Effective January 1, 2008, small businesses in the parishes of Lafourche, St. Mary and Terrebonne are eligible to receive direct technical assistance in the form of marketing, bookkeeping, accounting, business plan development or other services relevant to making their business a success. The services are provided at no cost to the companies through the Bayou Region Technical Asisstance Network, a service of the South Louisiana Economic Council, Louisiana Economic Development and the Louisiana Business and Technology Center.

The network was established as part of an ongoing focus on restoring businesses in the thirteen parishes most affected by the 2005 hurricanes. To be eligible, companies must be located in Lafourche, St. Mary or Terrebonne parishes and must either be in business or preparing to start a business. The types and levels of assistance are determined by an assessment of the business needs by trained business counselors. Information about services available through the technical assistance network is available by calling 985-448-4485 or by going online at www.bayouregion.com.