All of CAP's services are provided through one or more of the program's listed below:
Contractor’s College
Contractor’s College is an innovative training program designed to assist small construction firms with becoming more competitive in the marketplace. Contractor’s College educates participants on how to build their financing and bonding capacity and how to improve their businesses in the four most critical areas of consideration of banks, insurance and surety companies: credit, capital, capacity and credibility. Since Contractor’s College began in 2004, over 170 local contractors have completed the program.
CreditProject
CreditProject is the credit counseling, debt management, and financial literacy program of Capital Access Project. CreditProject provides a variety of credit services to assist individuals, families and entrepreneurs with managing debt and building credit. CAP has assisted over 500 clients with improving their personal credit scores or building business credit.
Louisiana Minority Business Enterprise Center
[www.LouisianaMBEC.com]
Since January 2007, Capital Access Project has been the home for the Louisiana Minority Business Enterprise Center. The Louisiana Minority Business Enterprise Center works with high-growth potential firms with revenue over $500k (referred to as Strategic Growth Firms) to help them secure expansion capital and procurement opportunities. The program is funded through the U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency. Since beginning the program in October 2007, CAP has assisted over 90 firms with securing over $15 million in new contracts and over $2.5 million in funding.
CertAssist Program
Capital Access Project has spent years identifying key small business certifications to help DBE firms expand procurement and contracting opportunities. We work with the client to complete the applications, package and submit them to the appropriate agencies. CAP has assisted over 150 business owners with completing certification applications.
Access Bonding Program
CAP has developed a model contractor bonding program to provide surety bonds to DBE firms in New Orleans. CAP’s partners in the development of the program include the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation and the Surety Association of America.
Business Development Seminar Series
Since 2003, CAP has partnered with the New Orleans Chapter of the National Black MBA Association and the City of New Orleans to host seminars that educate entrepreneurs on how to build and run their businesses more effectively. The seminars cover topics such as how to form and register your company, marketing your small business, and building business credit. Over 2,000 individuals have attended the business development seminars.
Start Smart in New Orleans Business Planning CD
In 2001, CAP developed the Start Smart Business Planning CD with entrepreneurs in mind. The CD contains over 100 files, forms, workbooks, agency contacts and other tools entrepreneurs need to manage a successful business in New Orleans. CAP has distributed over 700 Start Smart Business Planning CDs since 2001.
