Lafayette, LA – Today, One Acadiana announced a partnership with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI); The Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC); Greater New Orleans, Inc. (GNO, Inc.); the Louisiana chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB); and the Louisiana Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (LACCE) to establish the Louisiana Small Business Rebirth Fund.
The full impact of recent flooding across South Louisiana remains to be calculated. U.S. Census data indicates that more than 50,000 businesses and 590,000 employees across the state could have been impacted. It is expected that actual numbers will increase as damage calculations are confirmed.
The Rebirth Fund was created to provide small grants to support the thousands of small businesses impacted by the historic flooding in Acadia, Ascension, Avoyelles, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jeff Davis, Lafayette, Livingston, Point Coupee, St. Helena, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Vermilion, Washington, and West Feliciana parishes.
Eligible small businesses must be located within one of the 20 parishes included in the federal disaster declaration area, have 50 or fewer employees, and have been in business on August 10, 2016.
Those interested in contributing to the Louisiana Small Business Rebirth Fund are encouraged to visit www.LaBizRebirth.org for additional information. Information about donating to the fund will also be accessible on the websites of each participating business organization. The application process has not yet been finalized, but those interested should sign up to receive notification when the application is available.
An independent committee with technical, accounting, and legal expertise will review applications and prioritize grants to affected businesses.
Originally announced by LABI as the Louisiana Small Business Disaster Relief Fund, the Fund has been expanded and rebranded as the Louisiana Small Business Rebirth Fund to reflect its evergreen status to assist small businesses anywhere in the state following disasters.
“Following historic flooding in South Louisiana, we are focused on providing resources and information to impacted businesses to help them get back on their feet, open their doors, and serve our community,” said Jason El Koubi, President & CEO of One Acadiana. “We are pleased to partner with chamber and economic development allies across the state on this crucial initiative.”
Donate and learn more at www.LaBizRebirth.org.