Shell LiveWire Launches 2025 Louisiana Cohort for Entrepreneurs

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Local entrepreneurs participating in the Shell LiveWire program in Louisiana engage in training for business development.

News Summary

Shell USA, Inc. and the Louisiana Small Business Development Center have launched the 2025 Louisiana cohort of the Shell LiveWire program, aimed at nurturing local entrepreneurial growth across 13 parishes. The initiative offers free access to essential resources for 23 selected businesses from various industries, focusing on vital skills and community engagement. Applications for the program will remain open until January 31, 2025.

New Orleans, Louisiana – Shell USA, Inc. and the Louisiana Small Business Development Center (LSBDC) have launched the 2025 Louisiana cohort of the Shell LiveWire enterprise development program, designed to stimulate local entrepreneurial growth across 13 parishes in South Louisiana. This initiative aims to provide free access to vital knowledge, skills, resources, and networks to support local entrepreneurs in expanding their businesses.

The 2025 cohort includes 23 selected businesses from diverse industries such as 3D printing, cleaning, consulting, fashion, financial services, food and beverage, health, legal services, marketing, media, retail, and wellness. These businesses hail from the parishes of Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary, and Terrebonne.

Started in 2021, Shell LiveWire has been making significant strides in fostering local entrepreneurship and strengthening communities. Emma Lewis, the Executive Vice President of Chemicals at Shell, noted that the participants of the program exhibit commendable traits of bravery, passion, resilience, and innovation, underscoring their crucial role in community engagement.

The LSBDC serves as the local implementing partner, offering a customized curriculum designed to meet the specific needs of participants. The center will facilitate training sessions led by local experts in various areas including marketing, finance, and team management. This tailored approach enables entrepreneurs to gain relevant skills that are critical for fostering business growth.

The Associate State Director of LSBDC emphasized the significant impact that the program has on shaping the future of small businesses in Louisiana, reflecting a strong commitment to local community development. In alignment with its mission, Shell LiveWire has been dedicated to promoting entrepreneurship and innovation to boost local economies globally.

Since its inception in Scotland in 1982, Shell LiveWire has expanded its operations to 18 countries, training over 2,700 individuals worldwide in 2024 alone. The program has contributed to the creation of over 1,600 new jobs, sustained more than 2,400 existing positions, and has been attributed to the establishment of 426 new businesses during the same period.

The LSBDC has a longstanding history of providing substantial consulting and training assistance to Louisiana small businesses, operating for 40 years. Each year, the LSBDC helps more than 3,880 businesses, facilitating over $67.2 million in capitalization and supporting the generation of nearly 200 new businesses and over 700 jobs.

Applications for the 2025 Shell LiveWire Louisiana program will remain open until January 31, 2025. Interested entrepreneurs are encouraged to visit the Shell website for further details and to submit their applications.

This collaborative effort between Shell USA and the LSBDC illustrates a robust commitment to nurturing local entrepreneurs and fostering economic growth throughout Louisiana. Access to quality training, expert resources, and a strong support network positions participating businesses to thrive and innovate in their respective markets.