As the COVID-19 pandemic has devastated the global economy, local economic development groups have put together various tools to help Acadiana businesses and workers stay afloat and take advantage of state and federal resources.
Below is a collection of some of the resources.
Louisiana Economic Development Help Desk
LED can be reached for questions relating to COVID-19 and business at LEDbiz@la.gov or through a toll-free hotline at (833) 457-0531. The hotline is staffed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act
The federal relief bill passed by Congress has several programs, like the Paycheck Protection Program, aimed at keep businesses running and workers employed.
Lafayette Economic Development Authority
The Lafayette Economic Development Authority has a page filled with guides for accessing state programs and federal opportunities through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.
Downtown Development Authority
The Downtown Development Authority has a page with information on restaurants and bars, as well as resources for businesses and consumers. The group also has a page on how to support downtown businesses.
Restaurants in Downtown
Want to grab food from a downtown restaurant? The Downtown Development Authority updates a list of open restaurants in the downtown district.
Webinars
Several local economic groups, including LEDA, One Acadiana, and the Downtown Development Authority, have sponsored several webinars focusing on topics related to economic recovery.
One Acadiana Toolkit
One Acadiana, the chamber of commerce for the region, has created an online toolkit to help businesses.
“We are proud to be a source for accurate information during this crisis,” said Troy Wayman, One Acadiana’s president and chief executive. “We are working every day alongside our regional partners to provide a rapid response to businesses seeking answers and guidance. Our efforts are focused on minimizing the damage to our economy and preparing for the recovery to come.”
COVID-19 Help Wanted
LEDA has put together a list of businesses looking for extra workers during the COVID-19 crisis.
Louisiana Workforce Commission
The Louisiana Workforce Commission has a page of resources for people facing unemployment, including help searching for jobs and help filing an unemployment claim.
