VP Rotary: Melancon shares LSBDC update

Rotarian Wayne Vidrine invited Heidi Melancon, director with the Louisiana Small Business Development Center (LSBDC), to address the January 11 meeting of the Ville Platte Rotary Club.
Melancon gave an update on the services they provide to area local new small start up businesses. LSBDC is located on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette campus in Lafayette and services are provided to businesses across the state. Melancon said her job is to help the business owners bring their visions to life on paper, and she enjoys being able to use her gift to help others. She recalled, “During (hurricanes) Katrina and Rita, they advertised for a business consultant and I walked into my life’s work. I found where my creativity comes from - articulating somebody’s idea for wanting to buy or expand a business. I think I do that very well on paper and I love to write business plans.” She continued, “When you can help people understand what they want to do and bring it alive on paper, that is really where the foundation of their business starts.”
The organization wears many hats, including disaster federal funding, technical assistance, training and counseling new business owners and their staffs. There are several loan packages available for business owners to chose from and the organization is given a budget and goals for each year. Melancon stated the state government cannot take the funds without matching them. She also said they are partnered with the SBA (Small Business Association) and Louisiana Economic Development. Melancon stated there are 10 centers located throughout the state, and they offer one on one counseling, as well as training. The Lafayette center is located on campus, and Melancon shared this is a great opportunity for graduate students to learn about it and get real life experience.
While working with local business owners, the goal is to promote small business programs and make them aware of the many options available to assist them in getting started. Melancon states LSBDC helps clients understand the banking side and bring their visions and ideas down to a fundable level by managing expectations.
The LSBDC also assists with business development, research and helping create a business model to demonstrate and prove the viability of the new business to present to the banks when applying for available funding.
Rotarian Brian Ardoin vouched for the organization’s services, saying, “I have used them in every capacity and they helped me spruce up my business plan. I share this organization with everyone to help others get started.”
Also during the meeting, Secretary Renee Brown reminded members that a tour of the State Capital in Baton Rouge, followed by lunch at the Pentagon Barracks, will be held Wednesday, April 6, 2022. The tour will begin at 10 a.m., and lunch will follow. Representative Rhonda Butler will host the tour, which is open to members of the Evangeline Parish and St. Landry Parish chambers of commerce, as well as members of the Ville Platte Rotary Club. Brown stated the deadline to register and RSVP via email is March 30, and more information about the visit will be forthcoming.
The next meeting will be held January 18, 2022, with Rotarian Trisha Ward presenting the program.