"Back to Business" sessions planned

Hurricane-affected businesses in the Teche Area have an opportunity to get “Back to Business” with help sessions scheduled throughout Octo-ber.

“We’re trying to make sure that businesses understand everything that they need to know to get business back on line after Gustav and Ike,” said Iberia Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Janet Faulk. “We want businesses to understand in addition to help with physical damages, there’s also help for economic losses.”

The free sessions provide information from the Acadiana Regional Develop-ment District on how to get small business loans from the Small Business Administra-tion and other government entities to cover operating expenses, equipment and working capital for businesses that were impacted by the storms, according to a release from Acadiana Works.

The sessions also present information about workforce development services offered by Business and Career Solutions Centers and Acadiana Works, like recruitment services, free job vacancy postings, hiring events and job fairs.

Participants will hear about employer-based training, which explains how to fill job openings with hurricane-affected applicants, according to the release.

“The storms have passed, and as we get further away from the storms, more and more assistance programs from government agencies will come out,” said Mike Tarantino, Industrial Development Foundation director. “This is the first opportunity for businesses to hear about everything that’s available.”

Tarantino said IDF will continue to make sure speakers come to the community to get the word out on storm-related programs.

In Iberia Parish, the session will be at the Career Solutions Center in New Iberia on Wednesday. Friday, the session will be in St. Martin Parish at St. Martinville City Hall Council Chambers. For St. Mary Parish, the session will be Wednesday, Oct. 15 at the Morgan City Municipal Auditorium in Morgan City. All sessions are at 1 p.m.