The current health and social crises that are crippling the US have had a profound impact on small, minority-owned firms in our most vulnerable communities. While businesses seek to obtain critical resources such as emergency funding to survive during these crises, the need for minority-owned businesses to reconsider “what” business they should be doing and “how” they should be doing business is of the utmost importance. Now, more than ever, small businesses have an opportunity to re-imagine, re-position, and re-charge their business models and operations towards becoming more scalable, agile, and resilient. During this session, Klassi Duncan, Vice President, Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Urban League of Louisiana, will provide insights and considerations on how to develop a strategy and plan of action to build operational leverage, flexibility, and sustainability. Participants will learn: • What scalability means related to growth and operational capacity • Best practices for evaluating new business models and revenue streams that are responsive to changing market needs • Considerations for new and improved processes and technology • Insights on how to reorganize one’s business support model, including employees, suppliers, consultants, mentors, accountability partners, etc. • How to best integrate risk management and continuous improvement strategies to […]

Monday, August 24, 12:00pm-1:00pm CT https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4772477907747035664 Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome and the City of Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish recognize the challenges that local businesses are facing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. To meet the short-term financial needs of microenterprises and small businesses, the Resilient Restart EBR: Small Business Micro-grants Program offers one-time, micro-grants of $2,500 to eligible entities that have been impacted by COVID-19. Recipients may use these funds for rent, utilities, inventory, accounts payable, fixed costs, employee wages and benefits.

Monday, August 31, 12:00pm-1:00pm CT https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8576302155712420112 Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome and the City of Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish recognize the challenges that local businesses are facing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. To meet the short-term financial needs of microenterprises and small businesses, the Resilient Restart EBR: Small Business Micro-grants Program offers one-time, micro-grants of $2,500 to eligible entities that have been impacted by COVID-19. Recipients may use these funds for rent, utilities, inventory, accounts payable, fixed costs, employee wages and benefits.

Monday, September 14, 12:00pm-1:00pm CT https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8507566186302074896 Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome and the City of Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish recognize the challenges that local businesses are facing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. To meet the short-term financial needs of microenterprises and small businesses, the Resilient Restart EBR: Small Business Micro-grants Program offers one-time, micro-grants of $2,500 to eligible entities that have been impacted by COVID-19. Recipients may use these funds for rent, utilities, inventory, accounts payable, fixed costs, employee wages and benefits. During this session, potential applicants will learn more about the program’s eligibility requirements and the application process. This program is activated by the CARES Act through the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant Program with an additional infusion of funding from Investar Bank. This program is being administered by the Urban League of Louisiana.