Electrical business in Tucker finds targeted resources for business growth

Man wearing gloves works inside an open electrical control cabinet, adjusting wiring and components during an equipment installation or maintenance task.

Chris Wilburn knew the ins and outs of the electrical trade, but when it came time to start his own company, CW Electrical Solutions LLC, he knew he’d need assistance learning how to run a business. An online search for business education resources led Wilburn and his wife, Maria Thurston, to the online training calendar for the UGA SBDC. They took every training course they could and established an ongoing relationship with the UGA SBDC that continues to guide their business.

Paving company gains new job opportunities after utilizing UGA SBDC

Woman smiles while holding a Pro‑Seal & Paving company sign indoors, standing in front of office décor including a bookshelf and motivational artwork.

When projects slowed at Pro-Seal & Paving during the pandemic, majority owner Tammy Roberson and her husband, Joel, turned to the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (UGA SBDC) in Rome for assistance. UGA SBDC business consultant Patricia Devlin guided the Robersons as they submitted an application to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to keep the business running.

Technical assistance from the UGA SBDC opens doors to rapid growth for medical equipment supplier

Man wearing glasses and a navy Brookstone Medical polo shirt smiles while standing outside the clinic’s glass entrance, with the Brookstone Medical logo and business hours visible on the door behind him.

Brookstone Medical, a durable medical equipment supplier, was successful and growing, but owner Matt Corley felt he was missing out on opportunities to further expand and ready his company for future growth. Together with our consultants, he worked on ways to improve financing, created job descriptions, updated the employee handbook, and developed a plan to add new product lines. Since then, his employee count has doubled, and sales have increased nearly five-fold since 2021.

The UGA SBDC spotlights small business impact and trends

Image of cover of UGA SBDC 2024 Small Business and its Impact on Georgia report.

In Georgia, over 99.6% of businesses are considered “small” according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. As a resource for small business owners, the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (UGA SBDC) has developed an annual publication, Small Business and Its Impact on Georgia, highlighting the impact of small businesses on Georgia’s economy and upcoming trends affecting business owners.

Post-operative compression garment manufacturer expands sales with assistance from the UGA SBDC

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

The University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (UGA SBDC) offers a variety of ways to help small businesses grow. But what if a business wants to enter international markets? That’s when the UGA SBDC utilizes its export training program, ExportGA. Russell Rainey 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.

Apparel brand manages growth with help from the UGA SBDC

Stack of folded red, white, and tan striped polo shirts displaying black Steinberg brand labels at the collar.

Roy Steinberg’s golf apparel business was in full swing in Albany, Georgia, but his business needed additional cash flow to increase inventory and meet demand. With guidance from the UGA SBDC, Steinberg was able to develop a strong financial plan to refinance existing loans and improve cash flow. His hard work paid off—sales for his business, Steinberg Sportswear, have tripled.