Legislators support efforts to help veterans start businesses, get hired

By: Madeline Meyer, LSU Manship School News Service

Published: May 22, 2019

BATON ROUGE–Legislators are supporting efforts to help veterans start businesses and get hired in Louisiana. The Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday advanced a proposal for the Veterans First Business Initiative.

The popular bill would be the first of its kind in the country.

The proposal, authored by Rep. Franklin Foil, R-Baton Rouge, was co-sponsored by 71 other legislators. The House voted unanimously in late April to advance the bill.

Foil’s proposal now moves to the Senate floor.

Under the initiative, the Louisiana Economic Development — the state’s business development agency — would create a registry for veteran-owned businesses. These businesses would also be able to post a sign or marker to indicate that they are veteran-owned.

To qualify as veteran-owned, veterans must own 51% or more of the business and must not have been dishonorably discharged.

“If you are a returning veteran and you’re looking for employment,” Foil said, “you can find other veteran-owned businesses that are owned by people who have gone through similar experiences.”