$25M Fund to Help Louisiana Businesses Recover from Storms

Louisiana has started a $25 million program to help businesses still trying to recover from the four major hurricanes of recent years.

Grants of up to $2.5 million will be available to community-based or nonprofit organizations to deliver loans or technical assistance to small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Low-interest loans and technical help will be available to businesses in 20 parishes. The loans will range from $50,000 to $500,000

The money comes from federal funds the state received after hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike.

The 20 parishes are Ascension, Assumption, Calcasieu, Cameron, East Baton Rouge, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, St. Bernard, St. Landry, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Terrebonne and Vermilion.