Congratulating and Honoring the Louisiana Business and Technology Center

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the Louisiana Business & Technology Center (LBTC), located on Louisiana State University's South Campus in Louisiana's Sixth Congressional District. It is indeed a great honor and privilege to join with the LBTC in commemorating and celebrating 25 years of dedicated service to the business community in the State of Louisiana.

Over the past 25 years, the LBTC has partnered with small businesses and entrepreneurs to help them reach their goals of longevity and self-sufficiency. Under the leadership of Executive Director Charles D'Agostino and his team, the LBTC has created over 10,000 jobs and helped start up companies raise $172 million in loans and equity investments. Additionally, the LBTC has been instrumental in providing Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant assistance to over 2,500 companies amounting to $77 million in awards. Finally, the Center has enlisted the support of LSU's student body in creating a Student Incubator which has spawned 28 full time businesses with 97 jobs and has raised over $3 million in capital since 2010.

Based upon the LBTC's long record of accomplishment and achievement, they have obtained the reputation of being known as one of the best entrepreneurial launchpads in the State. On behalf of the residents of Louisiana's Sixth Congressional District, I congratulate the Louisiana Business and Technology Center on the tremendous contribution it has had in fostering and developing small businesses which are a vital component to our Nation's economy.

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