LSBDC offers assistance to small businesses

The Louisiana Small Business Development Center is providing the opportunity for small business owners in the Northshore area to receive free business counseling and attend seminars to help build the skills and knowledge necessary to maintain a thriving business. “We do a lot of outreach all over the Northshore,” said Wayne Ricks, senior business consultant at LSBDC. “We operate in five parishes: St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, St. Helena, Livingston and Washington Parish. We have outreaches where we go to counsel small businesses, whether they are a start up businesses or existing businesses that need help with marketing, or anything to help them grow their business. We also offer training seminars in those areas as well. Those seminars are on all different kinds of topics as well, from financing small businesses all the way to using social media.” According to Ricks, the LSBDC’s outreach programs are a great asset to local businesses. The resources provided by the LSBDC benefit not only business owners who seek their assistance, but benefit all who live in the Northshore. Ricks said a thriving economy promotes a thriving community.   “We counsel an average of 400 people per year,” said Ricks. “There is a huge demand for what we do. Really, what we do by helping those businesses grow is creating a vibrant economy. The key to what we do is assisting these businesses in becoming healthy and growing, and we’re creating a better economy here on the Northshore.” The LSBDC website cites