Louisiana Veterans Small Business Services
03/26/2024
 By Louisiana Economic Development
Louisiana’s Hudson and Veteran Initiatives are certification programs tailored to assist qualified small and veteran-owned businesses in Louisiana access purchasing and contracting opportunities at the state government level. State agencies are strongly encouraged to seek quotes from and engage Hudson and Veteran certified companies whenever possible. Upon certification, information about Hudson and Veteran certified companies becomes readily accessible to state purchasing agents and prime contractors seeking subcontractors.  State agencies can waive the requirement of getting additional quotes if a certified company submits a quote for purchases under $30,000. Furthermore, certified companies stand to benefit from an additional allocation of evaluation points—ten percent for Hudson Initiative businesses and twelve percent for Veteran Initiative—on bids for Request for Proposals (RFPs). Prime contractors who enlist a certified company as a subcontractor for an RFP bid may also be eligible for additional percentage points on their bid.
Louisiana Veterans First Business Initiative was established to pay tribute to the sacrifices made by Louisiana veterans, acknowledging businesses owned by veterans, active-duty or reserve military personnel, and Gold Star spouses.
 This initiative offers an opportunity for veterans, active-duty or reserve military members, or Gold Star spouses with majority ownership in a business to apply for certification, thereby promoting and recognizing their businesses. Certified business owners will receive an insignia, decal, and certificate to use in promoting their veteran-owned business. Moreover, the program includes a searchable database for individuals seeking to support veteran, active-duty or reserve military, or Gold Star spouse businesses.
To certify your business, simply complete the online process at www.laveteransfirst.org or visit one of the Louisiana Department of Veteran Affairs Parish Service Offices and submit the required documentation.
Pathway to Assist Veteran Entrepreneurs (PAVE) offers an array of resources designed to support Louisiana veterans in launching and managing successful businesses. The program is a collaboration between Louisiana Economic Development, Louisiana Small Business Development Center Network, Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, and Louisiana National Guard. PAVE is tailored to meet the needs of veteran entrepreneurs.
The initial stage of the PAVE program involves three self-paced online courses that cover essential topics such as business startup, financing options, and sales strategy development.
Following the completion of these courses, veterans can enroll in a virtual boot camp hosted by the Louisiana Small Business Development Center. During the boot camp, experienced instructors assist veterans in evaluating the feasibility of their business plans and provide insights into valuable business resources, including those tailored specifically for veteran-owned enterprises.
Upon graduating from the boot camp, veterans are paired with a consultant who offers ongoing support and guidance to help them navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship in the long term.
Contact Information
For more information about Hudson and Veteran Initiatives, contact Tatiana Bruce at Tatiana.Bruce@la.gov or Camille Campbell at Camille.Campbell@la.gov .
For more information about Louisiana Veterans First Business Initiative, contact louisianaveteransfirst@la.gov .
For more information about Pathway to Assist Veteran Entrepreneurs (PAVE), contact Stephanie Hartman at Stephanie.Hartman@la.gov .
About Louisiana Economic Development (LED)
Louisiana Economic Development is responsible for strengthening the state’s business environment and creating a more vibrant economy. It is the only state agency in the United States accredited by the International Economic Development Council, boasting award-winning programs like LED FastStart, a longtime national leader in customized workforce development. LED also supports a wide range of higher ed partnerships that Business Facilities magazine recently credited for Louisiana’s ranking as the Number One Tech Talent Pipeline in the United States. In 2023, LED attracted more than $25 billion of capital investment resulting in the creation of 19,000 potential new and retained jobs. Explore how LED cultivates jobs and economic opportunity for the people of Louisiana and employers of all sizes at OpportunityLouisiana.com.
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