Urban League Targets Business Growth with New Ascension-St. James Training Cohort

The Urban League of Louisiana (New Orleans, LA) is expanding its entrepreneurial development efforts in Ascension and St. James parishes through a new cohort of its Scale Up! Louisiana program, designed to help established small businesses grow and become more profitable.

Wednesday is the last day to sign up for the summer 2026 cohort, which will run from July 7 through Sept. 1 and provide participating business owners with intensive training, mentorship, and business planning support to help them scale their operations.

Scale Up! Louisiana is a place-based entrepreneurial education program that targets growth-stage businesses. The program combines classroom instruction, virtual learning and individualized counseling to help entrepreneurs refine their business models and develop strategies for sustainable growth.

Up to 30 small business owners from Ascension and St. James parishes will be selected for the cohort through an application and interview process. Participants will be evaluated based on their eligibility, the growth potential of their businesses and their willingness to engage in an interactive learning environment.

The hybrid program includes three in-person sessions, seven virtual sessions and five pre-recorded web-based learning modules. In-person sessions will be held at Study Commons at the Wag Center in Donaldsonville.

In addition to coursework, participants will receive up to 12 hours of one-on-one and small-group business counseling during the program and for up to three months after completion. Business owners also will be required to complete assignments related to developing a customized Scale Up! Plan of Action.

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