Capital access and growth are long-standing pain points of minority-owned businesses across the nation and in the Greater New Orleans (GNO) region. Minority-owned businesses, consequentially, have been disproportionately affected during the current economic downturn. As such, Greater New Orleans, Inc. (GNO, Inc.) and the Urban League of Louisiana (ULLA) will co-host a series of virtual discussions to dissect opportunities for minority-owned small businesses to increase their ability to access capital and to create viable, sustainable ventures that create generational wealth. In order to build scalable, profitable, and sustainable businesses, minority entrepreneurs must be able to access the necessary funding to increase capacity, integrate technology into their operations, and to implement growth strategies that meet the changing needs of their existing and potential customers. However, based on data from the Brookings Institute, large banks approve around 60% of loans sought by white small-business owners, 50% of those sought by Hispanic or Latinx small-business owners, and just 29% of those sought by Black small-business owners. In addition, data from McKinsey & Co. shows that only 1% of Black business owners get a bank loan in their first year of business, compared with 7% of white business owners. During this session, representatives from […]

The U. S. Treasury Department has authorized another round of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), designed to assist businesses and nonprofit organizations that have faced financial challenges related to the Coronavirus pandemic. The Urban League of Louisiana has partnered with Hope Credit Union to assist clients in determining eligibility, completing the application process, and managing the loan forgiveness process. Hope is an experienced SBA-authorized lender and is ready to help small businesses and nonprofit organizations across the Deep South take advantage of this opportunity. By applying through Hope, your business may be able to tap into 100% federally guaranteed funding that will help cover up to 24 weeks of payroll expenses, including benefits, mortgage interest, rent, insurance, utilities, and other authorized expenses. Join the Urban League of Louisiana, Hope Credit Union, and the SBA Louisiana District Office on Thursday, January 28, 10:00am-11:30am for a special webinar to learn more about the second round of the Paycheck Protection Program. Attendees gain insight on eligibility requirements, required documentation and how to apply! There will also be time for Q&A. There is no cost to attend, however, registration is required. Register today!

Capital access and growth are long-standing pain points of minority-owned businesses across the nation and in the Greater New Orleans (GNO) region.  Minority-owned businesses, consequentially, have been disproportionately affected during the current economic downturn. As such, Greater New Orleans, Inc. (GNO, Inc.) and the Urban League of Louisiana (ULLA) are hosting a series of virtual discussions to dissect opportunities for minority-owned small businesses to increase their ability to access capital and to create viable, sustainable ventures that create generational wealth. Government contracts can yield long-term, high-dollar opportunities.  Gaining the skills and tools necessary to secure such contracts can be critical to expanding and scaling a business, particularly in the midst of a global pandemic. This discussion will detail opportunities for minority-owned small businesses to bid on available local, state and federal procurement contracts. Presenters Jo Ann Lawrence, Deputy Director, SBA – Louisiana District Office Paula Roddy, DOTD Program Director, Compliance and Program Section, LADOTD Christina Dayries, Assistant Deputy Director, Grants and Administration, GOHSEP Noel Williams, Owner, Legacy Restoration & Referral Moderator: Jasmine Brown, Public Policy Manager, GNO, Inc. There is no cost to attend this session, however registration is required.

Capital access and growth are long-standing pain points of minority-owned businesses across the nation and in the Greater New Orleans (GNO) region.  Minority-owned businesses, consequentially, have been disproportionately affected during the current economic downturn. As such, Greater New Orleans, Inc. (GNO, Inc.) and the Urban League of Louisiana (ULLA) are hosting a series of virtual discussions to dissect opportunities for minority-owned small businesses to increase their ability to access capital and to create viable, sustainable ventures that create generational wealth. For high growth ventures to successfully launch and scale, oftentimes, results lie in the ability of these firms to engage in multiple efforts to raise capital through rounds of external funding. However, many minority entrepreneurs of color are not aware of how series funding works and how it can becomes a potential funding source for their businesses. For those that are aware, lack of education, fear of the unknown, and being equity averse to external partners makes even exploring series funding a challenge. During this webinar, small businesses will gain insights from equity investment firms on the types of businesses they seek for investment, the funding process, and the expected outcomes. This session will serve to dispel the many myths […]

Construction firms understand that hard work has to happen before a single shovel ever hits the ground during the continuous construction-bid-proposal process. Submitting effective proposals and winning bids is at the heart of what contractors do, and developing this as a core competency is critical to building a profitable and sustainable business. For general contractors, a bid-to-win rate of one out of six is standard, and many see less of a conversion rate. During this session, contractors will learn best practices for developing a competitive proposal, including: positioning the firm to move quickly on submitting bid proposals, creating a winning scope sheet, developing and offering a value proposition, and putting your plans into action. In addition, participants will gain an understanding of the Construction Management at Risk (CMAR) delivery method, which entails a commitment by the Construction Manager (CM) to deliver the project within a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP), which is based on the construction documents and specifications at the time of the GMP. This session will also include an overview of the LAUCP DBE Certification, including eligibility requirements and the application process. There is no cost to attend this session, but registration is required, so register today!

Join the Urban League of Louisiana's Contractor's Resource Center for its 3-part, signature series, the "Construction Law Academy." It is imperative that construction contractors learn the key legal requirements that impact their business. This series will focus on understanding contract terms, partnering agreements and employment law. This series is sponsored by Chevron. Session 1: Understanding and Negotiating Contract Terms Tuesday, February 23 | 5:30-7:30p Session Presenter: Denise C. Puente - Partner at Simon, Peragine, Smith, & Redfearn, L.L.P. During this session, participants will learn some of the most common pitfalls in contract management and obtain guidance on how to avoid them through due diligence, preparation, and effective communications. Topics discussed include: Change Orders, Abandonment, Warranties, Termination, Unenforceable, etc. 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/1550087507608084749. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.