Karen Fite at the Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute
contributed the following article on the OneGeoriga Authority
funding and assistance program for entrepreneur and small
businesses:
The OneGeorgia Authority and the Georgia Department of Economic
Development recognized the fertile soil that rural Georgia has to
offer small businesses and entrepreneurs. Yet, they
understand the challenges that face many of these businesses as
they dare to succeed and grow. In an effort to continue
building on the state's policies and programs to enhance, support
and grow small businesses and entrepreneurs in Georgia, they
ventured to establish a new service program targeted to
entrepreneurs.
Through the Entrepreneur and Small Business Assistance Program,
Georgia Tech Enterprise innovation Institute and University of
Georgia Small Business Development Centers have combined resources
and service to extend our current entrepreneur and small business
programs and services. This program works to provide expertise by
connecting these businesses to the appropriate resources, expanding
into new markets and providing highly specialized technical
assistance through Georgia's research universities and other
qualified service providers. TwinEngines is one service provider
supplying expertise in lean web presences, eCommerce and search
engine optimization.
The activities provided will be targeted to entrepreneurs and
small businesses located in eligible and conditionally eligible
counties within Georgia's service delivery regions, as identified
by the OneGeorgia Authority. Companie must have less than 100
employees and are in Georgia's identified strategic industries or a
qualified supporting industry, as identified by the Commission for
New Georgia. Those strategic industries include Advanced
Communications, Aerospace, Agribusiness, Automotive, Bioscience,
Defense, Energy/Environment, Financial Services, Information
Technology, Logistics/Transportation, Manufacturing, New Media and
Tourism.
The services will be provided in six areas to eligible
companies:
1. Mentoring & nurturing to support
start-up companies and small businesses
Developing Business-to-Business and Peer-to-Peer Networking forums
allowing opportunities for the entrepreneurs and CEO participants
to learn, share their experiences with their peers, and make
effective use of the time and talents of the participants.
2. Access and prospecting new markets (domestic and
international)
Helping companies develop new markets by providing market
data for identifying niche markets, expanding their current
customer base or expanding into international markets. Market
data will be provided as well as guidance on the use of the
information to development of new products or markets to grow
healthy, profitable revenue streams for the entrepreneurs and small
business.
3. Marketing through technology
Assisting small businesses and entrepreneurs in their
efforts to market through technology will be provided through
training and direct assistance with the use of contracted
consultants, such as TwinEngines. These
services will include assistance with eCommerce, lean website
development and enhancement, search engine optimization, and social
media/networking.
4. Specialized manufacturing and technical
expertise
Assistance to small manufacturers for specialized manufacturing
technologies and technical expertise will primarily be provided by
EI2's existing manufacturing extension service, the Georgia
Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP). Assistance
will be provided in three primary areas: Lean Manufacturing,
Automation, and Software Technologies.
5. Business development & growth
Assistance in this service category will be provided by UGA and
Georgia Tech's network of business and entrepreneurial
consultants. Consultants will meet with a company's owner
and/or management team to discuss the company's challenges and
opportunities. Based on this initial consultation, the
consultant and company will agree to a course of work with stated
goals, action plan, timeframe for completion, and identification of
anticipated impacts.
6. Defense and other state and federal
contracts
The Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC), housed
within EI2, helps Georgia businesses identify, compete for, and win
government contracts. Contracting assistance is provided for
federal, defense, state, and local procurement opportunities.
This no-cost assistance comes in the forms of teaching, mentoring,
and coaching. Clients are also provided with a complete set
of tools to research and identify government contracting
opportunities. Our services take the form of classroom
instruction, customized electronic bid matching, and one-on-one
counseling.
For more information, contact Karen Fite, ga-esb@innovate.gatech.edu.