Louisiana HBCUs take Opportunity Zones and Small Business Global; event set for March 10

The Louisiana Small Business Development Center, Southern University and A&M College, and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) collaborated to host an event to launch a Global Trade Initiative for small business owners in the State of Louisiana. The event is set for Tuesday, March 10, 2020 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will be located at 616 Harding Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70807.

Dr. Michael A. Stubblefield, Vice Chancellor for Research and Strategic Initiatives, said “We have long viewed our Historically Black Colleges and Universities as vehicles for collaborations and look forward to partnering with our public agencies and businesses in promoting growth within our communities and Opportunity Zones in global markets.”

The Louisiana Small Business Development Center, Southern University, and the U.S. SBA want to help small businesses effectively leverage HBCUs, HUBZones and Opportunity Zones to grow their business. The Global Trade initiative creates an opportunity for HBCU and small businesses to partner for exporting products and services, as well as introduce small business owners to funding opportunities to export and do business globally.

Jo Ann Lawrence, SBA Louisiana Deputy District Director, said the SBA Louisiana District Office has a goal to increase the number of Louisiana small business exporters and to increase their export sales. One of the funding programs to be discussed is the SBA’s State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grant. 

Through STEP, eligible small businesses engaged in exporting are offered reimbursement of up to 75% for new export companies and up to 50% for market expansion companies. 

“Exporting is a way to diversify and to expand a small business’ market,” Lawrence said. “SBA subject matter experts are available to assist entrepreneurs in taking advantage of what SBA has to offer.”

The Global Trade initiative also serves as a guide to help small businesses understand the best practices for doing business globally, in terms global cyber security protection, international trade law and customs, and networking and building global relationships.

Carla Holland, State Director of the Louisiana Small Business Development Center, said this initiative is a testament to the strength of services and resources Louisiana small business owners and entrepreneurs have access to.

“We take pride in being able to help entrepreneurs position their businesses for growth, and a large part of that is exposing them to organizations who are able to give them the specific information they need to grow,” Holland said.

At the event on March 10, the Louisiana Small Business Development Center, Southern University and SBA have brought in several resource partners and small business assistance providers to give insight on several topics such as: The World Trade Center of New Orleans; Louisiana Economic Development; Export-Import Bank of the United States; Southern University Innovation Center; and United States Department of Commerce; STRIX Louisiana; and Oceans97.

These resource partners will cover the topics of “Understanding exporting and best practices for doing business global,” “Funding opportunities for exporting and international trade,” “Doing business with HBCUs and minority owned business hubzone and opportunity zone,”  Exporting mean jobs for Louisiana: best practices for competing globally,” “Protecting your business in a global environment,” “Global cyber security protection,” and “Networking globally with foreign countries and international experiences.”