Microenterprise Development Program

Louisiana Economic Development (LED), in conjunction with the Louisiana Department of Social Services, created the Microenterprise Development Program to provide self-employment training that gives entrepreneurs the competitive advantage they need to succeed.

Working with partners across the state, the program begins with a comprehensive assessment. Once complete, participants begin a two-to-three month business development course that includes entrepreneurship training, personal effectiveness, financial literacy and technical assistance. Part of the course also includes writing a business plan.

Upon successful completion of the program and application process, participants become eligible to apply for seed funding to assist in supplementing business startup costs.

MED IN LOUISIANA HELPS TO:

• Provide an innovative path out of poverty
• Create self-sufficiency
• Improve the survival rate of microenterprise businesses
• Improve employment skills
• Promote economic development

IMPORTANT FACTS:

• Microenterprise Development is a strong public investment with estimated returns of $2.06 to $2.72 for every dollar invested.
• Microenterprise Development offers moderate and low-income individuals a viable alternative to minimum-wage labor and public assistance.
• Microenterprise businesses assisted through MED programs have high survival rates of 57 to 90 percent over five years.
• Of the 554 documented MED programs in the United States, 60 percent serve rural areas.
• Nearly 21 million microenterprise businesses exist in the United States, representing nearly 17 percent of all private employment in the nation.
• Louisiana has more than 292,000 microenterprise businesses, accounting for 16 percent of all employment in state.
• Louisiana's microenterprise businesses contribute $10 billion in annual revenues to the state's economy.

YOU QUALIFY FOR THE MICROENTERPRISE PROGRAM IF:

• You are a parent or related caretaker of children who meet certain age requirements.
• You receive FITAP, KCSP payments, free/reduced school lunch, food stamps, Medicaid or LaChip.
• Your family income is no more than 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

For more details on how the program works, please click here.

For more information on the Microenterprise Development Program call LED at 225.342.5667 or visit one of the centers below.

MICROENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM LOCAL PARTNERS

Renewal, Inc.
Primary Contact: Erica Kelly
Phone: (318) 387-0686
513 Sunnyside Dr. Monroe, LA 71202
renewalempowerment@hotmail.com  

Southwest Louisiana Partnership for Economic Development (SWLAPED)
Primary Contact: Adrian Wallace
Phone: (337) 433-3632
Fax: (337) 436-3727
120 West Pujo St. Lake Charles, LA 70602
awallace@allianceswla.org

Good Work Network
Primary Contact: Phyllis Cassidy
Phone: (504) 309-2073
Fax: (504) 309-2090
1824 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70113
Phyllis@goodworknetwork.org

Microbusiness Enterprise Corporation of Ascension (MBECA)
Primary Contact: Lee Melancon
Phone: (225) 268-9610
Fax: (225) 752-4855
719 S. Burnside Ste B, Gonzales, LA 70737
mbeca@mbeca.org

Shreveport-Bossier African American Chamber of Commerce:
Primary Contact: Zazell Dudley
Phone: (318) 459-1440
Phone for public: (318) 220-9098
Fax: (318) 459-1439
1315 Milam St. Shreveport, LA 71101
avdudley@dudleyenterprises.com