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The Louisiana SmallBiz Suite helps managers track the activities of the Small
and Emerging Business Development group at Louisiana Economic Development. This
group is charged with certifying applicants to the Hudson Initiative and SEBD
programs. They also provide post-certification assistance to SEBD certified
companies by designated intermediary companies. With additional functionality
(currently in the planning stages) to support the Community Development Block
Grant assistance program, the Louisiana SmallBiz Suite will manage the entire
portfolio of assistance provided to the small business community.
Based on LED requirements, the SmallBiz Suite was developed as a secure
web-enabled application developed in ASP.NET using a SQL Server database. All
access to the application is via the browser. There are unique views of the
application for each of the various user sets. Companies wishing to be certified
for Hudson or SEBD can register and sign on to complete the application, and
later view their application status.
LED Program Administrators can sign on to the application to view, approve, or
request certification applications. LED users can also create accounts for
intermediary companies. These intermediaries can also sign on and create
requests for assistance to aid the certified companies. These requests are in
turn viewed and approved by LED administrative staff. Another feature of the
system is the automated interface that communicates with the Louisiana Division
of Administration’s LaPac system and uploads the list of certified SEBD and
Hudson Initiative companies. This takes place without any intervention by LED
employees.
Technology Engineers is currently in the process of migrating data stored in the
Goldmine and Sage tools, regarding companies certified prior to deployment of
SmallBiz Suite, into the SmallBiz database. Technology Engineers is currently in
the process of migrating data stored in the Goldmine and Sage tools, regarding
companies certified prior to deployment of SmallBiz Suite, into the SmallBiz
database. |
Website:
https://smallbiz.louisianaforward.com
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 The rengineering and support effort for this system required the re-design of
forms,
database stored procedures and ASP code to make the system reliable and
more easily maintainable. The FastLane system was originally conceived to
integrate LED data and processes into a unified system to handle business
incentives offered to business and industry. Many aspects of the design of an
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system were found, but a successful system
had not been implemented. Technology Engineers has successfully corrected many
of the design and coding problems, and is currently enhancing the integration of
the LED Business Incentives Division and the Financial Services Division.
FastLane helps manage the incentive programs offered by Louisiana to companies
throughout the state. A key component of the system is the public interface:
companies seeking business incentives can make advance payments over the
Internet, then provide the detailed information required on applications that go
before the Board of Commerce and Industry. These systems are developed on the
web using Microsoft .Net framework and SQL Server.
The business incentives tracked by FastLane and available over the Internet are:
Quality Jobs - promotes economic development by encouraging businesses to
create well-paid jobs
Enterprise Zone - a jobs incentive program that provides Louisiana Income
and Franchise tax credits to
businesses hiring a minimum number of net new employees
Restoration Tax Abatement - encourages the expansion, restoration,
improvement and development of
existing commercial structures and owner-occupied residences in specified districts
Industrial Tax Exemption - available exclusively to manufacturers, the
Industrial Tax Exemption Program is
Louisiana’s original incentive program for capital investments.
This new system allows for better integration of the program components across
departments. Financial tracking and automatic reports, along with easy an search
functionality make FastLane ideal for Program Administrators tasked with
evaluating applications and preparing agendas for the Board of Commerce and
Industry.The web interface allows businesses to apply online for incentives, and
provides for queries into the status of current applications and dispensation of
past applications. |
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Website:
https://fastlane.louisianaforward.com |
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