BATON ROUGE – The Louisiana Veteran Entrepreneurship Program, or LVEP, is accepting applications from Louisiana military personnel, including active duty, reservists and veterans, who are interested in starting a business. The deadline to submit applications is April 17.
LVEP was created in 2017 as a partnership between Louisiana Economic Development, the Louisiana Department of Veteran Affairs, the Louisiana National Guard, the Louisiana Business and Technology Center and LSU Executive Education. LVEP is designed to boost business opportunities for Louisiana veterans through a three-week, online learning program, followed by a one-day “boot camp” or in-person training session. LVEP graduates are then provided long-term counseling from small business resource partners in their communities.
The program strives to have at least 30 percent of its participants launch a business and collectively raise at least $5 million in startup capital. A long-term goal of the program is to create 100 new jobs through new veteran-operated businesses.
“Our veterans come home with remarkable leadership skills and on-the-job training,” said LSU Innovation Park Executive Director Charles F. D’Agostino. “This program empowers them to utilize these skills and channel their entrepreneurial spirit, creating new businesses and generating jobs in our communities.”
Participants must have access to a computer and Internet connection to participate in the three-week online portion of the course and to complete assignments.
Submit applications on the LSU Innovation Park website: www.lsu.edu/innovationpark/LVEP.php.
