Southern University awarded $1.275 million to launch rural business center

Southern University awarded $1.275 million to launch rural business center

Southern University and A&M College has received a $1.275 million, three-year cooperative agreement from the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) to establish the Louisiana Innovation for Thriving Rural Business (LIFT) Center, an initiative designed to strengthen rural businesses, expand access to financing and government contracting opportunities, and increase advanced manufacturing capabilities across Louisiana.

Housed in the College of Business, the LIFT Center will provide eligible rural Louisiana businesses with coordinated access to business assessments, consulting, training and specialized assistance. Southern is one of only three historically Black colleges and universities in the country selected by MBDA to lead a Rural Business Center focused on advancing rural and manufacturing-based small businesses.

The center will bring together expertise from the Southern University Law Center, the College of Sciences and Engineering, and Southern's Advanced Metal Additive Manufacturing Laboratory. Through this collaboration, business owners will have access to resources designed to strengthen their operations, prepare for financing, pursue government contracting opportunities and expand their capacity to compete in advanced manufacturing industries.

A signature hands-on manufacturing program will give entrepreneurs opportunities to explore businesses focused on making, repairing and testing metal parts for agriculture, energy and defense supply chains. Participants will pair advanced manufacturing expertise with business training to help transform technical skills into viable and sustainable enterprises.

KDM & Associates LLC will lead program management and provide consulting in cybersecurity certification readiness, federal contracting, supplier development and manufacturing. Through the LIFT Center, Southern and its partners will work to expand the pool of contract-ready small and emerging businesses positioned to pursue opportunities with federal agencies, including the Small Business Administration, Department of War, Department of Energy, Department of Commerce, NASA, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Education, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of the Interior and Department of Transportation.

KDM's digital platform also will provide virtual training, connect businesses with prospective partners and help monitor participant progress.

Over the three-year award period, the LIFT Center aims to serve 500 clients, help 50 new businesses enter the federal supply chain, assist clients in securing $2.125 million in capital and support the creation of 600 jobs.

The center will serve eligible rural Louisiana businesses through business assistance, entrepreneurial development and workforce training. These services are designed to expand access to markets, strengthen business capacity and support the long-term growth of Louisiana's rural economy beyond the award period.

Patrick Mensah, Formosa Endowed Professor of Mechanical Engineering and senior associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, will serve as principal investigator. Donald Andrews, professor and dean of the College of Business, will serve as co-principal investigator. Aloyce R. Kaliba, of the College of Business, will serve as project director, and Keith Moore of KDM & Associates will serve as collaborating program manager.

Business owners seeking information about eligibility, services and upcoming activities may contact Mensah at [email protected].