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October 03, 2008
SOUTH FORSYTH - Sixty percent of the businesses in Forsyth County have five or fewer employees, the Cumming-Forsyth Chamber of Commerce learned in a survey four years ago.
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Accelerator Town Hall Meeting
Curious about just what a business accelerator is all about? Do you think your budding entrepreneurial efforts are ready for the next step, with a little bit of help? Then the Accelerator Town Hall Meeting might be just for you.
The Small Business Development Center will host the meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 15 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at ExecuCourt. The address is 5490 McGinnis Village Place, Ste. 100, Alpharetta (in South Forsyth, just north of McGinnis Ferry Road, with an entrance off Christopher Robin Road). |
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"Based on that, they realized there was a serious need to support from a resource perspective for those companies," said Alex Gubbins, director of the Small Business Services Center created at ExecuCourt in South Forsyth to offer that support.
Remington Reynolds, chairman and CEO of ExecuCourt, started three companies, including PartnerTEL, a telecom outsourcing company. Gubbins said as a result of going it alone in starting his companies, he felt it necessary to partner with the chamber to make the business accelerator a reality.
To further stimulate the business climate, Reynolds is sponsoring a Best Business Plan contest to be unveiled at the Business Accelerator Town Hall meeting Oct. 15.
In return, Gubbins assists at the ExecuCourt location in South Forsyth.
Two years ago the chamber created the center as an entity underneath Brian Dill, vice president of economic development for the chamber. It was used as a template to create monthly classes to help small businesses.
Gubbins said it also was used as a way to liase with universities and colleges such as Lanier Tech and the Georgia State Small Business Development Center.
Once people started making use of the programs, with attendance of 30 to 40 people per class, the chamber decided to move it away from Economic Development to stand on its own.
Another part of the work was the creation of the Business Expo and Entrepreneurial Conference, which gave small businesses the ability to market their services to other businesses.
Forsyth County received the designation of Entrepreneurial Friendly two years ago, another commitment to helping entrepreneurs.
"A year ago, it was Lynn Jackson's idea to have the Small Business Center," Gubbins said.
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Business Accelerator Guidelines
To be considered for the business accelerator program in the Small Business Development Center, its director, Alex Gubbins, said businesses must:
• Be in business for 12 months;
• Have two employees;
• Be a chamber member;
• While not necessary, it is preferred that they live in Forsyth;
• Revenues of approximately $100,000 (or more);
• Submit an application;
• Submit a business plan.
"The guidelines say we hope that you meet the majority of the guidelines," Gubbins said.
An advisory board council made up of entrepreneurs and local businessmen will review the applications and business plans.
"If they don't' have a business plan that someone is advising them on, then I would highly suggest that they go to SCORE and they fine tune it," she said.
Appointments can be made at the center, or online.
"And I would also ask for a copy of How to Build, Grow & Succeed a New Business in Forsyth County, which is available at the SBSC," she said.
Contact her at:
agubbins@cummingforsythchamber.org
5490 McGinnis Village Place, Ste. 100
www.cummingforsythchamber.org |
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By itself the physical location might not have been possible, but ExecuCourt offered space and resources in its south Forsyth location on Christopher Robin Road off McFarland Road. In addition to housing the program, it gives a satellite office of the chamber.
The business center serves as a small business accelerator. Gubbins serves as its director, offering her assistance.
"And it gives a true, tangible product or resource that people can see," she said.
Six applications had been submitted, but none have been approved.
The businesses accepted into the accelerator have three years to succeed.
"Obviously we want them to commit to growing and succeeding," Gubbins said.
"We recommend that if they want to be adopted, they have an edge being a Forsyth County resident and they plan on growing their business and hiring their employees from Forsyth County," she said.
Monthly meetings will be held with advisory board members to review their goals. Those goals have to be set for the 36 months in the program.
Businesses in the accelerator program will be asked to participate in programs the Small Business Development Center offers, such as the monthly seminars.
"Those resources are important to the success of their business," Gubbins said.
Industries that would have an advantage in selection include medical, research and development, and service related.
The Small Business Development Center has agreements with both the Small Business Administration and SCORE Atlanta, a non-profit resource partner of the Small Business Administration. SCORE Atlanta volunteers are retired (and working) business owners and corporate executives who are giving back by providing business advice.
The SCORE office at the center will offer one-on-one counseling, across the table or even via Web cam.
Not all entrepreneurs will need the office space.
"First of all, some accelerators don't need offices. But what they need is the ability to jump their business to the next level," she said.
- www.northfulton.com
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