Several UGA SBDC offices are closed or operating with reduced hours due to recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene.
Several UGA SBDC offices are closed or operating with reduced hours due to recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene.
The University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (UGA SBDC) will utilize $100,000 in grant funding to offer training to rural Georgia businesses over the next three years.
The Albany office of the UGA SBDC, which covers 28 counties in rural southwest Georgia, will administer classes in the areas of marketing, digital marketing, managing cash flow and business finances, and starting a business.
The classes were made possible through grant funds received by the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission as a project member of the Georgia AIM grant, with the regional commission selecting the UGA SBDC to be a subrecipient of the grant.
The classes will target business owners in the regional commission’s territory, which includes Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Terrell, Thomas and Worth counties.
“We’re excited to offer additional programs to rural communities in Southwest Georgia, with important topics business owners need to grow and succeed,” said Nema Etheridge, area director for the UGA SBDC in Albany. “With the support from this grant we’re able to provide additional opportunities for entrepreneurs to start, market and grow their small businesses.”
With the awarded grant funds, the UGA SBDC has developed five business training programs for 2024 with more to come in 2025 and 2026. The first course, AI for Marketing: A Small Business Superpower, was held in Leesburg on June 27, and had 33 registrants. It provided attendees with insight into using AI as an impactful tool for marketing.
More programs are being offered in October including:
Registration and additional course information can be found on the UGA SBDC in Albany website: www.georgiasbdc.org/albany
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The UGA SBDC, one of the eight units of UGA Public Service and Outreach, provides tools, training and resources to help small businesses grow and succeed. The UGA SBDC offers low-cost training and no-cost business consulting for small business owners through 18 office locations across the state.
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
