Applications are now being accepted by the Louisiana Small Business Rebirth Fund. Awards range between $1,000 and $10,000 depending on the damages, purpose and available funding. To be eligible to apply for a Rebirth Fund award, applicants must be a small businesses registered with the Louisiana Secretary of State with 50 employees or less, and have been operational on Aug. 10 in one of the 20 parishes in the official federal disaster declaration.

Applications submitted by Sept. 2 will be reviewed by the independent panel for a first round of awards from the fund. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis, as partner organizations anticipate conducting a second round of grant reviews and awards after Labor Day. Applications can be submitted online or downloaded and submitted by email or faxed to Elena Lacour at 225-929-6054.

The Louisiana Small Business Rebirth Fund was created in August 2016, representing a partnership with the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, Greater New Orleans Inc., the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, the Louisiana Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, the Louisiana chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business and One Acadiana.