PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Scale Up! Louisiana is a statewide entrepreneurial education program hosted by Urban League of Louisiana’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. The program provides early stage businesses with the education and resources that are critical to creating a scalable and profitable business model. The goal of this initiative is to provide entrepreneurial development services within communities across the state of Louisiana – based on the challenges, opportunities, and small business development needs that are unique to each community. This program puts resources in place for small business education, counseling, technical assistance, mentorship, funding, and other support services within targeted communities.
Scale Up! Louisiana is a transition program that guides existing small business owners towards becoming high growth, sustainable ventures. This nine-week program is delivered via nine, six-hour, in-classroom sessions and four web classes. In addition, participants have the opportunity to work with a business advisor for counseling, technical assistance, and other support services as needed. There is no cost to participants to attend the program.
FAST FACTS:
WHO: Existing Small Business Owners
WHAT: A nine-week program delivered via nine, six-hour, in-classroom sessions and four web classes.
BONUS: A business advisor for counseling, technical assistance, and other support services as needed.
COST: FREE!
Scale Up! Louisiana provides small business owners with:
- Entrepreneurship Education for Early Stage Businesses
- Localized Programming Within the Community
- One-on-One and Small Group Business Counseling
- Access to Mentors and Business Advisors Relevant to Specific Industry and Business Needs
- Connections to Resources to Support Growth
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
In order to participate, small businesses must meet the following criteria:
- Have at least $40,000 in documented revenue for the previous tax year
- Have been in business for at least 2 years
- Must have a desire to scale
- Must have access to a laptop for use in classroom sessions
- Must have access to the internet and a computer with a camera at home
*For questions regarding the eligibility criteria, please contact the CEI at wbrc@urbanleaguela.org.
PROGRAM CURRICULUM
| Course Number | Course Title | Duration |
| Orientation | Orientation | 3 |
| Session 1 | Thinking Outside the Box: Becoming an Innovative Entrepreneur | 6 |
| Session 2 | Your Next Move: Innovative Growth Strategies | 6 |
| Web Class 1 | Accounting Basics | 1.5 |
| Session 3 | Balancing Act: The Personal and Business Finances of the Entrepreneur | 6 |
| Session 4 | Marketing for Growth | 6 |
| Web Class 2 | Collecting Customer Data | 1.5 |
| Session 5 | Winning and Keeping Customers | 6 |
| Web Class 3 | Employment Law Basics | 1.5 |
| Session 6 | Preparing to Lead: How to Hire and Keep Good Employees | 6 |
| Session 7 | Pricing Strategy | 6 |
| Web Class 4 | Finding the Right Professional Services for Your Business | 1.5 |
| Session 8 | Becoming Bankable Series: Preparing to Access Capital | 6 |
| Session 9 | Scale Up! Louisiana Plan of Action | 6 |
| Total | 63 |
SCALE UP! NEW ORLEANS EAST COHORT 2
The Urban League of Louisiana will host its second Scale Up! Louisiana series beginning in January 2020. The series will take place at the Executive Plaza in New Orleans East at 10001 Lake Forest Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70137.
In order to participate, small business owners must submit an online application including a narrative of their business goals and long-term aspirations. Phone interviews will also be conducted to determine the candidate’s commitment to the program and growing his/her business.
The application deadline for the spring 2020 program, Scale Up! New Orleans East Cohort 2 is Friday, January 7, 2020. Final selection and acceptance will take place by January 1o,2020.
Series Schedule – Spring 2020 – New Orleans East
| Date | Course Title | Time |
| Tuesday, Jan. 28 | Orientation + The Entrepreneur + Meet and Greet | 11:30a- 3:00p |
| Thursday, Jan. 30 | Session 1: Thinking Outside the Box: Becoming an Innovative Entrepreneur | 9:00a-3:00p |
| Thursday, Feb. 6 | Session 2: Your Next Move: Innovative Growth Strategies | 9:00a-3:00p |
| Tuesday, Feb. 11 | Web Class 1: Accounting Basics | 10:00a-11:30a |
| Thursday, Feb. 13 | Session 3: Balancing Act: The Personal and Business Finances of the Entrepreneur | 9:00a-3:00p |
| Thursday, Feb. 20 | Session 4: Marketing for Growth | 9:00a-3:00p |
| Tuesday, March 3 | Web Class 2: Data-Driven Decision Making: What You Need to Know about Your Customers, the Market, and the Industry | 10:00a-11:30a |
| Thursday, March 5 | Session 5: Winning and Keeping Customers | 9:00a-3:00p |
| Tuesday, March 10 | Web Class 3: Employment Law Basics | 10:00a-11:30a |
| Thursday, March 12 | Session 6: Preparing to Lead: How to Hire and Keep Good Employees | 9:00a-3:00p |
| Tuesday, March 17 | Session 7: Pricing Strategy / What Business Certification is Right for Me? | 9:00a-3:00p |
| Tuesday, March 24 | Web Class 4: Finding the Right Professional Services for Your Business | 10:00a-11:30a |
| Tuesday, March 31 | Session 8: Becoming Bankable: Preparing to Access Capital | 9:00a-3:00p |
| Thursday, April 9 | Session 9: The Scale Up! Plan of Action | 9:00a-3:00p |
OUR SPONSORS
Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.