As a business owner, having your financials in order is the most important step to running your business effectively and profitability. Now is a great time to get your accounting system and processes set up the right way! Join the Urban League of Louisiana’s Women’s Business Resource Center for its 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. During this session, participants will 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 the three primary financial reports (income statement, balance sheet, statement of cash flows) How to read these reports How to reconcile accounts How to create custom fields to track income/expenses Attendees will also learn how to run other reports that are specific to your business that will help with optimizing operations. This series is sponsored by Mastercard and Louisiana Economic Development’s Small and Emerging Business Development Program. To participate, attendees must be or become certified through the LED Small and […]

Join the Urban League of Louisiana for its signature “Opportunities Outlook Quarterly Convening”. These quarterly, in-person meet-ups feature procurement officers and/or prime contractors who will provide DBEs and other diverse businesses with updates on bid opportunities, as well as, required steps and best practices for doing business with their organizations. These events also provide an opportunity for more direct networking between DBEs and procurement officers and/or primes. The event will take place at the Urban League of Louisiana, 4640 S. Carrollton Avenue, Suite 110. Breakfast will be provided. This quarter’s featured speakers and organizations include: Paula Roddy, DOTD Program Director, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Lauren Marshall, Director of Diversity & Inclusion, Woodward Design + Build Jean-Marc Villain, System Director of Supplier Inclusion & Community, Ochsner Health Paige Adams, Director, Business Development – Member Diversity Offerings, Vizient, Inc. There is no cost to attend, however, registration is required. Register today to reserve your spot!

Join the Urban League of Louisiana for its new “WIN Series for Entrepreneurs”. This 4-part series is designed for aspiring and existing small business owners who are looking to develop key entrepreneurial skills that can be leveraged to start, grow, and scale their business. This series is sponsored by Louisiana Economic Development’s Small and Emerging Business Development Program. One of the major challenges that most small businesses face is knowing how to properly price its products and services to ensure increased sales and profitability. While there are several factors to consider, such as understanding your customers, costs, and competition, it is imperative that entrepreneurs “do the work” to determine their optimal pricing strategy. During this session, small businesses will learn key strategies and tactics to guide them in positioning and pricing their services for profit. Attendees will learn: The 4 types of pricing strategies for service-based businesses and when to use which ones How to actually know when it’s time to increase your prices The profit-building way to offer incentives without discounting This session will be facilitated by Desiree Young, Founder and President, VentureWalk Business Partners and WinFish. This series is sponsored by the Louisiana Economic Development’s Small and Emerging […]

Join the Urban League of Louisiana for its new “WIN Series for Entrepreneurs”. This 4-part series is designed for aspiring and existing small business owners who are looking to develop key entrepreneurial skills that can be leveraged to start, grow, and scale their business. This series is sponsored by Louisiana Economic Development’s Small and Emerging Business Development Program. In this highly competitive, digital age of social media, digital marketing, and now even AI, building brand equity through compelling connections and storytelling can take your brand to new heights, especially for smaller, younger brands who are just getting their footing. A great brand ambassador is someone who understands what your brand stands for, who believes in your brand and is thrilled to spread the word. As your business’ founder and the product’s creator, you should be your brand’s number one ambassador. During this session, you will learn: How to identify your unique communication style and how to use it to inform AND influence The art of story and how to use it to sell, tell and show results How to deliver concise answers to “What do you do and What can you do for me?” that create compelling conversations and close […]

Get the Help You Need to Start Your Business the Right Way! Ready to get started? Classes will take place on Saturdays, February 17 - April 13, 10:00am-12:30pm. There is no cost to attend this series. All classes will be held online via the GoToTraining online platform. Please note that this is a multiple-day training series and cannot be split. Have you recently started your own business and realized that you need help? Are you unsure if you have explored all of the tools and resources needed to ensure your success? Would you like more in-depth assistance with your business planning? If so, Start Up! Louisiana is for you! Start Up! Louisiana is a 9-session, entrepreneurial training program that teaches new entrepreneurs how to launch their business ventures the right way. This series provides best practices for how to build a solid business foundation that ensures success. Topics covered focus on developing your entrepreneurial mindset, starting lean, understanding business financials, and how to effectively market to your target customer. Participants also receive individual business counseling and access to other support services and resources needed to successfully launch and grow! This series is sponsored by the Louisiana Economic Development’s Small and […]

Scale Up! Louisiana is a statewide, community-based, entrepreneurial education intensive hosted by Urban League of Louisiana’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. This program provides early-stage, women- and minority-owned firms with the education and resources needed for scalability and profitability. This cohort of the Scale Up! Louisiana program is specifically designed to support businesses in Lafayette and surrounding areas, and is sponsored by First Horizon and Louisiana Economic Development. This program is also funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. In order to participate, entrepreneurs must commit to a hybrid business education program that is delivered via: 4, 2.5-hour In-Person Class Sessions (Sessions 1, 4, 9, 10) 6, 2.5-hour web class sessions, and 5, 45-minute pre-recorded web sessions. Participants must also commit to utilizing additional resources and services to support their business outside of curriculum, including: counseling sessions, technical assistance, business plan assignments, and meetings with an assigned business advisor. Classes will take place February 27-April 23, 2024 with a hybrid schedule. Sessions 1, 4, 9, and 10 will take place in-person on Tuesdays, 5:30pm-8:00pm, at the Downtown Convention Center, 124 S. Buchanan Street, Lafayette, LA 70501. All other sessions will take place on Fridays, […]

Join us for an Energy Apprenticeship Career & Resource EXPO in partnership with the Louisiana Workforce Commission and the Louisiana Community & Technical Colleges System. Learn about future opportunities for education and training related to clean and renewal energy and hydrogen jobs. Talk directly with employers who are hiring and the institutions providing training to help you join the energy workforce. Visit https://urbanleaguela.org/energy-apprenticeship-expo-2024/ to register to attend!

Join the Urban League of Louisiana on Thursday, February 29, 10:00am-11:30am, for “Get Bonded: Strategies to Enhance Your Bonding Capacity”. This virtual session is a part of a series of monthly workshops hosted in collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development’s DBE Supportive Services program. Register today at https://tinyurl.com/h6y4sbv5.

Join the Urban League of Louisiana on Thursday, March 28, 10:00am-11:30am, for “Access to Opportunities: How to Find and Successfully Bid on LADOTD Projects”. This virtual session is a part of a series of monthly workshops hosted in collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development’s DBE Supportive Services program. Register today at https://tinyurl.com/4su7t3np.