Landrieu Announces $89K Grant To Help United Houma Nation Start Small Businesses

Press Release

U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded the United Houma Nation of Lafourche Parish an $89,520 grant as part of the Rural Business Enterprise Program.

This grant will be used to provide technical assistance, training and workshops and also help guide individuals through the process of starting and operating a small business.

"Many individuals have great ideas for a small businesses and often dreams of owning their own, but don¹t know where to get started. This funding will help individuals in the United Houma Nation build their business knowledge and turn a small idea and big dreams into a business and jobs," said Sen. Landrieu.

"We are very excited to receive this grant from the USDA and thank Senator Landrieu for her support. This money will be used to help small business development in this area, which has been an important ask of our community for a number of years," said Principal Chief Thomas Dardar, Jr., United Houma Nation.

The USDA grant will focus on the ³Start a Business² curriculum, the entrepreneurial component of the Business, Education and Development (BEAD) program, and will provide technical assistance to potential entrepreneurs looking to start tribal small businesses. The benchmark of the BEAD program will be the enrollment, technical assistance and mentoring of 10-12 local Native American Entrepreneurs. The rural parishes of Lafourche, Jefferson, Plaquemines, Terrebonne, St. Mary and St. Bernard will be serviced by this grant.

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