Small Business Opportunity Program

 

Program Focus

This program is designed to assist individuals and businesses seeking to do business with the City of Lake Charles.  The city will grow and prosper with a strong and diverse economic infrastructure that rests heavily upon the full participation and inclusion of all segments of our community.  The city strives to create an environment and process that promotes equal access and increased opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses.  The program is race and gender neutral. 

If you would like to be included in the SBOP database please complete and submit the Small Business and/or Disadvantaged Small Business Enterprise Declaration Form. (click here)

How to do Business with the City of Lake Charles

Small Business 

In order to be certified as a SBE your business must be:

  • a business organized for profit, performing a commercially useful function
  • independently owned and controlled
  • averaging annual gross receipts of $750,000 or less over the last three year period

View the list of Small Business Enterprises (click here)

Disadvantaged Small Business

Economically disadvantaged individuals are socially disadvantaged individuals whose ability to compete in the free enterprise system has been impaired due to diminished capital and credit opportunities as compared to others in the same or similar line of business who are not socially disadvantaged.

Socially disadvantaged individuals are those who have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias within American society because of their identities as members of groups and without regard to their individual qualities.  There is a rebuttable presumption that the following individuals are socially disadvantaged:  Black Americans; Hispanic Americans; Native Americans, Asian Pacific Americans.

View a list of Disadvantaged Small Business Enterprises (click here)

Agencies for Certification and Registration

LA DOTD UCP (Unified Certification Program) – UCPHome (louisiana.gov)

Small Business Administration – www.sba.gov

U. S. Department of Transportation – www.transportation.gov

Links for Training and Information

Louisiana Small Business Development Center – www.louisianasbdc.org.

SWLA Economic Alliance – www.allianceswla.org

Henning SEED Center – www.seedcenterswla.com