Lake Charles, LA (KPLC) – Lake Charles Launch Small Business Development Week kicked off today. The goal of “LC Launch” is to educate aspiring and current entrepreneurs about the resources available to help them succeed.
“The reason we’re in Lake Charles today is actually to help expose our local business community to small business initiatives and opportunities to help grow, sustain and hopefully expand their businesses throughout the state of Louisiana,” said Kelisha Garrett, President of Operations and Government Relations Louisiana Chamber of Commerce.
In the past 2 years, 10.5 million small business applications have been submitted across the United States.
“Louisiana ranks 26 out of 50 in the number of small business applications,” said Ted James, US Small Business Association Regional Administrator. “Last year in 2022, we saw over 80,000 small business applications. So that tells us that obviously we have to work extremely hard with mayors like Mayor Hunter because he’s so committed to building a strong small business ecosystem.”
“Government can’t accomplish the greatest things, the greatest things are accomplished when government works with the private sector, with non-profits, with the faith-based organizations to make things happen,” said Mayor Nic Hunter. “I really believe that.”
Sulfur firefighter and entrepreneur Michael Thomas started a 360-degree photo booth company called Starlight 360 Photos. He says the biggest challenge in starting a business is direction.
“Direction; you started and you have nowhere to go after that, there are so many steps,” Thomas said. “So just figuring out where the best way to go is and then like I said how you get your name out.”
For a schedule of “LC Launch” events, CLICK HERE.
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