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United For Business

About the Initiative

United for Business in Southeast Louisiana is a matched-savings and capacity-building initiative administered by United Way of Southeast Louisiana to support established small business owners within United Way’s footprint.

The program is designed for operating businesses beyond the startup phase, ready to strengthen cash flow, formalize systems, and invest in sustainable growth.

Matched-Savings Model

Participants commit to saving $2,000 in a custodial business savings account during the program period. Upon successful completion of program requirements, United Way and its partners provide a $8,000 matched investment, resulting in a total $10,000 in business capital.

Matched funds are restricted to approved business expenses, such as equipment, inventory, technology, marketing, licensing, insurance, and other eligible growth-related costs.

$2,000

Savings Requirement

6

Month Timeline

$8,000

UWSELA Match Grant

$10,000

Total Capital Invested

About the Program

To be eligible for the program, business owners must meet the following requirements:

  • Business must be physically located and operating within the United Way of Southeast Louisiana footprint: Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Plaquemines, or Washington Parish
  • Business must be actively operating for at least three (3) years
  • Business must have shown a net profit for the two (2) most recent years
  • Business must not gross more than $200,000 annually
  • Business must have fewer than 20 employees
  • Business must be legally registered in Louisiana
  • Business must have (or be able to open) a business bank account
  • Applicant must be 18 years or older
  • Applicant must be the primary owner and decision-make

Selected participants must agree to:

  • Commit to saving $2,000 into a custodial savings account during the program period
  • Participate in at least 80% bi-weekly workshops, March through December (complete assignments, check-ins, and coaching sessions)
  • Submit documentation for approved use of matched funds
  • Participate in the December pitch/showcase
  • Use matched funds only for approved business expenses
  • Provide limited business data for evaluation and reporting
 

Failure to meet requirements may result in partial or full forfeiture of matched funds.

The following types of businesses are NOT eligible for the program:

  • Adult entertainment
  • Gaming
  • Liquor stores
  • Tobacco/VAPE stores
  • Passive real estate investments
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Franchise businesses
  • Cannabis
  • Gig workers (Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart drivers, etc.)

We strongly recommend gathering copies of the following documents before starting the application.

  • Copy of Louisiana ID
  • Copy of Employer Identification Number (EIN) Certificate  – copies can be requested online or by calling 800-TAX-FORM
  • Proof that the business is registered through the Louisiana Secretary of State (e.g., Business License, Certification, or Articles of Incorporation)
  • Louisiana Certificate of Good Standing (CGS)
  • Past three years of business tax returns, or explain any special circumstances to be considered for not completing business taxes, and a Schedule C if you are a sole proprietor
  • A profit and loss statement for the current year (January 1 to application date)
  • Business bank statements, including checking and savings, for the 2 most recent months
  • Please note: If you are accepted into the program, you will be required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN)/Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to open a matched-savings bank account

Program Timeline

Apply

Instructions:

  • This application will take approximately 60 minutes to complete.
  • Please read the entire application before starting. 
  • Gather all documents under section “What You Need To Apply” prior to starting. (see above)
  • A complete application includes all required documents.
  • Incomplete applications will not be considered.
  • The deadline to submit an application with all required documents is 11:59 p.m. on March 17, 2026.
APPLY

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Helena Moreno

Campaign Email:  letsgo@helenamorenola.com
Contact Phone Number:  (504) 655-2878


Campaign Website and Social Media Handles
www.helenamorenola.com
@HelenamorenoHQ  |  @helenamorenola

Commitment: If elected, would you dedicate additional funding in the City budget for early care and education?

Yes.

If so, how would you prioritize it in the budget?

Both in the state legislature and city council, I’ve been a strong supporter of bringing early childhood education to New Orleans. In 2018, we allocated the first $1.5M in city funds for additional seats. As Council President, we doubled that to $3M. I was the lead author to put the pre-k millage on the ballot, providing millions more. I will continue this work as mayor. As for additional funding for pre-k, is there anything more important? We have demonstrated to the public that local government can make progress on this issue with increased resources. There are competing priorities, especially when it comes to drainage, but our kids desperately need pre-k, and so do our parents, who are under pressure to be both caregiver and financial provider.

Commitment:  If elected, will you use your power and platform to advocate at the state and federal levels for sustained early childhood funding? If yes, please describe the specific actions you will take to do this.

Yes.

Every leader at the local, state, and federal levels should be working together to provide high-quality early childhood education to our young people. I will always shout from the rooftops about the enormous benefits of Head Start and pre-k, along with Medicaid, SNAP, public housing, and kids’ programming on PBS. As mayor, I will lead a broad intergovernmental relations effort with constant coordination between city leadership, the legislative delegation, and advocates. I don’t think anyone is listening, for now, but that can change. More broadly, this is why the mayoral election is so important. New Orleans needs to stand on its own two feet. No one is coming to rescue us, so we must be strong in the face of unprecedented economic, environmental, and political headwinds.

Commitment: If elected, will you commit to ensuring our early care and education providers can keep their doors open, grow their business, pay a living wage to their teachers, and help ensure families and educators can continue to afford to live in the city? If yes, please describe the specific actions you will take to do this.

Yes.

Child care providers will have a strong supporter in the mayor’s office when I am elected. Our city hall will serve as a hub, connecting needs and resources, with a focus on streamlining red tape for critical service providers, such as those offering child care. It is not enough to have more early childhood seats; we need quality. Even at current levels of local and state funding, pre-K early education programs exist in an environment where low wages are the norm and facilities are often in disrepair. The current climate at the state and federal levels may preclude additional funds. Yet, at the local level, as I mentioned earlier, is there anything more important than pre-k? We have demonstrated to the public that local government can make progress on this issue with increased resources.

Commitment: If elected, would you commit to ensuring essential local workers – including those in city government – can access childcare through local providers, and that private sector employers do their part in ensuring their employees can access the childcare they need to work, be productive, and grow our economy? If yes, please elaborate on how you would fulfill this commitment.

Yes.

I will always advocate amongst employers and at the state level for a real-living wage that can provide for a family. In workplaces across New Orleans and at city hall, I see parents working double time, struggling to keep up due to a lack of child care. Part of the answer is more public school seats for children aged 6 months to 4 years old. For older kids, I want NORD to do more. A lot more. I have been a leader in expanding NORD’s budget to record highs. Now the goal is to maximize services during non-school hours. Summer enrichment is especially crucial to prevent any backslide. In short, I want to usher in a NORD Renaissance, especially after school. This would go a long way, especially for working parents who need a few more critical hours of support before they can leave work.

Commitment: If elected, will you commit to maintaining this office and protecting these investments?

Yes.

How will you ensure these efforts are sustained beyond your term and are prioritized in future budgets?

Yes. I helped lead the effort for early childhood education with Agenda for Children, and I will commit to maintaining and protecting these early childhood investments. They were hard won, and we cannot lose them. If anything, we need an expansion, which will be the key subject of future budgets, which must balance ALL the city’s needs. The bottom line: we must support families, or else they will simply leave, and New Orleans will not have a future.