On the Season 4 Finale of the Jefferson Parish Pulse powered by JEDCO, we feature an interview with Dianne Sclafani, a business consultant for the Louisiana Small Business Development Center. Dianne has helped guide many, many businesses to success over the years. She's very good at helping business owners craft their business plans and secure financing. During the interview, Dianne talks about the 5 C's of financing, how to secure access to capital, finding opportunity in the midst of challenges and the many ways that business owners can work with the LSBDC to start up, grow and thrive in Jefferson Parish and beyond. Learn more about the LSBDC here. Learn more about JEDCO's Financing options here. Learn more about JEDCO here. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jefferson Parish Pulse

Louisiana Small Business Development Center

This week on the Jefferson Parish Pulse powered by JEDCO, we feature an interview with Lori Weil, owner and director of Creative Dance and Music Studio, which has been in business on the West Bank of Jefferson Parish since 1985. Lori took over the business from her mother in 2004 and has continued to grow it over the years. For a long time, Lori leased a studio space, but she had always dreamed of owning a building. Just a few years ago, that dream became a reality. Lori worked with JEDCO to finance the purchase of land and construction of a studio with lots of space to grow. During this interview, Lori talks about growing up around dance, taking over her mother's business, and learning some big lessons along the way. Learn more about Creative Dance and Music Studio here. Learn more about JEDCO here. Learn more about JEDCO's financing options here. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Creative Dance and Music Studio

On this episode of the Jefferson Parish Pulse powered by JEDCO, we feature Rafael Carmona, founder of Nola Sports Center. Nola Sports Center is an indoor soccer facility based in the City of Kenner. Rafael's startup story is full of advice for other entrepreneurs. During this interview, Rafael talks about how he navigated the pandemic and kept his doors open, how he made the tough decisions, assumed the risks, and why it has all been worth it.Learn more about Nola Sports Center here. Learn more about JEDCO here. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Nola Sports Center

This week on the Jefferson Parish Pulse powered by JEDCO, we feature an interview with Carol and Myron LeBrane, founders of LeBrane's Creole Cuisine and Catering. This dynamic husband and wife duo had dreamed of owning a restaurant for years. Timing, fate and faith brought them together and helped them launch and grow their business. Carol and Myron shared how they sought a loan with JEDCO for a small portion of their business. Then, they switched gears when the building they'd been eyeing for years became available. Their vision for a bread pudding business snowballed into a full-service restaurant and event facility on the West Bank. In today's interview, Carol and Myron talk about how their faith is embedded in their work, what it was like to open their business in the midst of a pandemic, and why they chose to launch their business on the West Bank.  Learn more about LeBrane's Creole Cuisine and Catering here. Learn more about JEDCO's financing options here. Learn more about JEDCO here. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

LeBrane's Creole Cuisine and Catering

On this episode of Jefferson Parish Pulse powered by JEDCO, we feature an interview with Colleen Keogh, founder of Kingfish Cider. This is the first-of-its-kind in Jefferson Parish and one of the few solely woman-owned alcohol producers in the US. In today's interview, you'll learn about how Colleen stumbled upon the hard cider industry while traveling and decided she wanted to bring the concept home to Louisiana. She learned how to make cider and then spent years perfecting it and building the business from the ground up. Last month, Colleen celebrated the grand opening of the cidery with much fanfare. She talks about how she learned the art of cider making, what it means to see her business come to fruition after so many years of planning, and why she chose the name "Kingfish" for the company. Learn more about Kingfish Cider here. Check out the Kingfish Cider Instagram here. Interested in JEDCO's loan programs? Visit our website! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kingfish Cider

On this episode of the Jefferson Parish Pulse powered by JEDCO, we feature an interview with Jahida Lewis Crawford, owner of the Law Office of Lewis-Crawford. Jahida is an attorney. It is her mission to positively impact and support the people in her community. She has always wanted a career in the justice system. When she decided to open her business, JEDCO loaned her the money to make it happen. On the show, Jahida talks about how she juggles work and family, how her faith guides her decisions, the tramautic medical situation that drove her to launch her own business, and her goals for the future. Learn more about The Law Office of Lewis-Crawford here. Learn more about JEDCO's financing options here. Learn more about JEDCO here.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Law Office of Lewis-Crawford

On this episode of the Jefferson Parish Pulse powered by JEDCO, we feature an interview with Francisco Gutierrez, founder and owner of Agua Fresca Coffee. Francisco owns and operates a coffee farm in Nicaragua and he imports that coffee to New Orleans coffee companies for distribution. Francisco talks about fulfilling his dream of owning a coffee farm, pursuing his many passions in business and juggling multiple jobs. Learn more about JEDCO here. Learn more about JEDCO's loans here. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Aqua Fresca

This week on the Jefferson Parish Pulse, we interview Hieu Doan, owner of Boil Seafood House and Hieux Boil Seafood House. Both restaurants offer Viet-Cajun cuisine, a unique spin on traditional Cajun and Vietnamese dishes. JEDCO helped Hieu open Boil Seafood House with an SBA 504 loan, which was used to turn a dilapidated historical building on Magazine Street into a bustling restaurant on one of New Orlean's busiest corridors. Hieu talks about how his childhood informed his decision to open and operate restaurants, how the pandemic impacted business, and what it has been like to see his businesses capture the attention of national foodies. Learn more about Boil Seafood House and Hieux Boil Seafood House. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Boil Seafood House

On this week's episode of the Jefferson Parish Pulse, we interview Jennifer Perkins and Andrew Blackwell, a brother and sister duo who own and operate several Main Squeeze Juice Company franchise locations in the Greater New Orleans region. Andrew and Jennifer got a JEDgrow Loan to help with startup costs for one franchise location and it grew into several more over the years. On the show, we talk about how they got into the world of franchising, their best advice for entrepreneurs, and what it is like to work with JEDCO. Of course, they also answer the very important question regarding their favorite items on the Main Squeeze menu. To learn more about JEDCO, visit our website at JEDCO.org. To learn more about our JEDgrow Loan Program, click here. Craving a delicious smoothie? Main Squeeze Juice Company has got you covered. Check them out here. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Main Squeeze Juice Company

This season on the Jefferson Parish Pulse, we're featuring conversations with business owners who have received loans through JEDCO to start up, grow, and expand their companies. To kick things off, we're introducing JEDCO Finance Director Jennifer Lapeyrouse. In just two years, Jennifer increased JEDCO's loans by 300% and has been tremendous resource for small businesses in Jefferson Parish and beyond. Jennifer talks about JEDCO's loan programs, how to get a loan through JEDCO, and how she helped boost the loan business for our economic development organization. Want to get a loan through JEDCO? Email us at loans@jedco.org. Interested in learning more about JEDCO financing options? Check out our financing page here. JEDCO.org See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jennifer Lapeyrouse

This week on a very special BONUS episode of the Jefferson Parish Pulse, we interview JEDCO President and CEO Jerry Bologna about the Jefferson EDGE 2025. This new long-term economic development strategic plan was designed to help transform the Jefferson Parish economy and lean into business recovery, social equity and competitiveness. Check out the full Jefferson EDGE Plan here.Visit us at www.JEDCO.org See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Jefferson EDGE 2025

On the Season 3 finale of the Jefferson Parish Pulse, we interview Jefferson Parish Councilman-at-Large Scott Walker. Councilman Walker was elected one year ago and is a relative newcomer to the Jefferson Parish Council. During this episode, we talk about the pandemic and its impact on his first year in office, projects he's most proud of, and his focus on transparency and accessibility. We also discussed the future and the focus for 2021. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Councilman at Large Scott Walker

On this episode of the Jefferson Parish Pulse, we interview Larry Manshel, the President and fourth generation owner of ITC4 Promos, a 122-year-old company that specializes in innovation and creative promotional products and marketing support. Larry talks about adapting to a changing marketplace over the years, taking over the family business and moving to Louisiana, and the company's focus on giving back to the community. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

ITC4 Promos

This week on the Jefferson Parish Pulse, we interview Kristi Trail, the executive director of the Pontchartrain Conservancy. The Pontchartrain Conservancy is a non-profit designed to support our region and our waterways through scientific research, education and advocacy. Kristi talked about the impacts of the 2020 hurricane season on the Louisiana coastline, how the Pontchartrain Conservancy's work is tied to the prosperity of our region, and the importance of our coast and our waterways to the rest of the United States. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Pontchartrain Conservancy

Welcome to Jefferson Parish Pulse, a podcast powered by the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO). Each week, the economic development agency will feature businesses, organizations, and community leaders at the heart of the Jefferson Parish local economy, the ones that help make Jefferson Parish a destination for business on a global scale. We’ll ask important questions about the passion, drive and vision it takes to run a successful business and what it takes to support those businesses. We hope you will learn about the diverse range of companies and industries that call Jefferson Parish home. While this podcast is about the Jefferson Parish business community, the information and topics discussed within each podcast can be relevant for business owners and communities of all sizes.

hubhopper

Jefferson Parish Pulse

hubhopper