Spotlight Louisiana Awards highlight small businesses

BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana Economic Development, partners and small business leaders from across the state gathered Thursday evening for the 2026 Spotlight Louisiana Awards, celebrating five companies whose innovation, leadership and investment are creating opportunity in communities across Louisiana.

Spotlight Louisiana is Louisiana’s biggest night for honoring small business and the marquee event of the Louisiana Growth Network, a division of LED. The annual celebration recognizes entrepreneurs and employers turning Louisiana’s economic momentum into local jobs, new ideas and lasting impact in the communities they call home.

Small businesses remain central to Louisiana’s economy, employing 54% of the state’s workforce and supporting communities in every region and industry. Through the Louisiana Growth Network, LED connects businesses with the programs, resources, capital and support needed to grow, compete and access the expanding pipeline of work being created across the state.

In 2025, more than 26,000 Louisiana small businesses were served through Growth Network programs, with participating companies securing $1.45 billion in contract value. These outcomes reflect LED’s focus on helping companies build capacity, compete for new work and grow alongside the major investments shaping the state’s future. That work includes Source Louisiana, LED’s platform connecting local vendors, subcontractors and suppliers with major projects across the state.

The 2026 Spotlight Louisiana honorees represent businesses at different stages of growth, from emerging companies leveraging LED support to established employers expanding their impact. The event also recognized partner award winners honored by state and federal small business organizations as part of National Small Business Week, May 3-9, along with a proclamation from Governor Landry recognizing the role of small businesses in Louisiana’s economy.

2026 Spotlight Louisiana Award Winners:
  Small and Emerging Business of the Year 
Marks Construction
Donaldsonville, LA

Excellence in Entrepreneurial Leadership
Additive Innovators
New Iberia, LA

Innovative Company of the Year
OS BENEFiTS
New Orleans, LA
 
Source Louisiana Vendor of the Year
Parish Aggregates
Baton Rouge, LA
 
Spotlight Louisiana Business of the Year
Fire & Safety Specialists
Maurice, LA

Learn more about this year’s honorees by watching the 2026 Spotlight Award videos. 
Partner Awards
These awards recognize businesses and small business champions whose work reflects the reach of Louisiana’s small business support network.

Louisiana APEX Accelerator Government Contractor of the Year
Tunica-Biloxi Services, LLC
Marksville, LA 

Louisiana Small Business Development Center Excellence in Business Award
Apocalypse Sports
Ponchatoula, LA

National Federation of Independent Business Louisiana Small Business Champion 
Lott Oil Company 
Natchitoches, LA 
SBA Champions 
SBA Champions recognize small businesses and leaders whose growth, service and leadership contribute to strong communities and a stronger small business economy.

Entrepreneurial Success Award
Sweet Kravings Donuts
Gray, LA

Family-Owned Small Business of the Year
Washington Building Services 
New Orleans, LA 

Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year
Miles for Smiles, LLC
Shreveport, LA 

Women in Business Champion
Hatten & Hays Mobile Bookstore LLC
Monroe, LA 

Rural Small Business of the Year
Summit Bike Academy
Ponchatoula, LA 

Small Business Development Center of Excellence and Innovation Award
LSBDC at Southeastern Louisiana University
Hammond, LA 

Small Business Person of the Year
Jordanna & Louis Coleman Sr.
LC Transport Services, LLC
Prairieville, LA