BATON ROUGE — Southern University received a $1.275 million, three-year cooperative agreement from the Minority Business Development Agency to establish the Louisiana Innovation for Thriving Rural Business Center. 

The center is an initiative designed to strengthen rural businesses, expand access to financing and government contracting opportunities, and increase advanced manufacturing capabilities across the state. 

Housed in the College of Business, the center will provide eligible businesses with access to business assessments, consulting, and training, bringing together expertise from the university's Law Center, College of Sciences and Engineering and Advanced Metal Additive Manufacturing Laboratory. 

Business owners will gain access to resources designed to strengthen their operations, prepare for financing, pursue government contracting opportunities, and expand their capacity to compete in advanced manufacturing industries. 

The LIFT Center aims to serve 500 clients, help 50 new businesses enter the federal supply chain, assist clients in securing $2.125 million in capital and support the creation of 600 jobs.