LADOTD: Crew Management: Recruiting, Hiring, and Retaining an All Star Team

2022 is expected to yield an increase in public and private construction projects across the U.S. This is great for the industry, however, this also means that small business contractors must be prepared for the competitive landscape that is sure to impact how you recruit, hire, and train a best-in-class crew. It is critical that owners have a strategic plan to efficiently manage and retain your field crew. This is essential to staying on budget and on schedule, and can lead to increased profitability. During this session, construction managers and owners will learn how to build a foundation for a successful field crew which requires processes, discipline and the proper resources. This session will dive into best practices for recruiting, hiring developing, managing, and retaining an all-star team! 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/4223380713757747725 . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Resilient Restart EBR Grant Information Sessions

To meet the short-term financial needs of microenterprises and small businesses, the Resilient Restart EBR Program offers one-time, micro-grants of $2,500 to eligible entities that have been impacted by COVID-19. Interested in applying for the Resilient Restart $2,500 grant? This program is activated by the federal CARES Act and administered through the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant Program. As a federally funded program, in order to apply, eligible small businesses are required to have a DUNS number and must be registered on SAM.gov. Join the Urban League of Louisiana starting next week for a special webinar to get step-by-step instructions on how to obtain a government DUNS number and how to register your business on SAM.gov. Please note that all eligibility requirements must be met and all other supporting documents must be submitted in addition to the DUNS number and verification of the SAM registration. For more information about the Resilient Restart EBR program, including eligibility requirements and required documents, please visit https://urbanleaguela.org/restartebr/. Register for the Upcoming Informational Sessions (DAY - 12:00pm -1:00pm) April 26: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8336247994891648271 May 24: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2331257543211699726 Register for the Upcoming Informational Sessions (EVENING - 5:15pm - 6:15pm) May 5: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3665930518913129231 May 12: […]

Second Chance Virtual Career & Resource Expo

The Office of Workforce Development is hosting a Second Chance Virtual Career & Resource Expo for justice-involved/returning citizens. The expo will help assist qualified and professional candidates who are returning citizens seeking employment. Register at https://urbanleaguela.org/virtual-job/

LADOTD: Understanding Contracting Requirements for LADOTD Projects

Contractors doing business with the LADOTD must ensure compliance to the awarded construction contract. In addition, it also important to be aware of and understand the Construction Contract Administration Manual (CCA). The CCA Manual provides guidelines, regulations, references to standard specifications, Department Policies and Procedures, and other supporting documents that contractors should know in the bid and performance stages of the contracting process. During this session, participants will learn about the most common components of a construction contract, highlights of the CCA Manual, and a review of the following documents: CS-6AAA commitment documentation, DBE/SBE supplier’s agreement, DBE/SBE trucker’s agreement, OMF-1a & OMF-2a forms, and the CP-1A. 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 informational webinar; however, you must be registered on GoToWebinar to participate. Please secure your spot today by visiting https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/620643948715364621 . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

QuickBooks Online – Session 1: Foundations – Get Started and Set Up the Right Way

As a business owner, having your financials in order is the most important step to running your business effectively and profitability. Now is the time to get the education and support that you need to set up your accounting system and processes the right way. Join the Urban League of Louisiana’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation for this special 3-part series to learn the foundations for setting up QuickBooks online, managing everyday transactions and financial reports, and the key concepts and tasks that you must know for ongoing maintenance. This series is sponsored by Wells Fargo – Open for Business. Sessions will take place on Tuesdays, June 14, 21, and 28, 5:30pm-7:30pm. Registration is required for each session. Session 1: Foundations – Get Started and Setup the Right Way Get started with QuickBooks Online and receive guidance on the setup process. Learn how to add your business information, which accounting method to use, how to setup and pull data in from your bank, and so much more! This is a foundational course that will help you to establish a solid baseline for your accounting system. There is no cost to attend this informational webinar; however, you must be registered on […]

Preparing to Access Disaster Assistance with the SBA and FEMA

Join the Urban League of Louisiana, the SBA Louisiana District Office and FEMA, on Tuesday, June 21st, 10:00am-12:00pm to learn what it takes to successfully apply for disaster assistance should the need arise. Hurricane season is here! The SBA offers disaster assistance in the form of low interest loans to businesses, nonprofit organizations, homeowners, and renters located in regions affected by declared disasters. SBA also provides eligible small businesses and nonprofit organizations with working capital to help overcome the economic injury of a declared disaster. Join this session to learn more about applying for disaster assistance in the event of an emergency. Speakers include: Jo Ann Lawrence - Deputy District Director, Louisiana District Office, U.S. Small Business Administrator Local Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency 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/8721012194045974541. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

QuickBooks Online – Session 2: Everyday Transactions and Financial Reports

As a business owner, having your financials in order is the most important step to running your business effectively and profitability. Now is the time to get the education and support that you need to set up your accounting system and processes the right way. Join the Urban League of Louisiana’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation for this special 3-part series to learn the foundations for setting up QuickBooks online, managing everyday transactions and financial reports, and the key concepts and tasks that you must know for ongoing maintenance. This series is sponsored by Wells Fargo – Open for Business. Please join us for the second session of QuickBooks Online, 5:30pm-7:30pm. Registration is required for each session. Session 2: Everyday Transactions and Financial Reports Learn how to process transactions in QuickBooks Online to better understand your sales/expenses, and manage your cash flow. Participants will learn how to customize invoices, create sales receipts, receive and pay money. For those that sell products, learn how to use QBO to track inventory and sales taxes. 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/2201562450752854797. After registering, […]

LADOTD: Bidding to Win + Construction Management at Risk

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 Manager 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 informational webinar; however, you must be registered on GoToWebinar to […]

Information Session (Otis Elevator Apprenticeship in conjunction with Office of Workforce Development)

The Office of Workforce Development will host a special Information Session in partnership with Otis Elevator Company on Wednesday, June 22 from 4pm - 5pm CT to job-seekers looking to elevate their careers by joining the elevator trade. Pay for elevator apprentices starts at $22/hr, and rises to $90,000/year, plus health care and benefits! Register for the information session here.

Product Matters: Strategies for Managing Your Supply Chain During and After a Disruption

Join the Urban League of Louisiana’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, on Friday, June 24th, 10:00am-12:00pm, to gain insights on the managing your supply chain before, during, and after a disruption. This online session is sponsored by Louisiana Economic Development and the U.S. Economic Development Administration. During a health or environmental crisis, supply chain disruptions create scary and uncertain times, especially for small business owners. These disruptions draw attention to supply chain dependencies that you may otherwise not be aware of when everything is operating under normal circumstances. The COVID-19 global pandemic has caused a major upheaval in the supply chains of many businesses in the United States and North America. When supply chains are disrupted small businesses must have a plan to sustain operations and be able to access alternative sources of supply when possible. This session will provide product-based businesses with key learnings in managing before, during, and after a disruption, including: managing inventory, identifying alternative sources of supply or distributors, and strategies for transitioning to complimentary services when supplies are not available. Key topics include: Understanding how supply chains work 6 types of supply chain disruptions Uncovering your supply chain dependencies 10 tactics for preparing for disruptions […]

QuickBooks Online – Session 3: Ongoing Accounting Tasks and Maintenance

As a business owner, having your financials in order is the most important step to running your business effectively and profitability. Now is the time to get the education and support that you need to set up your accounting system and processes the right way. Join the Urban League of Louisiana’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation for this special 3-part series to learn the foundations for setting up QuickBooks online, managing everyday transactions and financial reports, and the key concepts and tasks that you must know for ongoing maintenance. This series is sponsored by Wells Fargo – Open for Business. Please join us for the third session of QuickBooks Online, 5:30pm-7:30pm. Registration is required for each session. Session 3: Ongoing Accounting Tasks and Maintenance Be guided through a deeper understanding of the reporting process in QuickBooks Online and how to set up your Chart of Accounts for optimal clarity into your business financials. Participants will learn how to run and read the three primary financial reports, how to reconcile accounts, and create custom fields. 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/4920385325894127375. […]