Impacts of the Entrepreneur Development program since inception in 2001 include:
- Assisted over 183 entrepreneurs in 40 counties, with their start-up and growth. 50 of these entrepreneurs have created over 500 jobs and have the potential to grow additional jobs.
- Provided entrepreneur development guidance and training to over 30 economic development professionals and community leaders.
- Established a “model” volunteer entrepreneur support team of 10 community leaders in Toombs and Montgomery counties to assist local entrepreneurs.
- Helped Georgia Tech’s ENet develop an assessment tool to identify obstacles and opportunities for entrepreneurs in a community and recommend strategies for improving local entrepreneur development.
TESTIMONIALS
“When our company diversified into new markets, the University System’s ICAPP initiative through GREDC and Georgia Tech EDI provided valuable assistance to us in areas where we had limited experience. Specific services included connection to new business opportunities, design of product and process flow, research of high-tech manufacturing techniques, facility layout drawings, design of a customized database to track product, market research, identification of tax credits, and investigation of export opportunities. As a result of this assistance, we are experiencing unprecedented growth and have increased our employment from 7 to 70.”
Joe L. Smallwood, President
Flint Industries, Inc.
Metter, Georgia
Through its technical assistance to entrepreneurial start-up company, Coastal Remanufacturing and Lumber, Inc. in Jesup, GREDC was able to recruit Botkin Lumber Company Inc. to locate a plant in Georgia that within the next two years will produce 100 new jobs, invest nearly $10 million in equipment, and generate annual revenues of $20 million. GREDC identified the recently closed Bassett Furniture facility in Dublin as the perfect location for Botkin and has provided a wide variety of technical assistance in the plant’s start-up which has already hired 25 of the former 300 Bassett employees.
“The guidance and technical assistance offered by GREDC and Georgia Tech EDI through ICAPP have been invaluable in the start-up of our sheet metal fabrication and machining company, which has generated 10 new jobs so far. They have provided ongoing assistance in implementing an ISO 9000-compliant quality system, identifying suppliers, providing software, and researching potential markets. There is no way we could afford to pay the high fees normally charged by consulting firms that offer similar services.”
Wesley Hendley, Co-owner
Twin City Precision Metals, LLC
Twin City, Georgia
In Toombs County, GREDC and Georgia Tech EDI are assisting Lost Recovery Networks, Inc., a high-tech start-up company developing radio-frequency identification (RFID) systems, research the latest radio and telemetry technology through GTRI, investigate opportunities with the Homeland Security Bill and Small Business Innovation Research program, connect with the Maritime Logistics Innovation Center in Savannah, and obtain antenna patterning and testing.
Diversified Plastics Technology, Inc. was started by three entrepreneurs to develop an extruded plastic deck board made from recycled materials in Jeff Davis County. GREDC assisted by researching alternative biomass fill materials, testing chemical blowing agents through Georgia Tech’s Chemical Engineering School, and performing market research.
Rhino Boat Builders, in Baxley, a start-up boat manufacturer, has expanded from 2 employees to 7 in less than one year and expects to hire another 30 employees within the next few years. GREDC and EDI are assisting with the design of a new, more efficient manufacturing facility capable of producing 15 boats per week.
GREDC and Georgia Tech’s Electronic Commerce Resource Center found that Fort Stewart military base purchases approximately $90 million in goods and services each year from outside of Georgia. Businesses were identified in communities surrounding the military base that have the capability to provide many of these products and services. GREDC is attempting to match these opportunities to Georgia businesses and is providing e-commerce and government procurement training to 30 interested small businesses and economic developers.
“As a small start-up company, we have received a lot of practical assistance from GREDC and Georgia Tech EDI in many areas beyond our expertise and resources. These include research and evaluation of Kynar, powder-coat, wet paint, and other coating technologies. Others have involved strategic marketing assistance including industrial marketing training, assessment, and analysis of potential customers and competition; identification of fabrication and coating suppliers; and investigation into product patent opportunities. Thank you for your desire to help us succeed.”
Robert and Roger Smith
Benchmark Fabricating, LLC
Dudley, Georgia
For more information contact Matt Oxley, Entrepreneur Outreach Specialist, at 912-537-9838, matt.oxley@gatech.edu, or Jackson D. Bareford Sr., Director, GREDC, at 478-289-2099, bareford@ega.edu
This page last updated May 7,2006
