LSBDC at UL Lafayette

10/12/2026

GROW LA is coming to Ville Platte! 🌱

Small farmers and small business owners are invited to join the Southern University Ag Center and our partners for two FREE sessions designed to strengthen businesses, connect participants with valuable resources, and provide hands-on technical assistance.

📍 Ville Platte Civic Center – Northside
📅 October 21 & October 28
⏰ 11 AM–1 PM

Participants will learn about business formation, registration and compliance, USDA programs and resources, and receive one-on-one assistance to help move their businesses forward.

Lunch will be provided during both sessions, courtesy of Mayor Ryan Williams.

GROW LA: Growing Rural Opportunities through Workforce & Business Development, Louisiana

Every Farm is a Business.

📲 Scan the QR code on the flyer to register!

06/01/2026

04/28/2026

Thank you St. Landry Economic Development for hosting our AI Coffee Talk. We had a very engaging discussion about how small business owners can use AI tools to save time in their businesses.

If you missed it and want to learn more, you can reach out to your local Louisiana Small Business Development Center (LSBDC) to request a no-cost consultation with one of our consultants.

04/23/2026

The LSBDC at University of Louisiana at Lafayette is looking for a Business Consultant to join our mission-driven team.

We need a collaborative professional with consulting experience and a deep understanding of business finance. You will play a vital role in helping Acadiana entrepreneurs navigate financial statements and build "bank-ready" loan packages to fuel their growth.

If you are a strategic problem-solver looking to make a tangible impact on our local economy, we want to hear from you.

Apply via the link in the comments.

04/08/2026

Thank you to the Rotary Club of Lafayette South for welcoming LSBDC Center Director Ryan Devillier as a guest speaker! Ryan enjoyed sharing how our center helps aspiring and existing entrepreneurs grow and succeed across Acadiana.

This morning we had the opportunity to hear an outstanding presentation from Ryan Devillier on the impact of the Louisiana Small Business Development Center at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Ryan shared how the SBDC is helping entrepreneurs and small business owners across Acadiana start, grow, and strengthen their businesses. The numbers alone show the impact being made:

-472 clients served
-1,850 counseling hours provided
-35 new businesses started
-$2.7 million in capital infusion

Programs like this are vital to the continued growth of our local economy and the success of small businesses throughout our region.

Thank you, Ryan, for sharing how the SBDC is helping move Acadiana forward.

Service Above Self.

03/16/2026

Come join us for a cup of coffee with St. Landry Economic Development and learn about AI uses in small business.

☕🤖 NEW EVENT: AI Coffee Talk – From Curiosity to Confidence

Have you been hearing about Artificial Intelligence but wondering what it actually is and how people are using it?

St. Landry Economic Development, in partnership with the LSBDC at UL Lafayette, invites the community to join us for AI Coffee Talk.

Come by for a cup of coffee and a one hour introduction to AI tools like ChatGPT and other technologies that are helping people save time, improve marketing, and streamline everyday tasks.

This session is beginner friendly and open to everyone, whether you're a business owner, professional, student, or simply curious about Artificial Intelligence.

Leave feeling confident and ready to start experimenting with AI in your daily work or business.

📅 Tuesday, April 28, 2026
⏰ 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM
📍 St. Landry Economic Development Office

☕ Stop by before work, grab a cup of coffee, and learn something new!

🔗Register today: https://www2.lsbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=8460017

💬 Tag someone who should join you for coffee and conversation about AI.

01/22/2026

👷 Louisiana contractors (and future contractors)… this training is for YOU.

The LCAI General Contractors Virtual Seminar helps you strengthen key construction knowledge so you can manage projects with more confidence, reduce costly issues, and keep more profit on every job.

📚 What you’ll learn includes:
✔️ print reading + calculations
✔️ site work + foundations
✔️ concrete, masonry, steel, roofing
✔️ safety codes + special construction

📌 Program Info: http://opportunitylouisiana.com/LCAI-GC
📝 Register Here: Fletcher.edu/programs/workforce-training/LCAI

Louisiana Economic Development

12/17/2025

🌱 St. Mary Parish business owners—ready to build on what you’ve started?

The Shell LiveWire Louisiana Accelerator Program is a free, 9-week program designed to help entrepreneurs strengthen operations, sharpen strategy, and grow with confidence.

✔ All industries welcome
✔ Ideal for owners learning as they go
✔ No cost to apply or participate

🗓 Applications close January 26, 2026
👉 www.shell.us/livewire

11/21/2025

Our annual tax update seminar is here! Join us for the 2025 Virtual Tax Updates for Practitioners, presented by the Louisiana Department of Revenue.

This session will walk you through the latest Louisiana tax changes—from income and franchise tax updates to sales tax changes, digital products, e-file mandates, and more—so you can head into 2025 confident and prepared.

📅 Day One: LDR Updates
💻 Virtual workshop
🔗 Register here: https://www2.lsbdc.org/reg.aspx?mode=event&event=10450052

Keep an eye out for Day Two: IRS Updates — coming soon!

11/20/2025

Success Story Spotlight 🚀

Meet Stephen Shaw, founder of Shaw Solutions Tutoring & ACT Prep. With help from the LSBDC, Stephen gained access to relevant, actionable insights that he could implement immediately.

Want to experience the same expert guidance that helped Stephen? Join Michelle Cullison's class TOMORROW (11/20): "Marketing with AI: Turn 5 Hours of Marketing Copywriting Into 30 Minutes with Claude." Register now: https://www2.lsbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=2450120

Ready to start your own journey? We are here to help. Reach out to your local LSBDC to get started. https://louisianasbdc.org/Locations