Small Business Grants in Louisiana
Louisiana Economic Development runs almost everything here. Most of it is not cash.
Louisiana Economic Development runs almost everything here. Most of it is not cash. Several cards are free training or a state certification. One is equity. The real grant money sits in two places. HIP pays back 18 percent of the wages on a new job that pays 125 percent of the parish average. The rate is 22 percent at 150 percent. In the poorest quarter of parishes it is 8 percent at a lower bar. STEP repays 90 percent of export costs, up to $10,000. Check the type on each card first.
Which Louisiana grants fit your business?
Answer 7 quick questions and we sort the 12 programs on this page into likely fits and long shots. Nothing personal is asked or stored, and final eligibility is always decided by the granting agency.
Louisiana Small Business Grant Programs
State-administered funding programs available to Louisiana small businesses. Verify deadlines directly with the granting agency before applying.
High-Impact Jobs Program (HIP)
Louisiana Economic Development
18% of wages at 125% of the parish average, 22% at 150%, 8% in distressed areas
RollingReimbursable grants for creating new jobs that pay above the parish average wage. The rate rises with the wage. Companies of any size can apply with one qualifying job. Sole proprietorships cannot.
STEP Grant (State Trade Expansion Program)
Louisiana Economic Development
Up to $10,000 (90% reimbursement)
RollingRepays Louisiana small businesses for trade shows, trade missions, export training and international marketing. You must be based in Louisiana. One year in business is the floor.
SSBCI Venture Capital and Seed Capital Programs
Louisiana Economic Development Corporation (LEDC)
$91.5M pooled across two equity programs, not a per business cap
RollingFederal capital that Louisiana lends and invests through private partners. The equity side buys a stake in high growth startups. The loan side backs borrowing with collateral support and guarantees. None of it is a grant.
Small and Emerging Business Development (SEBD) Program
Louisiana Economic Development
Free technical assistance and training
RollingFree certification that unlocks LED training, roundtables and expert help. It also opens state procurement. Owners must hold personal net worth under $400,000. Business net worth must stay under $1.5 million.
LED FastStart
Louisiana Economic Development
Free customized workforce services
RollingNationally ranked workforce development program that provides customized employee recruitment, screening, and training for eligible new or expanding companies at no cost.
Hudson Initiative
Louisiana Economic Development
10% extra evaluation points on state RFPs
RollingA race- and gender-neutral certification program that helps eligible Louisiana small businesses gain greater access to state government purchasing and contracting opportunities.
Veteran Initiative (LaVetBiz)
Louisiana Economic Development
12% extra evaluation points on state RFPs
RollingCertification program for veteran-owned and service-connected disabled veteran-owned small businesses, providing greater access to state contracting and purchasing opportunities.
Louisiana Innovation Retention Grant (IRG)
Louisiana Economic Development
Up to $100,000 when a round is open
Deadline Jun 30, 2024Supplementary state money for Louisiana firms that won a federal SBIR or STTR award. Built to keep STEM startups in state. It runs in funded rounds, not continuously.
Federal Grant Programs
These federal programs are available to small businesses in every state.
SBA 7(a) Loan Program
The SBA's primary lending program guarantees loans through participating lenders. This is a loan, not a grant. But the terms favor small businesses that may not qualify for conventional financing.
Learn moreSBA Microloan Program
Loans up to $50,000, not grants. You borrow from a nonprofit lender near you, not from the SBA itself. The money can cover working capital, inventory, supplies or equipment. Most people get far less than the cap. The average microloan is about $13,000.
Learn moreSBIR/STTR Grants
Competitive federal grants for small businesses doing research and development with commercial potential. Eleven federal agencies take part. Phase I funds proof of concept. Phase II funds full development.
Learn moreMinority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Programs
Help for minority owned businesses that need capital, contracts or new markets. MBDA runs business centers around the country. They give advice, help with bids, and point you toward lenders.
Learn moreGet Grant-Ready
Before you apply, most Louisiana grant programs expect these basics to be in place.
Form your business entity
Most Louisiana grant programs require applicants to be a registered LLC, corporation, or nonprofit. If you haven't formed yet, that's the first step.
$39 + state fee. Includes registered agent, business address, and more.
Get your EIN
An Employer Identification Number is free from the IRS and required on nearly every grant application. You can apply online and receive it immediately.
Open a business bank account
Grant funds need to go into a dedicated business account, not your personal checking. Most agencies will ask for your banking details on the application.
Mercury is a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC.
Grants by Business Type
Targeted programs for specific business owners in Louisiana.
Veteran-owned Business Grants
Louisiana backs veteran owners well. The Veteran Initiative adds 12 percent to your score on a state tender. Certification is free. The Veterans First Business Initiative and the PAVE training programme sit alongside it. None of the three hands you cash.
- ›Veteran Initiative (LaVetBiz)
- ›Veterans First Business Initiative
- ›PAVE
Technology/Innovation Business Grants
Research startups have fewer state doors than they did. The Innovation Retention Grant paid up to $100,000 to SBIR and STTR winners. Its last round closed on 30 June 2024. LED has opened none since. The Louisiana Technology Transfer Office still helps. It pays $3,000 or $5,000 towards writing your next federal bid. SSBCI seed and venture money is separate. It buys a stake in your company.
- ›Louisiana Technology Transfer Office
- ›SSBCI Venture Capital and Seed Capital Programs
Women-owned Business Grants
LED runs its programmes race and gender neutral. No state grant targets women owners. Women's Business Enterprise certification runs through WBEC South. The Louisiana SBDC adds free training on top.
- ›WBEC South
- ›Louisiana SBDC
Minority-owned Business Grants
The same rule applies here. Minority owners can take MBE certification through the Louisiana Minority Supplier Development Council. SBA 8(a) and DBE status help with federal contracts. None of them is money.
- ›Louisiana Minority Supplier Development Council
- ›SBA 8(a)
Rural Business Grants
Rural owners have fewer doors. LED's Rural Entrepreneurship Initiative offers peer learning for second stage firms. It is coaching, not money. USDA Rural Business Development Grants do reach the state, but a for profit firm cannot apply for one directly. HIP is the exception that helps here, because its 8 percent rate is aimed at the poorest quarter of parishes.
- ›Rural Entrepreneurship Initiative
- ›High-Impact Jobs Program (HIP)
- ›USDA Rural Development
Tips for Applying in Louisiana
Increase your chances of approval with these state-specific tips.
- 1Register your business on the Louisiana SMALLBIZ System at ledsmallbiz.com. That portal is required for the Hudson Initiative, the Veteran Initiative and SEBD certification.
- 2Get SEBD certified first. It is free, it lasts five years, and it opens LED roundtables, training and procurement. Personal net worth must be under $400,000, and your home and retirement accounts do not count.
- 3For STEP, apply through the FastLane portal. You need a year in business and at least 51 percent US content in what you sell.
- 4Budget for the HIP fees. LED charges an application fee and takes a deposit for the CPA verification report before it reviews anything, so HIP costs you money before it pays you any.
- 5Apply to HIP before you hire, not after. Sole traders are shut out. The contract cannot start before the day LED has your application and fees, and it cannot start later than 180 days after that.
- 6Do not plan around the Innovation Retention Grant. LED has opened no round since June 2024 and its programme page is gone. Call the Louisiana Technology Transfer Office instead if you hold an SBIR or STTR award.
State Economic Development Agency
Louisiana Economic Development (LED)
LED runs Louisiana's business incentives and its small business certifications. FastStart handles workforce training. LED says on its own site that it has no open ended grants for small businesses.
Funding While You Wait
Grant applications in Louisiana can take weeks or months to process. These options can bridge the gap.
Grants in Other States
All state grant guidesFrequently Asked Questions
Yes, but the list is short. HIP pays back 18 percent of the wages on a new job that pays 125 percent of the parish average. The rate is 22 percent at 150 percent. In the poorest quarter of parishes it is 8 percent at a lower bar. STEP repays 90 percent of export costs, up to $10,000. Both pay you back after you spend.
The certifications reach the most owners. SEBD, Hudson and the Veteran Initiative are free and all three are open now. They buy you standing in state contracting, not a cheque. For actual money HIP is the widest door. Any company creating one qualifying new job can apply. Sole traders cannot.
No. LED's programmes are race and gender neutral. Any qualifying Louisiana small business can apply to Hudson or to SEBD. Who owns it does not decide it. Minority owners can still seek MBE status through the Louisiana Minority Supplier Development Council. Women owners can seek WBE status through the Women's Business Enterprise Council South. Both help with outside contracts, not with LED.
LED reviews the Hudson and Veteran certifications within two working days. HIP is slower and it is not free to start. You send LED the application. Then you pay an application fee and a deposit for the spending verification report, before the review begins. If LED approves, it issues a contract and assigns an independent Louisiana accountant. That accountant checks your spending. LED then reviews the report, and only then does the money come.
Usually yes. The IRS says a government grant to a business generally is not excluded from gross income, so it is taxable. Louisiana taxes business income too. HIP pays you back for wages, and wages are deductible. STEP pays you back for trade show and travel costs, and those are deductible too. So the grant and the deduction often offset. That is not a rule, so ask your accountant.
About the Author
Senior Finance & Banking Editor
Richard is the veteran anchor of the site's financial content. Raised in the Midwest and starting his career in Chicago's commercial banking sector, he spent over a decade underwriting small business loans before moving into financial journalism. He doesn't get swept up in startup hype; he cares about unit economics, APYs, and fee structures.
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Grant programs change frequently. Deadlines, eligibility requirements, and funding amounts listed here may be outdated. Always verify information directly with the granting agency before applying. This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice.
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