Hurricane Francine response

State automatically grants filing and payment extensions

The Louisiana Department of Revenue (LDR) has automatically granted filing and payment extensions to taxpayers whose homes, principal places of business, critical tax records or paid tax preparers are located in the federally declared disaster areas (all 64 parishes) brought on by Hurricane Francine, including Terrebonne Parish.

The measure applies to individual, fiduciary and partnership income tax, corporate income tax, corporation franchise tax, income and franchise tax payments, estimated income tax payments, withholding tax payments, sales tax returns and payments, and severance and excise taxes.

The extensions are based on the taxpayer's location address on file with LDR. If a taxpayer's address is not within Louisiana, the taxpayer may still be eligible for interest and penalty relief even though an automatic extension did not apply.

Extensions do not apply for any return or tax that was due prior to Sept. 11, 2024. For specific information on each type of taxes, click here.

SBA opens Disaster Recovery Center in Gray

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has opened its Business Recovery Center at the North Branch of Terrebonne Parish Library to help businesses get back on their feet. A second recovery center is open at St. Mary Parish Chamber of Commerce in Morgan City.

Businesses of any size can borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets not fully covered by insurance. Economic injury loans are also available to meet working capital needs caused by the disaster, whether or not the business suffered any physical damage.

Interest rates can be as low as 4 percent for businesses, 3.25 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 2.813 percent for homeowners and renters -- with terms up to 30 years. Loan terms are determined by the applicant's financial condition. Interest does not begin to accrue until 12 months from the first loan disbursement.

The deadline to apply for a property damage loan is Nov. 18, 2024; June 16, 2025 is the deadline for economic injury applications.

Local input sought for transportation plan by SCPDC

Public meetings to gather input for Destination 2050, the long-term transportation vision for Terrebonne, Lafourche and Assumption parishes, will be held Oct. 1 and Oct. 9.

The first will be conducted 5-6:45 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1 at the Lafourche Parish Library - Thibodaux Branch's Activity Room, 705 W. Fifth St. in Thibodaux.

The second will be 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9 in the Terrebonne Public Library Main Branch's Large Meeting Room, 151 Library Drive in Houma.

Transportation needs such as road and sidewalk improvements, bike paths, public transit and other topics are being sought for the Metropolitan Transportation Plan, a comprehensive roadmap for addressing transportation needs. Having the plan enables pursuit of federal grants to help bring those projects to fruition.

SBA offers free Cyber Summit 2024 Oct. 16 and 23

Get hands-on advice, interactive forensic assessments and hear from cyber-expert panelists discussing local and federal resources to help keep your business safe from cyber threats in the SBA's third-annual Cyber Summit, noon-4 p.m. Oct. 16 and 23.

Learn best practices for employee training and incident response, protective measures against common threats, tools and techniques for protecting your digital assets including encryption, and understanding how to conduct a cybersecurity risk assessment.

Register for this free online event here.

CTAC adds services to support Louisiana businesses

The Coastal Technical Assistance Center has expanded its suite of services to support Louisiana-based businesses. Those services include enhanced personalized business counseling, partner information, client spotlights, coastal award results and improved resources.

CTAC clients interested in the new services can learn by visiting the website or emailing admin@louisianactac.org.

Nicholls and Fletcher's upcoming career fairs

Nicholls State University's All Majors Career Fair will be 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16. Register your company for participation here. For questions, contact katherine.mabile@nicholls.edu or call 985-448-4109.

Fletcher Technical Community College will conduct its All-Majors Career & Job Fair 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6 in the Schriever Campus Atrium. Register your company by clicking here.

Business groups announce October events

Oct. 15 -- American Petroleum Institute featured at SCIA luncheon

Jordan Christman, director of Federal Relations for the American Petroleum Institute, will speak at South Central Industrial Association's luncheon and networking, 11:15 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, at Cypress Columns. Cost is $30; registration and pre-payment required. Register by contacting kathy@sciaonline.net or calling 985-851-2201.

Oct. 17 -- LEADERtique featured for WBA luncheon

Tonya Harris, owner of LEADERtique Leadership Boutique, will speak at the Women's Business Alliance of the Bayou Region's luncheon, noon Thursday, Oct. 17 at the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce, 6133 Hwy. 311 in Houma. Register as a member ($25) or prospective members ($30) here or by calling 985-876-5600.

Oc.t 22 -- La. Dept. of Veterans Affairs featured at Chamber event

The Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce welcomes Carlton Meginley, Secretary Colonel of Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs to speak at the Oct. 22 general membership luncheon at the Regional Military Museum, 1154 Barrow St. in Houma. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m. Cost is $25 for members; $35 for non-members. Register here.

Contractor business and law seminar starts Oct. 7

Anyone preparing to launch a new construction business or wishing to expand construction knowledge can now register for Louisiana Economic Development's Louisiana Contractors Accreditation Business and Law Seminar which runs Oct. 7-Nov. 13.

The six-week course teaches about construction management and operations, including such topics as the bid process, contract and equipment management, estimating, scheduling, occupational safety, risk management, financial and business management, bonding, certifications and more.

The course will meet 6-8 p.m. Monday and Wednesday nights via web-based conferencing. To register, click here; cost is $206.28. Have questions? Email glenda.lecompte@fletcher.edu.

Free online trainings for small businesses available

The Louisiana Small Business Development Center offers free online trainings for startup and existing businesses on various topics, including:

• "Digital Advertising: Strategies for Success" at 10-11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9. Register here.
• "Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)" and how it affects government contracting at 10 a.m.-noon Tuesday, Oct. 15. Register here.
• "Small Business 101" 10:30 a.m.- noon Friday, Oct. 18. Register here.
• "Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE) Hands On Training" 10 a.m.-noon Thursday, Oct. 24. Register here.

Find more training opportunities here.