Business Certifications
Business Certifications are key to establishing credibility in your industry and with your customers. LSBDC can assist you through the process of becoming an owner of a certified business.
Places:
A Louisiana Economic Development Certified Site is a development-ready industrial site that has completed a rigorous review process by Louisiana Economic Development and an independent, third-party engineering firm.
A Louisiana Economic Development Certified Business Site is a development-ready business site that is suitable for a business park, mixed use development, or Planned Unit Development (PUD).
Federal:
To help provide a level playing field for small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged people or entities, the government limits competition for certain contracts to businesses that participate in the 8(a) Business Development program.
To help provide a level playing field for women business owners, the government limits competition for certain contracts to businesses that participate in the women’s contracting program.
The business must be small according to the SBA standard for its industry (NAICS code).
The business is not less than 51% owned and controlled by a service-disabled Veteran(s) who has a service connected disability that has been determined by the Department of Veterans Affairs or Department of Defense.
Economically Disadvantaged woman-owned
The business meets all the requirements of the women’s contracting program; is owned and controlled by one or more women, each with a personal net worth less than $750,000; is owned and controlled by one or more women, each with $350,000 or less in adjusted gross income averaged over the previous three years; is owned and controlled by one or more women, each $6 million or less in personal assets.
This certification fuels small business growth in historically underutilized business zones with a goal of awarding at least three percent of federal contract dollars to HUBZone-certified companies each year.
Small Disadvantaged Businesses certified
The business is not less than 51% unconditionally and directly owned and controlled by one or more socially disadvantaged individuals who are US citizens and are economically disadvantaged
Service-disabled veteran owned certified
The business is not less than 51% owned and controlled by a service-disabled Veteran(s) who has a service connected disability that has been determined by the Department of Veterans Affairs or Department of Defense. The government limits competition for certain contracts to businesses that participate in the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business program.
B Corp Certification is the only certification that measures a company’s entire social and environmental performance.
The LEED plaque on a building is a mark of quality and achievement in green building.
State:
The product must be made, grown, manufactured, processed, produced or substantially transformed in the state of Louisiana.
Small & Emerging Business Development (SEBD)
This certification provides the managerial and technical assistance training needed to grow and sustain a small business.
The product must be representative of the culture that is generally of Acadian descent and at least fifty percent of the product must be made, grown, produced, manufactured, processed or packed in Louisiana.
At least fifty percent of the product must be made, grown, produced, manufactured, processed or packed in Louisiana and shall be of Creole heritage to be eligible.
The craft beverage product must be crafted, bottled, brewed, vinified and/or distilled in the State of Louisiana.
Certified Farm to Table logo program
The product must be grown, caught or raised in the state of Louisiana to be eligible.
This is a certification program that is designed to help eligible Louisiana Veteran-owned and Service-Connected Disabled-Veteran-owned small businesses gain greater access to purchasing and contracting opportunities that are available at the state government level.