Small Business Development Week to return to Lake Charles

LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) – Small businesses are usually the ones most affected by inflation, but the City of Lake Charles wants to show how important they are to the community.

Between Oct. 20 and 25, the city and Hancock Whitney Bank will host LC Launch Small Business Development Week. Several free events will be held to encourage and support entrepreneurship and small business development in the Lake Area.

“This age of inflation has impacted our small business the most, so we want to do all we can to support small businesses, and that includes existing small businesses,” Nic Hunter, Mayor of Lake Charles, said.

This week is also an effort to help the businesses that were impacted by the 2020 storms, such as Mia Mouton, who owns Mia’s on Pujo Street.

“After the storm, I lost my building, my first little office to Hurricane Laura,” Mouton-Rene said.

Mouton-Rene is one of many who opened a small business downtown post-2020. What was originally just a photography studio with a single rack of clothes has turned into a full-on boutique.

“More than a couple of racks later and a whole lot of customers that I absolutely adore and I feel like they adore me. I’m along for the ride, and I’m loving every single minute of it,” Mouton-Rene said.

It’s people like Mouton-Rene, those who share the same drive for supporting local small businesses, that the city wants to help push.

“Here we are all local. We love local, we are local,” Mouton-Rene said.

“We are trying to continue that entrepreneurial spark, and inspire people to make there ideas a reality,” Hunter said.

The main highlight of Small Business Development Week is the Gator Tank Business Pitch Competition, the city’s take on the popular Shark Tank competition. Participants will present a business plan and compete for a $2,500 grand prize.

The event is open to individuals and teams, with a four-person maximum per single pitch. Entries must be the original work of the entrants.

The deadline to apply for the Gator Tank competition is Friday, Oct. 4. A panelist of judges will score entries. Finalists will be invited to formally present their pitch in person during LC Launch Small Business Week. More information about the contest, including instructions on how to apply, can be found HERE.

A new competition for social media content creators, LC Create, will also be held this year. City officials will announce details about the competition at a public event scheduled for 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 26 at Historic City Hall.

Below is the full schedule of events:

Table of Contents

Monday, Oct. 21

Noon – 1 p.m.: Canva Design Workshop for Business Owners, Lake Charles City Council Chambers, 326 Pujo St.
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.: “The Convergence of Entrepreneurship and Innovation” workshop, Burton Business Center, 4205 Ryan St.
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.: LC Create, Historic City Hall third floor gallery, 1001 Ryan St.

Tuesday, Oct. 22

Noon – 1 p.m.: CEO Roundtable, Lake Charles City Council Chambers
3 – 4 p.m.: “Get your Local Business on Google Search and Maps” preview, SEED Center Willis Noland Room, 4301 Ryan St.
6:30 – 7:30 p.m.: “Love Your City” panel discussion, Central School Arts & Humanities Center Benjamin Mount Theatre, 809 Kirby St. Will be preceded by a social from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 23

8 a.m. – Noon: Student Entrepreneur Academy, SEED Center Willis Noland Room. Email [email protected] to learn more about how to apply.
7 – 8:30 p.m.: “Tech Night for Business Owners” workshop, T-Mobile Store, 3505 Derek Drive

Thursday, Oct. 24

4 – 5 p.m.: “The Path To Funding: How To Qualify for a Business Loan” workshop, SEED Center
6 – 8 p.m.: Gator Tank Business Pitch Competition, Lake Charles Event Center

Friday, Oct. 25

11 a.m. – 1 p.m.: “Doing Business with Local Government and Affiliates” workshop, Lake Charles City Council Chambers

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