By Kimberly Hopson

L’Observateur

RESERVE – St. John the Baptist Parish made a step toward supporting its new and growing small businesses with the opening of the Business Training Center at South Central Louisiana Technical College on Wednesday.
The new training center is the end result of a partnership between the parish, the Louisiana Small Business Development Center and Louisiana Economic Development. The project cost an estimated $10,00 and took just a few months to complete.
Torri Buckles, director of economic development for St. John Parish, said they were able to complete the training center with such a small budget with help from local businesses Cool Concepts, Veterans Construction LLC and FLWB Architects.
“I think they’ve done an absolutely phenomenal job. We want to make sure we have a quality product, and when people come in, they feel welcome and inspired,” said Buckles.
Its usage will be dedicated to the cultivation and development of local entreprenuers. it will be staffed by consultants from the LSBDC, who will provide current and future business owners with entrepreneurial education through consultation, specialized training, workshops and seminars. Business advisors will also provide access to funding and resources from federal, state and local government.
LED Excutive Direc tor John Matthews said the availability of resources at the training center will encourage more entrepreneurs to stay in the parish instead of taking their ideas to other areas or states.
“At the end of the day, what will happen is a more vibrant economy because we will grow small businesses. We will grow those entities that will stay here,” said Matthews.
LSBDC Director Car men Sunda said, “Basically, the training center provides a place for businesses in St. John Parish to come to so they don’t have to leave the parish for these types of services.”
The Business Training Center will also host free training seminars for the public on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The first class, a lesson on devising a disaster plan for your business, will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 28, at 4:30 p.m. Training is scheduled through October.
Sunda said appointments are best, but the center will accept walk-ins for now because it is still so new. For more information about the Business Training Center, seminar scheduling or to register for a seminar, visit the Louisiana Small Business Development Center website at www.lsbdc.org, or email at lsbdc@lsbdc.org.