The University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (UGA SBDC) provides tools, training and resources to help small businesses grow and succeed. UGA's public service mission guides this team to work alongside Georgia's business owners by offering services are either no-cost to the business owner or at a significantly reduced rate.
With 18 offices across the state, whether business owners are looking to develop a plan or take what they have to the next level, we are here to help move them forward. Over the last five years, we have helped to bring in $9.5 billion dollars in sales, assisted in starting 2,182 new businesses, created 15,514 new jobs and raised $1.25 billion dollars in capital for SBDC clients.
Our one-on-one consulting is available at no-cost to business owners, and our training programs are low to no-cost.
After 26 years with the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center, Eric Bonaparte retired – but his contributions to the UGA SBDC would continue. Together with his sister Carol Bonaparte, Eric gifted funds to UGA to create the Eric Stanley Bonaparte Award Endowment Fund. The fund was established to provide ongoing financial support for annual Consultant of the Year and Support Staff of the Year awards.
After serving as area director at the UGA SBDC in Rome, Richard Montanaro, Jr. made a charitable gift to help assess the needs of small business owners across the state of Georgia. This gift, combined with a matching gift from the UGA Foundation Trustees, established The Next Best Thing Fund. These resources will allow the SBDC to partner with local community stakeholders, particularly in rural areas, to conduct region-specific needs assessments targeted at business owners. These assessments will determine which classes and trainings will be most effective in promoting small business growth.
Contact: (706) 542-8941
All programs of the UGA SBDC are open to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance.
Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The University of Georgia
Small Business Development Center
382 East Broad Street
Athens, GA 30602-5412
P: (706) 542-2762
