A mobile classroom that offers free business classes will set up shop in Homer March 24-26.

The project is a partnership of the LSU AgCenter, Louisiana Secretary of State, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Louisiana Economic Development, Louisiana Public Facilities Authority, Louisiana Municipal Association, Capital One, Louisiana Business and Technology Center, LSU E.J. Ourso College of Business and Louisiana Small Business Development Center.

Dubbed the “Driving Louisiana’s Economy” initiative, the vehicle is a custom-designed 18-wheeler trailer retrofitted to house free seminars and workshops for small-business owners. The self-contained mobile classroom has state-of-the-art audio/visual capabilities, including a large plasma-screen monitor and broadband wireless Internet connectivity, and seats up to 24 people for seminars.

On March 26, Dora Ann Hatch, LSU AgCenter community rural development agent, will teach Introduction to E-Commerce from 9 to 10 a.m., Planning Your Business Web Site from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. and Trends in Rural Retail Trade from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The site is Brookshire’s, 817 W. Main St.

The mobile classroom also will host classes on starting and financing a business, developing a business plan, small business loans and credit, record keeping, marketing, e-mail marketing, fast food sanitation, renewable energy grants for farmers and customer service.

The mission of the mobile classroom is to assist small businesses and entrepreneurs in Louisiana with access to the resources, infrastructure and expertise needed to grow and sustain long-term success.

To sign up for any of the sessions, contact Angela Hood, ahood@agcenter.lsu.edu or (318) 927-3110.

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Contact: Dora Ann Hatch at (318) 927-9654 or dhatch@agcenter.lsu.edu

Writer: Mary Ann Van Osdell at (318) 741-7430, ext. 1104, or mvanosdell@agcenter.lsu.edu