A bill to certify veteran-owned businesses heads to the Senate floor after unanimously passing through the Senate commerce committee. Any business that is majority owned by veterans would be provided a statewide insignia to display. Governor John Bel Edwards says the bill will also create a database of veteran-owned businesses.
“We would also be giving veterans a way to find other veteran-owned businesses that they could trade with.”
To be certified as a veteran owned business Edwards says safeguards are in place to prevent abuse of the program.
“To make sure that the veteran owns at least a majority of the business, that the veteran was not dishonorably discharged and those sorts of things. I want to make sure that people who are not veterans are not allowed to do this.”
Census data indicates Louisiana has 42,000 veteran-owned businesses. Edwards says as a former army ranger he hopes House Bill 391 will connect these businesses with unemployed veterans.
“Veterans, many of whom struggle to adjust to civilian life and they need just a little bit of assistance. This could provide that for them especially when they have a visible and searchable veteran-owned designation.”
If the bill authored by Baton Rouge representative Franklin Foil passes the Louisiana Economic Department will create the application and certification process. No set launch date has been set for the program.
