Louisiana Business and Industry Association /

Baton Rouge Foundation

Gulf Area Disaster Relief Fund Vetting Process.

1. Applications for assistance are downloaded from the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry Web site (www.labi.org).

2. Applications are mailed back to an non-LABI post office box.

3.An individual outside of the LABI office opens the applications,stamps an application number on the contact sheet, removes it, and then stamps the same application number on the completed application form.

4. The contact sheets are held separately at the office of a local accounting firm. The then anonymous applications are scanned into a computer file that is then emailed to the screening committee for review.

5. The screening committee consists of volunteer professionals(CPAs, bankers, attorneys) who review applications before coming to screening committee meetings. The place the applications in categories:
Category Ones are good prospects for grants; Category Twos meet all the criteria but are not as viable candidates as Category Ones; and Category Threes don't meet the criteria (for profit business, under 100 employees,some insurance and/or remaining assets.)

6. At the screening committee meetings, applications are selectedfor funding.

7. A separate CPA firm from the screening committee makes calls to verify the accuracy of the application and the existence of the business
applying for the grant.

8. The Baton Rouge Area Foundation is contacted and  told who to make out the check (or equipment voucher),to and for what amount.

9. The checks (or equipment vouchers), are delivered by an LABI member or staff member at a final visit to verify the use for the grant.