Partner Spotlight: Louisiana Chamber of Commerce Foundation

Path to 15|55 is a network of networks, bringing different organizations together around our goal to support Black businesses. Each month we’ll be featuring one of our partners.

The Louisiana Chamber of Commerce Foundation (LCCF) began in 2018 to create state-wide economic growth through empowering and sustaining local minority-owned businesses and the chambers that support them. They serve as a “hub” of sorts with regional chambers across Louisiana, including organizations like the Greater Southwest Louisiana Black Chamber of Commerce and the New Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce. They work directly with the leaders of those organizations to get them the resources they need to increase the capacity of their member businesses.

The COVID-19 pandemic helped LCCF see the need for their services across the state.

“[The pandemic] has clearly shown that our business community is in need of a different level of assistance than that of what the current technical assistance centers provide,” said Kelisha Garrett, Vice President & C.O.O. for Government Affairs for LCCF.

Many of the business leaders LCCF works with have started a business out of necessity to provide for their families, and some lack financial and operational skills. LCCF offers an educational foundation to these leaders to help them thrive.

Garret said that LCCF’s biggest impact on Black businesses in Louisiana has been their unique position to create a clear voice and vision on what equitable inclusion could look like, as well as connecting Black businesses to tangible opportunities for growth.

As for their involvement in Path to 15|55, LCCF hopes to connect businesses from a variety of industries to the initiative that can benefit from being a part of the network.

“Our vision is to assist in identifying organizations that can participate in the program and expand the awareness of its impact,” said Garrett.