New Tax Law: What Small Businesses Need to Know

Small business owners learned about the “Big Beautiful Bill” at a recent Small Business Council Lunch and Learn. Speakers Tammy Shiner, owner of Express Employment Professionals, and Matthew Corey, CPA with LaPorte CPAs and Business Advisors, explained how the new tax law affects local businesses. The tax law brings major changes for small businesses. Corey…

Dreams to Reality

Dreams to RealityA letter to the new kids on the entrepreneurial block and a reminder to the entrepreneurs who have been at it a while… Making Your Money Work for Sustainable Growth You know that spark? That brilliant idea, that problem you just have to solve, that urge to create something amazing. That’s the heart…

Don’t Be “Average”

Maybe you saw a new restaurant opened in the area and heard that a friend of yours went there to check it out, so you asked them how it was; their reply was “it was okay; it wasn’t really anything special.”  Would you be likely to want to go there? Probably not. Do you know…

Hiring from Every Angle: Insights to Build Your Team

At a joint luncheon hosted by the Small Business Council and Northshore Young Professionals, attendees learned practical strategies for hiring and retaining top talent in today’s competitive workforce. Don Shea, director of business services at Tri-Parish Works, and Steven Cochran, founder of Impression MGMT, offered actionable insights for small business owners and professionals facing staffing…

Preparing for Business Growth: Overcoming the “Too Busy” Mindset

Business growth requires preparation, investment, and a willingness to adapt. Many business advisors frequently see companies with strategies to expand, and in nearly every case, success hinges on the business owner’s readiness to embrace change and allocate resources—both time and money—to scale effectively. The Psychology of Business GrowthA business owner’s mindset plays a critical role…

Advocacy Committee Explores Energy, Education, and Local Funding Priorities

The Advocacy and Public Policy Committee hosted key speakers addressing critical regional topics. Tommy Faucheux, LMOGA president, highlighted Louisiana’s energy sector trends and economic importance. Dr. Candace Weber from LA Policy Institute for Children discussed the state’s top-20 early childhood education system and its workforce impact. Local officials rounded out the session with St. Tammany…

SBC Explores Tax Savings Through Business Growth

Understanding how local economic development directly influences individual tax responsibility is a topic of growing interest among business leaders and residents alike. To shed light on this important subject, the Small Business Council (SBC) hosted an engaging Lunch and Learn session titled “How to Lessen the Individual Tax Burden” featuring special guest St. Tammany Parish…

(DON’T) DO THE HUSTLE!

By “Definition:” SIDE HUSTLE – a quasi-, pseudo- small business conceived in a garage, or around a kitchen table, or while sitting on the back porch enjoying a beverage, with the hopes of making “a little extra cash” to get through the month. Though not the Merriam-Webster dictionary definition, this about covers it. Or more…

Chamber Supports Sales Tax District #3 Rededication and Extension on March 29th Election Ballot

(COVINGTON, LA, March 10, 2025)— As the leading voice of business in St. Tammany Parish, representing 1,100 area businesses and their 37,000 employees, St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce consistently stays informed about issues that affect the quality of life in the parish and its attractiveness to new and continuing businesses. The Chamber’s Board of Directors,…