Discover Georgia, USADiscover Georgia, USADiscover Entrepreneur & Small Business Discover Entrepreneur & Small Business
November 2009November 2009
Great Business EnvironmentGreat Business Environment
• 1st in workforce training
• 1st in fiscal policies
• 1st in entrepreneurship
• 3rd in business climate
• 4th most Fortune 500
company headquarters
• 5th best state for
business
• 7th most pro-business
• 7th best cost of labor
• 7th best state for
biotech industry
Why is Georgia #1 in Entrepreneurship?Why is Georgia #1 in Entrepreneurship?
GA experienced the greatest entrepreneurial activity over the last decade
GA: 590/100,000 adults created a business each month Metro Atlanta: 740/100,000
Reasons? 1) Start up capital 2) Overall economic growth 3) “Entrepreneur Friendly” 4) Increased entrepreneur education for youth
Entrepreneurship in GAEntrepreneurship in GA
Direct Services to Companies Company Calls Capital Centers of Innovation Incubators Export & Trade Education Interactive Tools R&D Tax Credits
Business-to-Business Supplier Match Mentor Protégé GA Made GA Grown Film/Entertainment Military
Indirect Services Through Local Communities “Entrepreneur Friendly” Initiative Interactive Tools Associations
Entrepreneurship in GAEntrepreneurship in GA ESB Coordinating Network – state & federal ESB Coordinating Network – state & federal resource providers resource providers
Access to capital
Entrepreneur education
ESB resource awareness
Who was doing what?
How to reach out? Educate?
Minority partnerships
OneGA ESB Loan Guarantee
Inventory database: all schools
Created new website
Cross Training / Marketing
65/1 - “Entrepreneur Friendly”
Dedicated staff
Entrepreneurship in GAEntrepreneurship in GA
Small Business Call Program 0 – 19 employees / growth companiesConnect to state & federal resourcesWeb optimization
Statewide Economic GardeningMarket research data / SBDC partner
“Entrepreneur Friendly” InitiativeDevelop a local culture that supports
entrepreneurs and small businessesInclude ESB in local economic
development strategic plan
Georgia’s “Entrepreneur Friendly” Georgia’s “Entrepreneur Friendly” InitiativeInitiative
Georgia’s “Entrepreneur Friendly” Georgia’s “Entrepreneur Friendly” InitiativeInitiative
HOW TO REACH ALL BUSINESSES TO CREATE RESOURSE AWARENESS THROUGHOUT THE STATE?
Revamped existing Regional Program focusDepartment can’t reach all businesses…
… but smarter communities can
Developed “Entrepreneur Friendly” Initiative
- Year One: ~ visited 159 counties~ gauged need/desire for ESB development
Georgia’s “Entrepreneur Friendly” Georgia’s “Entrepreneur Friendly” InitiativeInitiative
RECOGNIZE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WHEN YOU SEE IT!
Players: • faith-based• medical• minority• education• youth• businesses
• military • recreation/ag
• governments
Georgia’s “Entrepreneur Friendly” Georgia’s “Entrepreneur Friendly” InitiativeInitiative
What we found . . . Business education
(#1 marketing, #2 sales, #3 finance)
Skilled workforce (#1 work ethics, #2 soft skills & professionalism)
Resource awareness (why don’t I know about them??? Just for me!)
Surprises . . . Creative thinkers
Not aware
Shop at home – promote us
No time to take classes
Georgia’s “Entrepreneur Friendly” Georgia’s “Entrepreneur Friendly” InitiativeInitiative
As a result…. 100% of EF communities have created an ESB
Resource Guide and How to Start of Business Guide 100% have hosted at least one ESB Resource
Fair/Expo 95% of the EF communities
are providing small business educational workshops
Five have created dedicated, comprehensive Resource Centers
25% developed new youth programs
Georgia’s “Entrepreneur Friendly” Georgia’s “Entrepreneur Friendly” InitiativeInitiative
As a result … new partnerships Small Business Development Center (SBDC) created a Max Series of business education courses & tools for all EFs
OneGeorgia created a grant program to encourage sustainable ESB support efforts (after year two)
Technical College System of GA enhanced certificate programs; added more youth camps
Georgia’s “Entrepreneur Friendly” Georgia’s “Entrepreneur Friendly” InitiativeInitiative
More of what we’re seeing . . .
• Increase in corporate local spend (top 25)• Jr. Achievement: finances, credit, ID theft• Business courses w/med school classes• Inventors network• Social networking / new media• Young entrepreneur networks
• Mentoring• Comprehensive ‘buy local’• Improved tracking• New networking forums• Improved business-to-government • Improved licensing process / resources
Georgia’s “Entrepreneur Friendly” Georgia’s “Entrepreneur Friendly” InitiativeInitiative
90% of what entrepreneurs learn, they learn from _______ ???
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
_______% of 9th graders want to start their own business;
by 12th grade, ________% still want to.
Georgia’s “Entrepreneur Friendly” Georgia’s “Entrepreneur Friendly” InitiativeInitiative
What we are seeing with our youth . . .
“C” students / At Risk / Alternative Schools
E Camps at middle & high schools
Youth business plans
K-12 entrepreneurial product development
Youth enterprises at First Fridays
GeorgiaREAL
Georgia’s “Entrepreneur Friendly” Georgia’s “Entrepreneur Friendly” InitiativeInitiative
School & Community . . . Identify gaps - tell schools what’s needed
- encourages ideas - make it happen at home - recession inventions
Youth leadership - entrepreneur / business project
Youth enterprises at community events - themed / festivals / expos
Business plan competition - real life wants & wishes
Georgia’s “Entrepreneur Friendly” Georgia’s “Entrepreneur Friendly” InitiativeInitiative
81% of Georgia designated Entrepreneur Friendly
129 out of 159 counties
Georgia’s “Entrepreneur Friendly” Georgia’s “Entrepreneur Friendly” InitiativeInitiative
“Entrepreneur Friendly” continues… Overall economic development strategies
Value-add: Identifies innovation/creativity & addresses challenges Facilitated strategic planning: puts words to action:
brainstorming re-energizingnew directionnew leadershipnew economynew ideas
Georgia’s “Entrepreneur Friendly” Georgia’s “Entrepreneur Friendly” InitiativeInitiativeEFII includes continuous post-designation
support: Professional development (2x year)
Entrepreneur Summit (Governor, Network)
Trade missions, marketing events EFIF grant projects
Best practices marketing & information sharing
Speaking engagements
‘Hot off the Press’ news, resources, business opportunities
Georgia’s “Entrepreneur Friendly” Georgia’s “Entrepreneur Friendly” InitiativeInitiative
Foster an entrepreneurial culture and non-traditional thinking
Are my ESB programs going to support my entrepreneur & small businesses long term?
Do I really know where to send someone? Do they even know we have resources?
If the state wasn’t involved, would I do this anyway?
Georgia Department of Georgia Department of Economic DevelopmentEconomic Development
Nobody talks of entrepreneurship as survival , but that's exactly what it is and what nurtures creative thinking!
. . . Anita Roddick
All people are entrepreneurs, but many don't have the opportunity to find that out. . . . Muhammad Yunus
Thank you!! Mary Ellen McClanahan Director, Community & External AlliancesGeorgia Department of Economic Development
404.962.4820 [email protected]
www.georgia.org/smallbusiness