Rolling classroom offers businesses free seminars

Business owners in St. Charles Parish will get the unique opportunity to hear free seminars on topics vital to their success on a custom-designed 18-wheeler trailer.

The trailer, which is part of LSU’s Louisiana Business & Technology Center’s “Mobile Classroom,” has been retrofitted to house seminars and workshops for small business owners. The self-contained mobile classroom has state-of-the-art audio and video capabilities, including a large plasma screen monitor and broadband wireless Internet connectivity. It seats up to 24 people for seminars.

The mobile classroom will roll through Luling on June 17 and June 18 and will be set up at the West Bank Bridge Park. Anyone is invited to attend both days, one day or individual seminars. Seating is limited and pre-registration is strongly urged.

On June 17, the day will start at 9 a.m. with a seminar on customer service. Seminars will follow on small business environmental assistance, surviving a recession and interviewing skills for teens. June 18 will have seminars on starting and financing a business, marketing, budgeting and financial statements.

“I want to thank LSU for allowing us to partner with them on this important economic development initiative,” St. Charles Parish President V.J. St. Pierre said. “As a retired small business owner, I know the difficulty of operating a business. A thriving small business community is critical to the overall health of our economy.”

The mission of the mobile classroom is to assist small businesses and entrepreneurs located in Louisiana by providing access to the resources, infrastructure and expertise needed to grow and sustain long-term success. Because of the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the mobile classroom has been paying special attention to the business recovery and development needs in the state’s hurricane-impacted areas.

“I encourage all new business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs to take advantage of this opportunity to receive professional assistance,” St. Pierre said. “All of our businesses are operating in a very tight labor market. It is imperative that every member of the local labor pool obtain essential skills that will help them be productive contributors.”

To register for the program, call 225-578-7555 or visit www.stcharlesgov.net and click on the LSU logo to download a registration form. Those forms can then be emailed to asheffl@lsu.edu or faxed to 985-783-5144.