McNeese LSBDC Recognized as Top SBDC in State and Region

McNeese State University’s Louisiana Small Business Development Center (LSBDC) has received the 2019 Service Excellence and Innovation Center Award for the state and region at the annual Louisiana Small Business Awards.

Presented by Louisiana Economic Development and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the award recognizes the LSBDC as the top business center in Louisiana and the SBA’s Region VI, an area that includes Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and New Mexico.

According to SBA Louisiana District Director Mike Ricks, the LSBDC at McNeese sets the standard for working with community and business development partners in Lake Charles and throughout the southwest.

“The staff at McNeese’s LSBDC is dedicated to delivering effective assistance and quality service to their clients and the small business community,” Ricks says.

During 2017-18, the LSBDC at McNeese helped start 18 businesses, create over 100 jobs and secure over $14.7 million in capital, while also conducting over 30 community workshops for more than 500 participants.

 “Winning is an honor and a tribute to the small business owners we serve, acknowledging their hard work and success,” McNeese LSBDC Director Donna Little says. “We value the trust of our clients as we help them work through everything it takes to run a small business. I appreciate the support of McNeese as we strive to grow Southwest Louisiana.”

Since 2006, the LSBDC has helped clients start 242 businesses, create 723 jobs and secure $62.34 million in capital. Almost 6,700 individuals have taken advantage of training offered by the LSBDC at McNeese.