The Georgia Department of Economic Development’s (GDEcD) Small Business & Innovation (SBI) Division provides a community-based program that helps create an entrepreneur environment, building entrepreneur and small business strategy into the community’s overall economic development strategies.
The GDEcD Regional Project Managers-Small Business & Innovation (RPM-SBI) have taken Georgia's communities through proven methods designed to establish an entrepreneur support program, help them better understand their existing entrepreneur environment and develop sustainable, effective local strategies.
Through the Entrepreneur and Small Business Office (ESBO), strategic planning is facilitated to help create long-term, sustainable small business development programs.
key steps to becoming “Entrepreneur Friendly”
This is how Georgia did it: There are many other methods and approaches to create an entrepreneur culture. (To ensure successful completion of this program, it is required that your RPM-SBI be involved in each step and that each step be followed in the order listed.)
1. Identifying the local organization & champion who will lead the community in their entrepreneur and small business development strategy; Form the committee that will support the initiative
Key: The committee must be truly representative of the county, including all municipalities, K-12 education, college/university, downtown development, minorities, city and county government, small business owners, financial services, and other entities that have a stake in the local strategy (agriculture, healthcare, SBDC, Department of Labor, youth services, newspaper, etc.). Provide your RPM-SBI with the committee names and contact information, and schedule the RPM-SBI to make a presentation to the full Committee.
2. Increasing community awareness of and support for strategies, needs and resources; Educate the community about the benefits of “homegrown” business development and fast-growth companies
Key: Create a “How To Start a Business in (Your) County” booklet and/or webpage. Create a system for gathering and reporting job growth, investment, and new businesses. Document committee efforts, such as press releases, business plan contests, entrepreneur spotlights, youth entrepreneur recognition, finance seminars, presentations to civic organizations, and other activities. Include updates in all news & media opportunities and meetings. Include the RPM-SBI in this step.
3. Enhancing relationships with state and federal resource providers, including SBDC and others in educational sessions that help local leadership learn how entrepreneurs can be supported
Key: Host the Small Business Development Center (SBDC)” EF Program Seminar”; invite other service providers to present information; invite local governments to present workshops on how they support small businesses; Chamber of Commerce should present a workshop on how they support small business; Learn and share information about the Governor’s Entrepreneur Coordinating Network and the GDEcD Entrepreneur & Small Business Office, and become familiar with our business resources. Include the RPM-SBI in this step, and continue bringing the committee & others together for updates and learning sessions.
4. a) Identifying local entrepreneurs (potential, existing, growth)
Key: The RPM-SBI will facilitate the Committee through this activity, and will train Interview Teams for the next step in the process. Training will be conducted after the Committee has demonstrated sufficient activities in the first three steps above. Once entrepreneurs are selected for interviews, the Committee will send a letter to each business owner, describing the initiative and asking for an interview.
b) Identifying unique local resources
Key: The RPM-SBI will facilitate the Committee through this activity. What are the unique assets of the county that support and foster entrepreneurship and small business? Think of attributes such as tourism, agriculture, historic features, location and geography, nature-based venues, and educational specialties.
5. Visiting and interviewing local entrepreneurs; reviewing and compiling results to determine appropriate strategies The number of entrepreneurs to interview:
Key: County of 20,000 or less minimum of 25
County of 20,000-50,000 minimum of 35
County of over 50,000 minimum of 50
All interviews should be conducted face to face by members of the Committee and the RPM-SBI. After results are compiled, copies of completed interview forms should be submitted to your RPM-SBI.
6. Scheduling the Review Team visit
Key: The RPM-SBI will conduct a pre-review of the Committee’s documented activities, recommending a review date upon satisfactory completion of the steps. The Review Team will help the community assess current activities and make recommendations for possible new programs or strategies based on your community’s unique opportunities. Receive the “Entrepreneur Friendly” designation!
7. Assistance and facilitation from the RPM-ESB in planning and implementation of ESB strategies that result from the EF process and designation
Key: Within 30 days of receiving the EF designation, the Committee should conduct a strategic planning session where the RPM-ESB will facilitate next steps.
**Your community is now a member of the Georgia “Entrepreneur Friendly” Team, and you will be expected to participate in opportunities such as professional development, conferences, and sharing of best practices.
For more information on how to build and maintain an entrepreneur environment, please visit the links in the upper left-hand side of this page or contact:
Mary Ellen McClanahan - memcclanahan@georgia.org or 404.962.4820
"Entrepreneur Friendly" Map