Ship it out:Louisiana has been awarded an $850,000 grant to identify, qualify, train, prepare and assist small businesses to increase export readiness and expand exports. The money is coming from the State Trade and Export Promotion Program, a pilot program passed by Congress as part of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. With 95% of the world’s customers outside the United States and only 1% of America’s small businesses exporting, the program was created to spur small business exporting and create jobs in local communities. Participating firms will receive company-tailored and market-specific export preparation counseling for participation in trade missions and reverse trade missions, as well as domestic and international trade shows and exhibitions. Find out more at the SBA website here.
Groundbreaking: The first phase of the two-phase, $19 million extension of Stumberg Lane will begin Thursday. The first phase of work, which will extend Stumberg from the 90-degree turn on the existing Pecue Lane to just north of Airline Highway, is expected to take nine months and cost $6.3 million. The second phase will continue north, extending Stumberg from Airline to Jefferson Highway. J.B. James Construction won the public bid for the work. More information is available on the Green Light Plan website here.
Show time: HGTV will broadcast the Baton Rouge episode of Bang for Your Buck on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Three major house renovations in the city are put under a microscope to determine which one provides the best value for the investment. The episode was filmed in March. Read more about the Baton Rouge episode at the HGTV website here.
