Phone (478)
289-2121GREDC Entrepreneur Services
|
The Georgia Rural Economic Development Center (GREDC), in collaboration with Georgia Tech's Enterprise Innovation Institute (EII), has developed a program to "grow our own jobs" through an aggressive entrepreneur services program. The program will provide assistance to all entrepreneurs. Because manufacturing is such a significant presence in rural Georgia, a special initiative is underway to target manufacturing specific entrepreneurs who not only will provide new jobs through new business start-ups and existing small business expansions, but could provide materials and services to manufacturers who in many cases go out of state for their requirements. To this end, the GREDC hired a full time Entrepreneur Outreach Specialist to promote this program. The following is a brief description of the program.
Entrepreneur Development Program The Georgia Rural Economic Development Center (GREDC) at East Georgia College located in Swainsboro partnered with Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute (EII) in 2001 to help create and retain jobs in our rural communities through entrepreneur development. The GREDC is funded through the University System’s Intellectual Capital Partnership Program (ICAPP). An Entrepreneur Outreach Specialist provides on-site management and technical assistance to technology-focused entrepreneurs and provides guidance to rural communities interested in developing or expanding entrepreneur development programs. Click here to see specific assistance available - GREDC Entrepreneur Services Brochure
Impacts of the Entrepreneur Development program since inception in 2001 include:
Testimonials “When our company diversified into new markets, the University System’s ICAPP initiative through GREDC and Georgia Tech EII 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
“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 EII are assisting Lost Recovery Networks, Inc., a high-tech start-up company developing radio-frequency identification (RFID) systems, to 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.
For more information contact Matt Oxley, Entrepreneur Outreach Specialist, at 912-293-2073, mattoxley@gatech.edu, or Jackson D. Bareford Sr., Director, GREDC, at 478-289-2099, bareford@ega.edu
|