Fisheries

Seedco Financial has recently opened the Southeast Louisiana Fisheries Assistance Center in Belle Chasse, Louisiana. The Center, the first and only one-stop resource center for fisheries in the country, provides financial assistance and comprehensive business services to commercial fishermen. It supports the commercial fishermen of St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson, and Orleans Parishes.

Partnering in this initiative with Seedco Financial are the Louisiana Small Business Development Centers, marketumbrella.org, Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board, LSU Agriculture Center/Louisiana Seagrant, ASI Federal Credit Union, Mary Queen of Vietnam CDC, The Louisiana Technology Council, and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

Regional and program partners also play a significant role at the Center, providing assistance in a wide range of areas including licensing, marketing, accounting, business banking services, lending, and workforce support. Special emphasis will be put on direct marketing and disseminating new technologies and processes that will increase the profitability of Louisiana's commercial fishing industries. Additionally, Xavier University's Division of Business assists in the long-term growth of the industry by focusing on the problems facing today's commercial fishermen.

The Center was created with a seed grant from the St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parish Community Foundations, affiliates of the Greater New Orleans Foundation; generous support from Sen. Mary Landrieu, the U.S. Treasury, and Share our Strength. Funds for loans, grants, and technical assistance has been provided through Deutsche Bank, Louisiana Department of Economic Development, the Office of Community Development and the Louisiana Recovery Authority.

Outreach into the commercial fishing community will be crucial to the success of the Center. To that end, Seedco Financial is partnering with numerous commercial fishing member associations and support organizations including the Louisiana Shrimp Association, the United Commercial Fisherman's Association, and the South Plaquemines United Fisheries Cooperative.