Louisiana Economic Development announced Marks Construction in Donaldsonville was among the five businesses honored at the 2026 Spotlight Louisiana Awards in Baton Rouge.
Owner Jay Marks and his family were in attendance as his company received the statewide award for Small and Emerging Business of the Year.
"Construction is about more than the things we can see," he saidin a videoshared to LED's YouTube page. "It's about the things we can feel, and about the progress and the memories we make."
Previously a strength and conditioning coach for the Tulane University football team in New Orleans, Marks said in the video he made a leap of faith to start a construction business.
As he recalled, the first years were not easy.
"But I had a praying wife, and I had a state in Louisiana that believed in me," Marks said in the video. "And we have not looked back."
As the business has grown, it has no longer been limited to taking small jobs.
"I want to establish something that my own children will be proud to operate one day because family is my why," he said. "This isn't just about projects to me. It's about legacy. And excellence - that's our standard. I always told my players, 'When we focus on the details and the fundamentals, the results will speak for themselves. And now my team approaches every job with strong discipline, clear communication and a championship mindset."
He concluded, "At Marks Construction, we're not just making homes and buildings, we are building community."
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Spotlight Louisiana Awards
The awards ceremony celebrated five companies whose innovation, leadership and investment have created opportunity throughout the state, according to an LED news release.
The Louisiana Growth Network, a division of LED, celebrates the event annually to recognize entrepreneurs and employers leading the state's economic momentum.
"As a former small business owner, I know what it takes to build something from the ground up," Gov. Jeff Landry said in the release. "The companies recognized at Spotlight Louisiana represent the hard work, innovation and determination moving Louisiana forward, and my administration is committed to making sure Louisiana small businesses are connected to the opportunities being created across our state."
Per the release, small businesses employ 54 percent of the state's workforce.
Award winners
The 2026 Spotlight Louisiana award winners were:
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Small and Emerging Business of the Year, Marks Construction, Donaldsonville
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Excellence in Entrepreneurial Leadership, Additive Innovators, New Iberia
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Innovative Company of the Year, OS BENEFiTS, New Orleans
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Source Louisiana Vendor of the Year, Parish Aggregates, Baton Rouge
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Spotlight Louisiana Business of the Year, Fire & Safety Specialists, Maurice
Parter awards recognized businesses and small businesses whose work reflected the reach of the state's small business support network, which included:
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Louisiana APEX Accelerator Government Contractor of the Year, Tunica-Biloxi Services, LLC, Marksville
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Louisiana Small Business Development Center Excellence in Business Award, Apocalypse Sports, Ponchatoula
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National Federation of Independent Business Louisiana Small Business Champion, Lott Oil Company, Natchitoches
SBA champions included:
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Entrepreneurial Success Award, Sweet Kravings Donuts, Gray
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Family-Owned Small Business of the Year, Washington Building Services, New Orleans
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Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year, Miles for Smiles LLC, Shreveport
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Women in Business Champion, Hatten & Hays Mobile Bookstore LLC, Monroe
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Rural Small Business of the Year, Summit Bike Academy, Ponchatoula
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Small Business Development Center of Excellence and Innovation Award, LSBDC at Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond
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Small Business Person of the Year, Jordanna and Louis Coleman Sr., LC Transport Services LLC, Prairieville
Michael Tortorich is a journalist for the USA Today Network in Louisiana.
Gonzales Weekly Citizen and Donaldsonville Chief, part of the USA Today Network of Louisiana, cover Ascension Parish and the greater Baton Rouge area. Follow atfacebook.com/WeeklyCitizenandfacebook.com/DonaldsonvilleChief.
This article originally appeared on Gonzales Weekly Citizen:Donaldsonville business awarded Small and Emerging Business of Year