Small and Minority Business Services

Diverse small-business ownership is essential to our region’s economic success. One Acadiana is committed to increasing Acadiana’s competitive advantage by supporting the growth of small and minority-owned businesses.

One Acadiana’s Lafayette Chamber Affairs program offers one-on-one counseling, direct services, and referrals to provide owners of small and minority-owned businesses the assistance needed to start, manage, and grow their enterprise.

One Acadiana offers the following business services, free of charge:

Business Formation and Registration

 

One Acadiana provides:

• Information on navigating the state’s business registration process for new businesses
• Assistance with developing operating and partnership agreements

Our referral partners include:

• CPAs and accounting firms for sales and employment tax account setup and bookkeeping
• Legal professionals for further assistance with partnership agreements, contracts, patents, and trademarks

 

Business Plans and Models

 

One Acadiana provides:

• Guidance on developing business plans using Small Business Administration (SBA) standards

Our referral partners include:

• Louisiana Small Business Development Center (LSBDC) for revisions to business plans
• Opportunity Machine (OM) for help with structuring the appropriate business model

 

Certifications & Government Contract Assistance

 

One Acadiana provides:

• Assistance with obtaining various certifications, including:
• DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise)
• MBE (Minority Business Enterprise)
• Small & Emerging Business Certification
• Hudson Initiative
• Assistance in creating Statements of Capability and other documentation needed to obtain procurement opportunities

Our referral partners include:

• Louisiana Procurement Technical Assistance Center (LAPTAC) for further technical assistance with government contracting