Overview
Forward progress is the purpose of LED's Small and Emerging
Business Development, or SEBD, program. With a commitment to
ongoing sustainable economic and human development, the program
helps Louisiana's small businesses help themselves by assisting
with entrepreneurial training, legal needs, marketing, computer
skills and accounting.
A business must be certified through the SEBD program to obtain
these services, offered by small business development centers,
universities and consultants in Louisiana's rural and urban
areas.
Benefits
Developmental assistance including entrepreneurial training,
marketing, computer skills, accounting, business planning, legal
and industry-specific assistance.
Eligibility for the Bonding Assistance Program.
Additional guaranty support under the Louisiana Economic
Development Corporation Loan Guaranty Program.
Consideration for bidding on selective service or product
purchases by state agencies.
Program Eligibility
Eligibility requirements fall into two categories that apply to
the individual owners and to the applicant's firm. In order to
continue participation in the program, a firm and its individual
owners must continue to meet all eligibility requirements.
Small and Emerging Business
Persons
For purposes of the program, a person who meets all of the
criteria in this section shall be defined as a Small and Emerging
Business person.
- Citizenship - The person is a citizen or legal resident of the
United States.
- Louisiana Residency - The person has resided in Louisiana for
at least one year.
- Net Worth - Each individual owner's personal net worth may not
exceed $400,000, excluding personal residence and retirement
accounts.
Small and Emerging Business
- Ownership and Control - At least 51% of the company must be
owned and controlled by one or more Small and Emerging Business
Persons.
- Principal Place of Business - The firm's principal place of
business must be Louisiana.
- Lawful Function - The company has been organized for profit to
perform a lawful, commercially useful function.
- Business Net Worth - The business' net worth at the time of
application may not exceed $1.5 million.
- Full Time - Managing owners who claim Small and Emerging
Business person status must be full-time employees of the applicant
firm (20 or more hours per week).
- Job Creation - An applicant firm anticipates creating new
full-time jobs.
For comprehensive rules and details on eligibility, please
review Related Content below and contact the
appropriate administrator.
How to Apply
Click here to apply for the SEBD program.
Related Content
Administration
The SEBD program is administered by Louisiana Economic
Development.
For more information on the SEBD program, contact a
partner in your region.
For questions about SEBD certification, the SEBD directory or
general program information, please contact the program
administrator:
John Matthews
225.342.1181
jmatthews@la.gov
