CEI

During this special online series, Black-owned small businesses will gain insights and learn concrete steps that can be taken to reach the full financial potential of their businesses.The Urban League of Louisiana's Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation understands that one of the keys to closing the racial wealth gap in the Black community is through entrepreneurship and other pathways that yield economic independence and prosperity. The COVID-19 pandemic, social injustice, and the economic downturn have presented challenges that have stunted the growth of many Black-owned small businesses, and some have even closed their doors. This means: rethinking your business model towards scalability, agility and resilience; examining your revenue model and growth metrics to ensure profitability; optimizing your pricing strategy for profit and cash flow; and leveraging the right financial resources to meet your growth needs. Thank you to our community supporters - Liberty Bank, Greater New Orleans, Inc., and the New Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce! Session 1: Building Scalable, Agile, and Resilient Small Businesses Tuesday, August 10 | 1:00pm-3:00pmFacilitator: Desiree YoungSession 2: Revenue Models and Metrics Thursday, August 12 | 1:00pm-3:00pmFacilitator: Lori JacksonSession 3: Pricing for Profit Tuesday, August 24 | 1:00pm-3:00pmFacilitator: Desiree Young Session 4: Leveraging the […]

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted small businesses. Many businesses have had to close or limit operations, lost revenue, and terminate or furlough employees. While these are challenging times, small businesses have an opportunity to deliberately pivot their business to meet the needs of a changing world. What You Will Learn: • How to finalize your new opportunity including the business model and revenue streams • How to explore changes to your financial, operational, marketing, and staffing • Best practices in brainstorming goals, priorities, and actions to be taken Once participants have identified and assessed the feasibility of their new opportunity, it is imperative that a strategy is developed to reposition the business by building a new and improved foundation including confirming the new financial, operational, marketing, and staffing models. This also includes new processes and revenue streams for the business. This session will include best practices for recalibrating their business strategy by aligning goals, priorities, and actions. The facilitator for this series will be Malaika Moran, Owner and Lead Strategist of SocialStep Marketing and Consulting. There is no cost to attend this informational webinar; however, you must be registered on GoToWebinar to participate. Please secure your […]

Louisiana residents affected by Hurricane Ida are now able to register for disaster assistance with FEMA and to obtain needed support from the SBA. Disaster assistance is available to renters, homeowners, private non-profits, and small businesses in Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis and Vernon parishes affected by the hurricane effective Aug. 26th. Disaster assistance may include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. In addition, low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration are available to homeowners, renters and businesses. Please join us on Wednesday, September 15th to learn more! During this session, those impacted and seeking assistance will learn how to obtain FEMA and SBA assistance, including: • FEMA Registration Requirements and the Process to Receive Assistance • SBA Loan Eligibility and Application Process • Denials and Requests for Reconsideration Guest speakers include: • Susheel Kumar, Public Information Officer, Office of Disaster Assistance, Field Operations Center – West, U.S. Small Business Administration • Jo Ann Lawrence, Deputy District Director, Louisiana District Office, U.S. Small Business Administration There is no cost to attend this session, […]

Please register for "COVID-19 Perspectives: Session 3 - Reorganize, Retool, Recharge" by visiting https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3872764044088802573 After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted small businesses. Many businesses have had to close or limit operations, lost revenue, and terminate or furlough employees. While these are challenging times, small businesses have an opportunity to deliberately pivot their business to meet the needs of a changing world. What You Will Learn: • How to evaluate the needs, opportunities, and gaps within the new business model • How to map the new business support model, training, and counseling needs • How to determine the tools and operational supports needed to ensure success Pivoting ones business to meet the changing needs of the market can require an operational overhaul. During this session, participants will learn: 1) how to reorganize one’s business support model, including employees, suppliers, consultants, mentors, accountability partners, and others, with risk management in mind, and 2) how to assess and pivot the business’ structure, operations, staff, and 3) the tools being used to create efficiency, increase productivity and meet the needs of its customers. The session will include […]

Even with the world slowly opening back up, many small businesses are still struggling to successfully rebuild. This panel discussion, led by Courvoisier Curators and moderated by ULLA's CEI VP Klassi Duncan and National Urban League, will provide marketing strategies and social media guidance to help Black small business owners and entrepreneurs re-engage with their community and their customers post-COVID-19. As part of the session, Courvoisier will host a live pitch competition for pre-selected small business finalists. Attendees will be able to watch the pitch competition live and learn the ins-and-outs of successfully presenting a business plan to an esteemed judging panel made up of industry leaders. You must be 21 years or older to attend this session.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted small businesses. Many businesses have had to close or limit operations, lost revenue, and terminate or furlough employees. While these are challenging times, small businesses have an opportunity to deliberately pivot their business to meet the needs of a changing world. What You Will Learn: • How to assess the impact of COVID-19 and other disasters on your businesses • Gain insights on new market opportunities that exist for your business • How to assess the feasibility, profitability, and scalability of new business opportunities During this session, participants will explore and evaluate what they have learned during the Covid-19 pandemic and other disasters. Participants will then identify and assess the new opportunities that exist for their business within their market and industry. Participants will also identify at least three opportunities to pivot towards that create a more profitable, scalable, and resilient business. The facilitator for this series will be Malaika Moran, Owner and Lead Strategist of SocialStep Marketing and Consulting. There is no cost to attend this informational webinar; however, you must be registered on GoToWebinar to participate. Please secure your spot today by visiting https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6525343543303863312 . After registering, you will […]

Pivoting one's business to meet the changing needs of the market can require an operational overhaul. During this session, participants will learn: 1) how to reorganize one’s business support model, including employees, suppliers, consultants, mentors, accountability partners, and others, with risk management in mind, and 2) how to assess and pivot the business’ structure, operations, staff, and 3) the tools being used to create efficiency, increase productivity and meet the needs of its customers. The session will include how entrepreneurs can recharge their mindsets and become energized about their pivot towards resilience. What You Will Learn • How to evaluate the needs, opportunities, and gaps within the new business model • How to map the new business support model, training, and counseling needs • How to determine the tools and operational supports needed to ensure success There is no cost to attend this session, however, registration is required. Reserve your spot today! https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4752129255352283408

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted small businesses. Many businesses have had to close or limit operations, lost revenue, and terminate or furlough employees. While these are challenging times, small businesses have an opportunity to deliberately pivot their business to meet the needs of a changing world. What You Will Learn: • How to evaluate the needs, opportunities, and gaps within the new business model • How to map the new business support model, training, and counseling needs • How to determine the tools and operational supports needed to ensure success Pivoting ones business to meet the changing needs of the market can require an operational overhaul. During this session, participants will learn: 1) how to reorganize one’s business support model, including employees, suppliers, consultants, mentors, accountability partners, and others, with risk management in mind, and 2) how to assess and pivot the business’ structure, operations, staff, and 3) the tools being used to create efficiency, increase productivity and meet the needs of its customers. The session will include how entrepreneurs can recharge their mindsets and become energized about their pivot towards resilience. The facilitator for this series will be Malaika Moran, Owner and Lead Strategist of […]