Assistance for Small Business

Business Development Partners

New Orleans Business Alliance (NOLABA) is New Orleans’ official economic development partnership and the hub of its business community.

Greater New Orleans, Inc. (GNO, Inc.) is regional economic development organization, serving as the catalyst for wealth creation in the 10-parish region of Southeastern Louisiana.

Louisiana Economic Development (LED) offers a comprehensive array of educational, managerial, and financial programs that cultivate small business opportunities.

Business Incubators and Accelerators for Entrepreneurs in New Orleans

Fund17 provides the tools and resources necessary to grow a hustle into a livelihood. 

Go.Be. (Formerly the Good Work Network) provides business development services to minority- and women-owned businesses throughout Southeast Louisiana. Good Work Network also operates the Chase Business Incubator for small, owner-operated businesses.

The Idea Village is an independent nonprofit with a mission to identify, support, and retain entrepreneurial talent in New Orleans. The Idea Village offers a number of accelerator programs and produces New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW).

Landing Zone is a nonprofit dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and veteran entrepreneurs grow their businesses through programs, co-working space, and other support.

LaunchPad is a membership organization that support start-up businesses using a collaborative approach. LaunchPad offers co-working space and educational programming.

PowerMoves.NOLA is a nonprofit dedicated to increase the number of venture-backed minority-founded companies locally and nationally. They offer a fellowship program, pitch competitions, and a boot camp.

Propeller is a nonprofit whose mission is to incubate and launch socially minded ventures. Propeller offers co-working space and accelerator services and hosts PitchNOLA.

Regional Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs)

A Shared Initiative, Inc. (ASII ) is a nonprofit dedicated to addressing two main issues: the lack of access to affordable capital for small business owners and micro-entrepreneurs and the barriers to sustainable homeownership in New Orleans.

ASI Federal Credit Union (ASI FCU) is nonprofit whose mission is to strengthen the financial health of underserved communities through education and financial services across Southeast Louisiana.

HOPE (Hope Enterprise Corporation/Hope Credit Union) is a CDFI that provides affordable financial products and services to families and businesses in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

NewCorp, Inc. is a CDFI specializing in small-, minority-, and women-owned businesses. NewCorp provides technical assistance and access to capital to small businesses in Greater New Orleans.

LiftFund is a CDFI whose mission is to provide credit and services to small businesses and entrepreneurs who do not have access to loans from commercial sources and to provide leadership and innovation to the microlending industry. LiftFund operates in many states.

Regional Loan Corporation is a nonprofit certified small business development company offering low interest financing for Louisiana businesses.

TruFund Financial Services, Inc. (TruFund) is a nonprofit seeking to stimulate economic development in communities that are underserved by traditional banking institutions by providing affordable capital, hands-on business assistance, and innovative solutions to small businesses and nonprofits in New York, Alabama, and Louisiana. 

New Orleans Nonprofits

The Art Council of New Orleans is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting and expanding opportunities for diverse artistic expression and bringing the community together in celebration of New Orleans’ rich, multicultural heritage. The Art Council administers grant funding for nonprofit art organizations in New Orleans.

The Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) is a multidisciplinary arts center dedicated to the presentation, production, and promotion of the art of our time. CAC offers financial services to assist cultural nonprofit and some for-profit entities.

The Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA) is a membership organization whose mission is to advance and protect Louisiana’s restaurant and foodservice industry. LRA offers training, workers’ compensation program, advocacy, and legal services.

StayLocal is a membership organization serving as Greater New Orleans’ Independent Business Alliance by connecting locally-owned, independent New Orleans businesses with customers, resources, and each other.

Technical Assistance for Business Owners

Louisiana’s Small Business Development Center Louisiana (LSBDC) provides no cost business consulting and technical assistance such as one-on-one consulting, training, and information to help business owners.

Dillard University Economic Development Corporation (CDC) provides business services, including an information resource center, computer literacy training, grant writing workshops, and tax services.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) - Louisiana District Office is an independent agency of the federal government created to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise, and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. SBA offers local workshops and technical assistance.

Louisiana Entrepreneur Assistance Portal (LEAP) is an easy-to-use online portal and database designed to connect Louisiana entrepreneurs with capital and resource providers in their communities.

SCORE is a respected association of volunteer business executives providing FREE or low-cost confidential, professional business advice, workshops and mentors to entrepreneurs and business owners.

Southern University at New Orleans Small Business Development & Management Institute (SBDMI at SUNO) offers workshops and free consulting services to fuel the establishment and growth of small businesses, primarily in New Orleans East.

Thrive New Orleans provides small business training and support through their initiative Launch NOLA.

Urban League of New Orleans Women’s Business Resource Center (WBRC) provides training, assistance, and resources to aspiring and existing entrepreneurs, including one-on-one counseling, training programs, financial analysis, and technology assistance.