Business
Outreach Services/ Small Business Development Center is
a University of Georgia public service & outreach unit which
provides business and economic development assistance through
the Georgia SBDC Network of 19 offices. It is comprised of four
programmatic divisions: Business Expansion Support Services,
Economic Development Services, Minority Business Development,
and the Small Business Development Center.
The mission of The University of Georgia Business Outreach Services/ Small
Business Development Center is to enhance the economic well-being
of Georgia citizens. Their objectives are:
• To
support entrepreneurship and business expansion through the
offering of direct business consulting and educational opportunities
that address the human resources, management, technology,
capital formation, and infrastructure needs of the business
community.
• To address regional economic development needs for information by providing
applied economic development research to communities and regions. This service
includes the application of geographic information system technology and offers
a wide range of resources for secondary research and an extensive primary research
effort.
• To assist in the expansion of international trade primarily by educating new
exporters who need assistance in all elements of exporting. The globalization
of our economy demands that Georgia businesses take advantage of international
opportunities.
• To deliver in-house managerial and employee training targeted especially to
businesses which have difficulty obtaining affordable training.
• To facilitate the creation of economic development leadership groups that focus
on the creation, retention, and expansion of business.
• To provide special attention to the needs of minority entrepreneurs by identifying
procurement opportunities, locating sources of capital, and supporting outreach
efforts of historically black colleges and universities.
• To assist existing businesses in taking advantage of state and local incentives
for job creation, employee training, and other expansion efforts.
In
addition to offering public classes, they provide tailored,
in-house training for all types and sizes of businesses and
trade associations, on a variety of management-related subjects.
Their professional business consultants offer confidential
services at no charge to companies seeking operational and
strategic planning advice. An example of classes offered at
their facility in Gainesville, GA include: How to Start & Finance
a Business for Women; Tax Update; Starting Your Own Business;
Myths and Realities of Small Business Financing; How to Get
Financing For Your Business; How to Get An SBA Loan, and ,
Entrepreneur Development Program.
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