What we do:

The principal mission of the Economic Development department at the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce is the recruitment of established company facilities from outside Georgia into our city to create quality new jobs.

If you have any questions regarding small business development, please contact:

Glen Gould
Small Business Services
Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce
404.586.8432
ggould@macoc.com

What you need to do:

If you are a first time entrepreneur, there are several key factors, among others, which you must address:

• Completing a sound business plan
• Determining the amount of start-up capital and working capital you will need
• Securing this capital . . . including your own equity or that of partners or other investors
• Determining the amount and type of real estate you require
• Securing this real estate

Resources available to assist you

Small Business Development Center at Georgia State University http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwsbp/

The Georgia State University Small Business Development Center was established in 1979 to serve small businesses in the Atlanta area through one-on-one consulting, educational programs, and information services.

There are five SBDC offices serving the metro area. Below is the link for the metro office listing: http://www.sbdc.uga.edu/newsite/index.aspx?cart=28a978a1-0f94-46b4-a370-250732f11ef4&page_name=select_metro_atl_county

Director: Bernie Meineke
Small Business Development Center
P.O. Box 3986, Atlanta GA 30302-3986
Tel: 404-413-7830
Fax: 404-413-7832
Email: sbdmbp@langate.gsu.edu

Small Business Development Center at Kennesaw State University
http://sbdc.kennesaw.edu/

The Kennesaw State University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides information and support to small business owners through consulting, educational programs, and information services. As part of an internationally acclaimed business school, the Small Business Development Center uses the expertise of KSU faculty from the Michael J. Coles College of Business, as well as professionals from the community and extensive resources of the statewide SBDC Network

Contact: Small Business Development
1000 Chastain Road, #0409
Burruss Building #4,
Room 430
Kennesaw, GA 301440-5591
phone: (770) 423-6450

Small Business and Entrepreneur loans from the City of Atlanta

The Atlanta Development Authority (ADA) has over $2 million in funds available for loans to help entrepreneurs and small businesses that need financing. The Small Business Loan Department of the ADA will conduct the first in a series of Small Business Loan seminars starting Wednesday, January 24, 2007 at 5:30pm. Seminars will be held the last Wednesday of each month. They are free and open to the public.

All seminars will be held at the Atlanta Development Authority, 86 Pryor Street, Suite 300, Atlanta, GA 30303. Seminars will cover a variety of issues related to acquiring a small business loan. Frequently asked questions will be answered. To RSVP call Cathy Brackett at 404-614-8295 or email cbrackett@atlantada.com. For further information about the Atlanta Development Authority, visit www.atlantada.com.

Contact: Lonnie Saboor
Atlanta Development Authority
Underground Atlanta
86 Pryor Street, SW Suite 300
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-3131
Tel: 404-880-4100
Email: Lsaboor@AtlantaDA.com

Georgia Women’s Business Council
http://www.gwbc.biz/

We are the official certification partner of the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) in the state of Georgia. Our mission is to enhance the competitive value of women-owned business enterprises (WBE's) through certification, education and corporate partnership opportunities. Membership is available to:

• Businesses which are independently owned (51%), managed and controlled by women.
• Corporations
• Government Agencies
• Other purchasing entities with diversity objective

National Certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise

The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) provides the most widely recognized and respected certification in the United states for women’s business enterprises (WBE). Through Georgia Women’s Business Council (GWBC), a partner organization of WBENC, your business can apply for a certification that is accepted by over 700 major corporations, non-profit organizations, as well as many local, state, and federal government agencies. WBENC certification is an important marketing tool for expanding your company’s visibility among and access to decision makers in supplier diversity and procurement offices. Many corporations require that you be WBENC certified before providing access to their supplier diversity programs.

Contact:
Women's Business Enterprise National Council
231 Peachtree Street NE
Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30303
678-904-8470 ext. 223

United States Small Business Administration (SBA)

Georgia District Office
233 Peachtree Street, NE,
Suite 1900
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 331-0100
Office Hours 8:30am to 5:00pm

What the SBA is and does…

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation.

Financial Assistance

The Georgia District Office is one of the top producers in the nation in terms of volume of SBA guaranteed loans to small businesses. In FY 2004, the District approved 2,206 loans, totaling over $542 million, for small businesses in Georgia. These loans were made through the agency’s 7(a) and 504 loan programs. The 7(a) program offers SBA guarantees on business loans provided by banks and other commercial lenders. Proceeds may be used to purchase real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, along with working capital and debt refinancing. The 504 Program provides long-term, fixed rate financing for long-term assets to increase productivity and create new jobs. Proceeds may be used to purchase real estate and equipment for a small business. Terms vary depending upon the use of loan proceeds. Interest rates also vary depending upon the size and term of the loan. For more information, including a list of our Preferred Lenders, call 404/331-0100, ext. 603.

Counseling Services Available

Free counseling, advice and information and low-cost training for starting a business are available through SCORE, "Counselors to America's Small Business." SCORE business counselors are located at the downtown SBA Georgia District Office and other branches and offices in a number of other Georgia cities. At the District Office, volunteer counselors are available from 9:30 to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday the public is encouraged to call in advance for an appointment at 404/331-0121, ext. 808. Other SCORE offices and branches in metro Atlanta are posted at www.SCOREAtlanta.org. Free counseling services and low cost workshops are also offered by the Georgia network of Small Business Development Centers. The Georgia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) program, a resource partner of SBA, operates 20 offices in the state and is one of the nation’s largest networks of business development offices. The web site for the University of Georgia SBDC is www.sbdc.uga.edu.

A Women's Business Ownership Representative is available to advise women business owners. Please call Charlotte Johnson at 331-0100, ext. 405 or email her at charlotte.johnson2@sba.gov.

Special loan programs, along with counseling and workshops, are available for businesses involved in International Trade. SBA International Trade Specialist Ray Gibeau is based at the U.S. Export Assistance Center, a partnership with the State of Georgia and the U.S. Department of Commerce. The center is located in Midtown Atlanta at 75 Fifth Street, N.W., Suite 1000 and helps small businesses export goods and services. Mr. Gibeau can provide information on the agency’s Export Working Capital Program (EWCP) and other services. He can be reached at 404/897-6089 or by email at raymond.gibeau@sba.gov.

If you're a veteran, you can get business counseling and information about SBA guaranteed loan. Our Veterans Affairs Officer, Jorge Valentin-Stone, is available to assist you. You can reach him at 404/331-0100, ext. 609, or email at Jorge.valentin-stone@sba.gov.

Minority Enterprise Development

Through its business development program known as the 8(a) Program, the SBA assists small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Businesses must be able to provide a product or service that is purchased by an agency of the federal government. Since various government agencies have different mission requirements which affect purchasing needs, we encourage all firms owned by socially or economically disadvantaged individuals to contact our Minority Enterprise Development staff. Orientation workshops for the 8(a) Program are held each month at our District Office. To register for the free workshop, please call 404/331-0100, ext. 504. Also see SBA's Government Contracting and Minority Enterprise Development home page and 8(a) Program Application.

Georgia Entrepreneur and Small Business Network
http://www.georgia.org/Business/SmallBusiness/Governors+Welcome+Message.htm
Office created by Governor Sonny Perdue to elevate awareness of state resources to support entrepreneurship. Site contains links to resources for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Governor’s Small Business Resource Center
http://www2.state.ga.us/departments/doas/gsbc/
The Governor’s Small Business Center, works with state agencies, authorities, commissions, boards and institutions to provide the small and minority business communities with access to information and bid opportunities.

Governor's Mentor Protege Program
http://www.state.ga.us/mentorprotege
State sponsored program that matches small businesses with prospering companies to strengthen the emerging business.

Hispanic American Center for Economic Development
http://www.ghcc.org
Created by the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, purpose of the the Hispanic American Center for Economic Development (HACED) is to advance the formation and growth of Hispanic businesses in the State of Georgia.

The Women’s Economic Development Agency
http://weda-atlanta.org/
WEDA provides assistance to women in achieving economic self-sufficiency by focusing on entrepreneurial development and economic life skills.