Erosion control product manufacturer expands marketing with assistance from UGA SBDC

Older man and woman walk side by side through a large warehouse filled with industrial equipment, pallets, and workstations.

Looking to increase their online presence and expand their digital marketing efforts, owners of Silt Saver attended a UGA SBDC class focusing on LinkedIn strategy and was connected with Peter Williams, business consultant at the UGA SBDC in Macon. Williams educated Potter and Stephanie Singleton on ways to leverage social media to enhance their current marketing efforts. Now, Silt Saver is selling on a much broader scope.

Business owners benefit from UGA SBDC assistance

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The 2023 Economic Impact Study of the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (UGA SBDC) provides solid evidence that entrepreneurs utilizing UGA SBDC assistance experience greater sales and employment growth than the state averages, despite the economic challenges brought on by the pandemic.

UGA SBDC helps senior focused business grow and thrive

Two adults stand side by side in front of a dark wood wall featuring the seva logo and the words “Service With Gratitude.”

The University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (UGA SBDC), helped Poonam Datta create a thriving adult day care center and then expand into other areas, including home care and structured family care. Each service area has experienced strong growth and the UGA SBDC remains a valuable partner for Datta as her business continues to thrive.

UGA SBDC to bolster Georgia business community thanks to a $6.2 million federal grant

Presenter stands at the front of a classroom speaking to an audience seated in rows, with a UGA Small Business Development Center banner and a projected presentation screen visible behind the speaker.

The University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (UGA SBDC) has been named a sub-recipient in the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Grant. A $6.2 million grant funded by the U.S. Department of Treasury and administered through the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA); this grant was created to expand business assistance for small businesses that have difficulty accessing traditional banking opportunities.

Agriculture equipment company expands internationally with assistance from UGA SBDC

Worker stands next to large green agricultural harvesting equipment outdoors, with a red banner reading “We Know Georgia.”

Kelley Manufacturing Company (KMC), a farm machinery manufacturer based in Tifton, Georgia, partnered with the UGA SBDC to overcome challenges entering international markets. With guidance from the UGA SBDC on global expansion strategies and international trade regulations, KMC now works with seven international dealers and has equipment operating in 22 countries.

International trade assistance opens new markets for surgical garment manufacturer

Man wearing glasses and a dress shirt with a patterned tie reads a document on a manufacturing floor, focused on the machinery in front of him.

The UGA SBDC offers a variety of ways to help small businesses grow. But what if a business wants to enter international markets? Russell Rainey, owner of Rainey Apparel Manufacturing in Clarkston, was ready to sell his product globally but didn’t know where to start. When he heard the UGA SBDC had resources that could help, he turned to them for advice and training through the ExportGA program.

UGA SBDC expertise leads to partnership with Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning to strengthen child care industry business practices in Georgia

Child lies on a wooden floor arranging colorful geometric puzzle pieces into shapes, with red, blue, green, white, and purple pieces scattered nearby. A red graphic in the lower left reads “WE KNOW GEORGIA.”

During the pandemic, Alyssa Foskey, area director at the UGA SBDC at Valdosta State University, recognized the need to add additional consulting and training opportunities to support small business owners within the child care industry. In 2022, she partnered with Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) to help develop a new online platform of no-cost training and resources for child care business owners.