Ice Cream Store Grows into Sweet Success with Guidance from UGA SBDC

SBDC Helps Secure Funding for Third Ice Cream Store Jim Rafferty, one of the owners of butter’dudder ice cream stores, and Todd Anduze, a business consultant at the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (UGA SBDC), have been connected for many years through community events in West Georgia. But it wasn’t until Rafferty was ready to […]

StillFire and UGA SBDC Ignite Brewing Success

Putting UGA SBDC Resources to Use Law school opens the door to many possibilities. While sitting in his law school classes at the University of Georgia, Aaron Bisges, general manager at StillFire Brewing, never dreamed one of those possibilities would be opening a brewery after graduation. He worked at bars and restaurants throughout law school […]

Rapid Growth Requires New Employment Strategies

When U.S. Army Major Reginald Foster began planning his retirement gig, he and his wife, Zenna, began researching franchise operations. They chose Tropical Smoothie Café and approached the Augusta office for help. The Fosters now employ 58 people and are preparing to open another store in Augusta.

Strategic Guidance Helps Thomasville Cheesemakers Grow and Thrive 

UGA business assistance helps Thomasville cheesemakers grow and thrive Jessica and Jeremy Little Sweet Grass Dairy Thomasville, Georgia UGA SBDC at Valdosta State University Jessica Little grew up on her family’s farm in South Georgia. Although she loved sustainable agriculture and showing her cows in 4-H, she didn’t want to return to South Georgia and […]

Tasting Success

A family-owned farm in metro Atlanta finds new life as a vineyard   Tucked behind a residential neighborhood near Cobb Parkway in Acworth, this 500-acre farm is an anomaly in an area where builders scoop up available land.     “My grandmother Betty Gilbert bought it back in 1963,” said Emilee Gilbert. “Her father told […]

The UPS Store in Smyrna, GA

Essential Business in Smyrna Turns to UGA For Assistance During Pandemic Joseph is the owner of The UPS Store located on Cobb Pkwy in Smyrna, Georgia. The UPS Store is a locally owned franchise offering a range of products and services designed specifically to help and support small business owners in the local community.    In 2012 a bank recommended Joseph contact a local UGA […]

Davis Brothers Logistics

Pre-Planning Leads Successful Launch-and-Growth Strategy  Deciding where to begin is often challenging for people starting a business. The Davis brothers of coastal Georgia decided to take that first step by putting together a solid, well-researched business plan to launch their ideas and outline their next steps.     Still actively employed, they quickly realized it would be a challenge to respect their commitments to their employers and put […]