Join the Urban League of Louisiana's Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation this September for "Built to Last: Uncovering the Financial Potential of Your Small Business". Sessions take place September 18th, 20th, 25th, and 27th, 5:30pm-8:00pm, at the Best Western Plus Westbank, 1700 Lapalco Blvd, Harvey, LA, 70058. This special series is sponsored by the SBA Community Navigator Pilot Program in collaboration with the National Urban League. As your business grows, identifying and leveraging the right financial resources is critical to long-term growth and sustainability. Small businesses must become financially savvy and learn which resources to utilize to support small business growth. Whether you need equity or debt funding, or whether you should tap into a traditional bank or a CDFI, financial support can be a game-changer in your entrepreneurial journey. WHAT YOU WILL LEARN: - How to leverage financial resources - Best practices in accessing financial resources - Insights into financial metrics to track and monitor - During this session, you will gain insights on how to develop a financial strategy and plan of action to build operational leverage, flexibility and financial sustainability. Facilitator: Lori Jackson, Financial Literacy Coach, MSC Coaching Space is limited. Register today to reserve your seat! […]

Join the Urban League of Louisiana on Thursday, September 28, 10:00am-11:30am, for “Opportunity and Preparation: Creating a Business Development Plan for Your Construction Business”. This virtual session is a part of a series of monthly events in collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development’s DBE Supportive Services program. Business development in construction management refers to a strategic and actionable plan for pursuing new business and fostering relationships with your most preferred clients. Your business development plan outlines how you identify prospects, share your capabilities, and nurture business relationships so that prospects become clients when the time is right. Business development is strategic integration of marketing, sales and customer service efforts. It also is most successful when everyone in the business understands and works towards a common goal for bringing on new business. During this session, contractors will learn how to increase profitability and scalability, by creating and managing a business development strategy – one that maximizes its strengths and experience and one that targets and converts its most preferred client types. The goal is to convert prospects to clients and to turn bids into awards! After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the […]

Join Urban League of Louisiana for Wealth Building Wednesdays! This monthly webinar series is designed to provide communities across Louisiana with insights, tools, and practical steps to develop healthy financial habits, become financially independent, effectively manage risks, and chart a pathway towards generational wealth creation. Sessions take place on Wednesdays each month, 6:00pm-7:30pm. Register today to reserve your spot… and share with a friend or family member! One of the most critical factors in obtaining a home mortgage, a small business loan, a car loan, or any other type of loan is a healthy credit score and credit history. Whether you are building credit for the first time, repairing bad credit, or simply improving your credit score, taking the necessary steps to get your credit in a good place could mean the difference between loan approval or denial. Join Urban League of Louisiana for “Wealth Building Wednesdays: Building, Repairing, and Improving Your Credit” on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, 6:00pm-7:30pm, online. During this session, representatives from Chase will provide attendees with essential steps for getting your credit in order. Don’t let fear, anxiety, and procrastination stop you from preparing yourself to access capital. Featured Speakers: - Diana Holmes, Community Manager, J.P. […]

Using AI to Transform Your Social Media Presence Join the Urban League of Louisiana on Wednesday, October 25, 12:00pm-1:30pm, online, to learn how AI can transform your business’ social media presence! From automated content creation to competitor analysis, discover how AI tools and techniques are revolutionizing the digital world. During this session, Cliff Worley, Senior Director of Portfolio Growth Marketing at Kapor Capital, will provide insights on how entrepreneurs can leverage AI to: - Produce realistic audio content to strengthen podcasts, music, and voiceovers - Reshape visual storytelling through enhanced videos, from deepfakes to automated editing - Automate content creation, striking a balance between efficiency and authentic storytelling - Craft stunning visuals for design, art, and branding - Boost social media engagement with content suggestions tailored to user behavior and preferences - Provide in-depth competitive analysis and insights into market trends to support strategy development Register today to explore these topics and to see live demos of cutting-edge tools that can help you explore the exciting intersection of AI and social media! There is no cost to attend. However, registration is required. Register today to reserve your seat! https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3202187312192699226

Join the Urban League of Louisiana on Thursday, October 26, 10:00am-11:30am, for “Developing an Effective Capabilities Statement”. This virtual session is a part of a series of monthly events in collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development’s DBE Supportive Services program. With an increase in the number of viable contractors available to support public and private projects, contracting across the region is now more competitive than ever. However, the critical factors are the same. Procurement leads need to understand your capabilities, your value proposition, cost competitiveness, and how well you have performed on previous projects. But, with a sea of contenders, these elements need to be even more clearly and effectively conveyed than ever before. As a contractor, your capability statement serves as your business card and should set your apart from your competitors. It is a tool that will show potential clients how your achievements, core competencies, accreditations, financial health, and experience will create value for their projects. During this interactive workshop, participants will learn the key components of a capabilities statement and will be given guidance on crafting these elements to fit their business model and offerings. There is no cost to attend. However, registration is […]

The Urban League of Louisiana (ULLA) is pleased to host its 2023 Veterans Small Business Breakfast and Resources Summit in celebration of National Veterans Small Business Week (October 30 – November 3). During this event, ULLA will shine a light on veterans entrepreneurship across the state of Louisiana by sharing the many resources that are available to veterans and their spouses in starting and growing a business. This year’s event is sponsored by AARP and hosted in collaboration with the SBA LA District Office, the Veterans Business Outreach Center – Mississippi State University, and Louisiana Economic Development. The event will take place on Friday, November 3, 9:00am-12:00pm, at the Urban League of Louisiana, 4640 S. Carrollton Avenue, Suite 110, New Orleans, LA 70119. Breakfast will be served. Veterans and their spouses are invited to attend. Register today to reserve your spot!! https://2023_ulla_vets_smallbiz_summit.eventbrite.com

Join the Urban League of Louisiana for Wealth Building Wednesdays! This monthly webinar series is designed to provide communities across Louisiana with insights, tools, and practical steps to develop healthy financial habits, become financially independent, effectively manage risks, and chart a pathway towards generational wealth creation. Sessions take place on Wednesdays each month, 6:00pm-7:30pm. Register today to reserve your spot…and share with a friend or family member! According to Black Enterprise, nearly 70% of Black Americans don’t have an estate plan or a will which leaves families in financial and emotional limbo when they pass on. Whether you have achieved your wealth goals or are still in the process, not having an estate plan is a surefire way to diminish the value of your assets and cut the line of wealth that could pass on to your family. Whether a business owner or individual, it is urgent and imperative to create a plan that will allow you to pass on your business and/or other assets down through generations. A proper estate plan will also ensure the financial security of your family in case you become incapacitated. Join the Urban League of Louisiana for “Wealth Building Wednesdays: The Urgency of Estate […]

As an extension of the Urban League of Louisiana’s (ULLA) annual “Opportunities Outlook for DBE Contractors”, join us on Thursday, November 9th, 9:00am-11:00am, for the “Opportunities Outlook Quarterly Convening”. These quarterly, in-person meet-ups will feature three procurement officers and/or prime contractors who will provide participating DBEs with updates on bid opportunities, as well as, required steps and best practices for doing business with these organizations. These sessions will 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: - Robin Reed, Project Lead, Supplier Diversity, Entergy Services, LLC - Sarah Busch, LEED AP, Vice President of Operations, Landis Construction - Lori A. Barthelemy, Director, Office of Supplier Diversity, City of New Orleans There is no cost to attend. However, registration is required. Register today to reserve your spot!! https://opp_outlook_qtrly_nov2023.eventbrite.com

Tuesday, November 14 Sponsored by Walmart, Mastercard, New Orleans & Company The Southern Food & Beverage Museum, 1504 OC Haley Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70113 | 4:00pm-8:00pm Join the Urban League of Louisiana as we celebrate the inaugural cohort of its Black Women in Retail Accelerator Program in collaboration with the National Urban League and sponsored by Walmart. This year the program supported 10 Black, women-owned retail businesses from across Louisiana with industry-specific coaching, mentoring, and training. The program also provided direct assistance for obtaining small business certifications, assistance with bidding on contracting opportunities, and leadership development training. Register today to join us for this inaugural celebration of the following members of the Urban League of Louisiana’s Black Women in Retail Accelerator Program: Sherilyn Hayward, Leroy’s LipSmack’n Lemonade Tiffany Brown, Wicks Nola Candle Company Natashia Paul, Chuupul Leather Paige Alexander, L’Jai Amor Keishia Deverney, Element Beverage Jacqueline Arvie, Jax’s Creole Kitchen Laportia Cooper, Nola Botanical Tea Julie Vaucresson, Creole Made Easy Joyce Galmon, Joyce’s Sweets Inc. Brittney Hawkins-Dobard, Nola Cookie Co.

Sponsored by First Horizon, AARP, and Chevron Join the Urban League of Louisiana for a celebratory welcome reception as we kick-off our inaugural Women’s Entrepreneurship Week and host our annual “Women in Business Pitch Competition: Scale Up!”. In its 11th year, this annual pitch competition features four finalists who will pitch their plans to grow and scale for a chance to win $10,000. During the event an esteemed panel of judges will be tasked with determining the winner based on effectiveness of the pitch presentation, scalability of the business model, and proposed use of award funds.  Complimentary h'orderves will be served. Cash bar. Register today to reserve your spot!