and charities.

The LSBDC at McNeese encourages you to shop local and support locally owned small businesses. You’ll help an entrepreneur bring his dreams to life. Every big business was once one of the little guys, with an owner who struggled to turn passion into a profitable reality. Before you order online, investigate what’s available down the street.

Let the consultants at the LSBDC at McNeese help you with the difficulties of running your small business. For over 35 years, the LSBDC at McNeese has worked with entrepreneurs and business owners who are looking to start or grow their small business. Visit www.lsbdc. org/msu to learn more about us. For no-cost assistance with your business, call 337-475-5529.

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Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and Louisiana Department of Economic Development. All opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.

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Donna Little is the director of the Louisiana Small Business Development Center at McNeese State University. Contact her at 475-5945 or dlittle@lsbdc.org.