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Small Business

Louisiana supports small businesses to foster entrepreneurship, create jobs and stimulate economic activity. The state’s support strategy includes grants, loans, tax incentives and specialized programming for small business owners that gives them a competitive edge.

Special Programs for Small Businesses

LED’s Small Business Services team deploys nearly a dozen programs supporting a range of small business owners, including women and minority small business owners, veteran and gold-star spouse-owned companies and rural entrepreneurs.

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Find the Right Resources for Your Small Business

Build Capacity

Providing developmental training, networking and seminars to start or manage a business.

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Increase Opportunity

Seminars and initiatives to build essential business management while gaining access to specialized opportunities.

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Accelerate Growth

Providing research, networking and developmental assistance to encourage small business growth.

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LED Growth Network

Formally launched in 2017, the LED Growth Network (LGN) consists of companies that have completed either Strategic Research, CEO Roundtables, or both.

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Small Business FAQs

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Typically there are no grants at the state or federal level to start or operate a small business. Announcements for counseling and training grants appear on www.grants.gov. Additional federal grant information can be found at www.cfda.gov.

Complete the process online at LAVeteransFirst.org or go to one of the Louisiana Department of Veteran Affairs Parish Service Offices, bring the required documentation, and have the business certified.

Veteran: Provide an original or certified copy of an official discharge record which shows that the business owner’s service was under conditions other than dishonorable.
Examples of acceptable documents:

  • DD Form 214
  • NGB Form 22
  • DD Form 256

Active: Business owners must present a current, valid Uniformed Services ID Card or Common Access Card (CAC) confirming active, reserve, or national guard status.

Gold Star: Business owners must verify that they are a Gold Star spouse as defined by the Department of Defense (DoD), by bringing a US Department of Veterans Affairs award letter granting you Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. Business owners may still qualify even if the VA has stopped paying such business owners because they have remarried. The LDVA Veterans Assistance Counselor will ensure that the circumstances of the servicemember’s death meet the requirements of the DoD definition.

If you encounter any difficulty in securing the required documentation listed above, assistance is available. Visit the nearest LDVA Parish Service Office to receive assistance. Find the most convenient location by visiting https://www.vetaffairs.la.gov/locations/.

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is a highly competitive program that encourages small businesses to engage in Research and Development (R&D) and provides funding for projects that have the potential for commercialization. Technical assistance and additional information can be received by contacting the Louisiana Business & Technology Center.

The Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program expands funding opportunities in the federal innovation research and development (R&D) arena. The goal of the STTR program is to facilitate the transfer of technology developed by a research institution through the entrepreneurship of a small business concern. Technical assistance and additional information can be received by contacting the Louisiana Business & Technology Center.

Louisiana’s Digital Interactive Media and Software Development tax credit – the strongest of its kind in the nation – is helping digital media and software development companies of all sizes gain a competitive edge. Read more about this tax credit and other LED incentives.