Business Briefs for May 13, 2012

Cyber security workshop scheduled

A free workshop titled “Cyber Security is Good Business” is being held 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. May 23 in the Louisiana State Archives Building at 8549 United Plaza Blvd.

The workshop is for small businesses and organizations and not a technical presentation for information technology and systems consultants.

The workshop is sponsored by the Louisiana Small Business Development Center and Louisiana Economic Development.

For more details, call the SCORE office at [phone].

Jasper Contractors to open in St. Louis

National contractor Jasper Contractors Inc., of Baton Rouge, is opening a material yard in St. Louis, a move that will create more than 100 jobs, according to the company.

The St. Louis office is Jasper’s 12th overall and third expansion this year.

Jasper, which specializes in roofing, heating and air conditioning, entered the Dallas/Fort Worth market in late April and opened in Indianapolis this year. Jasper has offices in Atlanta; New Orleans; Chicago; Cincinnati; Denver; Evansville, Ind.; Phoenix; and Salt Lake City.

Lincoln Builders gets SLU union contract

Lincoln Builders of Baton Rouge Inc. has been selected as the contractor for the $32.5 million expansion and renovation of the Southeastern Louisiana University Student Union building at the Hammond campus.

Lincoln was selected through SLU’s University Facilities Inc.

The three-phase construction project will include an 87,163-square-foot addition to house multiple new dining operations on three floors, as well as renovation of the existing 89,000-square-foot War Memorial Student Union and renovation of the Student Union Annex.

In addition to multiple dining options, the new building will include added retail, a bookstore and other student lounging and meeting areas.

Holly & Smith Architects of Hammond is the design firm on the project. Expected completion date for the project is October 2014.

Teche Federal starts Essen branch site

Teche Federal Bank is constructing a new branch at a demolition site at 5063 Essen Lane, across from Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center.

Teche Federal has other branches at 3524 S. Sherwood Forest and in the Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market at 9830 Old Hammond Highway.

Solar industry report measures La. impact

An economic impact study of the solar photovoltaic industry in Louisiana, commissioned by the Gulf States Renewable Energy Industries Association, says there are 1,832 solar photovoltaic installations across the state that equal nearly 11 megawatts of capacity.

Installation figures increased by 77 percent from 2010, with more than 1,000 new units being added to the system, and installed capacity more than tripled, the report says.

Jobs also more than tripled since 2010. In 2011, the industry provided full-time employment to nearly 800 individuals. If growth continues at the same pace, the federal Department of Energy estimates that Louisiana could reach more than 2,500 full-time solar jobs in the coming years.

The report says in 2011 the economic output for the state was about $82 million, or an increase of nearly 350 percent from the previous year.

The report also noted Louisiana to date has received about $13.3 million from the Federal Renewable Energy Tax Credit, equaling 60 percent of the state’s total input funding for these credits.

Nonprofit board training program set

Forum 35 and the Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations is taking applications until May 25 for a program designed to train young emerging leaders in nonprofit governance and then match them with local nonprofit organizations for service on their board of directors.

The 2012 John W. Barton Sr. Community Leadership Development Program will kick off June 12 and conclude in early September.

Matching and placement events will be held in August and September.

The 2012 application and the training dates are at http://www.lano.org on the Community Leaders page.

For more information on the leadership program, contact Melissa Parmelee at [e-mail].

Small business center seminars set

The Louisiana Small Business Development Center at Southern University has scheduled three seminars this month.

• Starting and Financing a Small Business: 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday at the Louisiana Technology Park at 7117 Florida Blvd.

Topics include writing a business plan, sources of funds for startup and expansion, small-business resources and required licenses.

• National Small Business Week Networking Event: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. May 24 at T.T. Allain, College of Business, at Southern University.

Participants will learn about networking, promote their business and mingle with local small-business owners.

• Understanding QuickBooks: 10 a.m. to noon May 30 at the Louisiana Technology Park at 7117 Florida Blvd. Discussions focus on basic uses and features, such as creating invoices, writing checks and managing customers.

For more information, contact the LSBDC at [phone] or register online at http://www.lsbdc.org.

Handyman business starts operations

All Around Handyman has been started as a home-based business by Tim Winter.

The service area is East Baton Rouge, Livingston and Ascension parishes and surrounding areas.

The business specializes in home and business video/audio/surveillance, electrical, plumbing, wood working, fascia and soffit repairs and home repairs.

The phone number is [phone] and Facebook page is www.facebook.com/allaroundhandymanllc.

From business staff