[MelissaPGHarrison]

Hello, I'm Melissa from Lafayette, Louisiana. I am very excited about these forums. I have been planning and working on starting my own business for the past few years, and now is the time when I can finally take some action. I'm going to open up a venue somewhere (I have a few places I would like, but money is a hurdle!) in Lafayette. There I would put on shows for bands to play, have a stage set up for live theatre, have a theatre room for independent films, have a recording studio, art gallery for local artists to sell their art, coffee, have speakers come in and do seminars, you name it! I am currently working on the written business plan aspect of it. I want it to be a non-profit, so I am working on writing up grant proposals for that as well. My biggest obstacle right now would be my age (19), my lack of experience (I've been a secretary for two years), and I am not in school. I am saving up to buy a PA system so I can go ahead and start booking shows. I am also trying to team up with local venues who do shows every once in a while. As you all know, the birthing process is stressful and sometimes discouraging, but I am very excited to be on a forum like this where we can all help each other out. I'm excited about "meeting" you all!

-Melissa

[ltressel]

Hi Melissa!

Welcome to the Forum. My suggestion is this. Poke around your local HUD. Being that you are going to be a non-profit, you might have a good chance of really getting the grant. Check with their rehabilitation department as they might have a commercial property that may need rehab and they can almost supply you with that property for less and help you with the restoration.

Check also with the CDBG programs that they have. That's another HUD grant. They also have a program that you can buy a a property for $1 where the property doesn't sell for a while and the local government sells it back to the community for a buck.

Hope this helps...

LT

[Fred333]

Welcome to the forum Melissa.

[zoobie]

I'm a coffee love and an art enthusiast. That's good to hear.

Wish you all the best!

[Fiona_Fell]

You are definitely in the right place to find out how things work and don't work for the young entrepreneur

Good luck, I'll help you out as much as I can.

Cheers, Fiona

[allysa]

Hello Melissa, we have something in common. I love indie films and art too! Anyways, good luck on your plans, wish you all the best.

[deep_impression777]

Hello Melissa. What a noble task. And it is a huge task indeed. Look at the brightside, accomplishing this will give you tremendous experience and practice in honing your business acumen.

Welcome to YE girl!

[MelissaPGHarrison]

Thanks so much for your advice and encouragement! It will definitley help a lot.