University’s small business program in state budget for next year

The 2015-16 executive budget that Gov. Bobby Jindal released today includes a pledge of $185,000 for the Louisiana Procurement Technical Assistance Center at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

LA PTAC helps businesses in 54 parishes obtain local, state and federal contracts.

UL Lafayette has committed University support to keep the program operating through the 2014-15 fiscal year, which ends June 30. It also has agreed to continue to house the program and provide administrative support, as it has done for the past several years.

But, LA PTAC’s future was uncertain. Here’s why: The U.S. Department of Defense contributes annual funding to LA PTAC that requires a dollar-for-dollar match. In the past, UL Lafayette received enough state funding to cover the required match amount. But severe state budget cuts over the past few years left the University unable to pay the required funds for the 2015-16 fiscal year. So, UL Lafayette asked the state to provide the matching funds.

Jindal’s pledge to contribute $185,000 in state money allows the university to leverage institutional and other sources to match enough federal funds to keep LA PTAC open for the 2015-16 fiscal year, pending approval by the Louisiana Legislature.

"PTAC provides a valuable service to Louisiana businesses and we will work with the Legislature on options to secure the funding," according to Jindal's chief budget adviser, Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols, in a statement she issued last fall.

Since its inception 26 years ago, LA PTAC has helped Louisiana small businesses obtain $4.5 billion in government contracts, create 19,000 new direct jobs and generate more than $100 million in tax revenue within the state.

LA PTAC experts help businesses determine whether they are eligible for contracts, walk them through the bidding process and help them manage contracts they obtain.

The LA PTAC state administrative office is on the UL Lafayette campus and oversees four sub-recipient centers strategically located throughout Louisiana.

“The University is strongly committed to the Louisiana PTAC program and is very appreciative of our economic development partners who worked with us in securing these funds, including the Governor's Office, Commissioner Kristy Nichols of the Division of Administration, the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, the Louisiana Industrial Development Executives Association, Louisiana Economic Development, the Committee of 100 Louisiana, the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance, and clients of the PTAC program who fought to keep the Center alive,” said Dr. Ramesh Kolluru, vice president for Research at UL Lafayette.

“We are very grateful for the extraordinary support of the Louisiana House leadership, including Walter Leger, speaker pro tempore, and Chuck Kleckley, speaker; Sen. Fred Mills Jr.; and other members of the Acadiana legislative delegation. We will continue to monitor and work with our partners during this legislative session to ensure the viability of the PTAC program.”