The Georgia SSBCI (State Small Business Credit Initiative) Program, funded by the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, provides $48 million in funding to increase access to capital for Georgia’s small businesses.

On May 23, 2012 at the Atlanta Marriott Century Center, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs will conduct a Georgia SSBCI seminar targeted to banks, credit unions and CDFIs. The seminar will cover the three new lending programs contained within the Georgia SSBCI: the Georgia Capital Access Program (GCAP); the Small Business Credit Guarantee (SBCG); and, Georgia Funding for CDFIs.  The State of Georgia has designed its SSBCI programs to be as flexible and streamlined as possible for lenders, with a delegated lending model that minimizes risk, lowers exposure, strengthens marginal loans, and offers opportunity for CRA credit.

For more information about the Georgia SSBCI Program, visit www.georgia-ssbci.com. Click here  for the May 23 seminar flyer containing registration information and information.

 John Kingery
Georgia Department of Community Affairs
Phone:  404-679-1586
Fax:      404-679-0563
Email:   john.kingery@dca.ga.gov

On Thursday, May 17th, Dave Williams, VP of Transportation at the Metro Atlanta Chamber will speak to us about the TSPLOST initative.

What is the T-SPLOST?
The Transportation Investment Act of 2010 (TIA 2010) established 12 transportation tax regions in the state of Georgia. Each region can impose a 1 percent sales tax, with voter approval, to fund transportation projects within the region boundaries.

On July 31, 2012 registered voters in Georgia will cast ballots to designate if their region will introduce a Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (T-SPLOST) for 10 years (2013-2022).

CBA Business Meetings

CBA meetings are open to the public, and all are encouraged to attend. The meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at the Chamblee Civic Center, at 3540 Broad St. in Chamblee. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. and the program begins at 8 a.m. There is no charge for first-time guests; the cost for returning guests is $10 and $5 for members. A continental breakfast will be served.

Peachtree Dekalb Airport – What really goes on there?

On Thursday, April 19th, attendees at the Chamblee Business Association monthly business meeting will get the inside story on Peachtree Dekalb Airport operations.  More than 125 aviation-related tenants are at the airport and nearly 600 aircrafts of all types are based there.  As a financially self-sufficient enterprise fund of the County, PDK benefits the local & regional economy in a number of important ways without using any property tax funds whatsoever.

Saturday May 12th, is Good Neighbor Day at Peachtree Dekalb Airport. Come to the meeting this Thursday to find out about the airport operations and then bring the family to Good Neighbor Day for the show.

CBA Business Meetings

CBA meetings are open to the public, and all are encouraged to attend. The meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at the Chamblee Civic Center, at 3540 Broad St. in Chamblee. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. and the program begins at 8 a.m. There is no charge for first-time guests; the cost for returning guests is $10 and $5 for members. A continental breakfast will be served.

For nearly 40 years, Senior Connections has provided programs and services enabling seniors to “age in place” in the comfort of their own homes. Since 1999, Senior Connections has called Chamblee, and their 20,000 square-foot facility at the corner of Peachtree Street and Malone Drive, home. The mission of Senior Connections is to provide essential home and community-based care that maximizes independence.

The organization’s vision is a world in which everyone ages with grace and dignity. The programs of Senior Connections include Meals On Wheels, In-home Care, Home Repair, and the operation of neighborhood senior centers. The North DeKalb Senior Center is currently housed within Senior Connections’ building and in the next year will be moving two doors down to a brand new facility on Malone Drive. Senior Connections currently produces and delivers more than 15,000 Meals on Wheels each week out of their kitchen in Chamblee, serving seniors daily in metro Atlanta and middle Georgia.

And in 2011 alone, Senior Connections provided over 600,000 meals and approximately 50,000 hours of in-home care to those in need. Senior Connections relies on individual donors, corporate sponsors, and private grants, along with government grants and contracts to sustain its operations.

The organization’s premier fundraising event is the Senior Prom Celebrating Aging which will be held on June 9, 2012 at the Carlos Hellenic Center on Clairmont Road. To sponsor, attend, and volunteer for Senior Prom, please contact Kathleen Head, director of fundraising, at khead@seniorconnectionsatl.org or (770) 455-7602 x315.

Today the Chamblee Business Association hosted our first lunch & learn educational workshop. Les Adkins, Founder and Owner of Orange SMS Consulting, discussed how to use Social Media in your business.

Les has been “do-ing” Social Media for 10 years and has consulted with a number of Fortune 100 companies.  We were thrilled to hear his insights into what, for many attendees, is a new business tool.

A big takeaway from Les is not to jump on every new thing.  Refreshing to hear a consultant tell us that we DON’T need to do everything.

First, discover where your customers are online.  If your target audience is under 30, you may be surprised to find out they have left Facebook.

Les advised that you join communities and listen for a while.  Just as you wouldn’t barge into a cocktail party and take over the conversation (you wouldn’t do that, would you) don’t join a group and start selling immediately.  Once you have a feel for the tenor of the conversation you can be more proactive in offering advice and letting the community know more about your business.

For members who would like to continue the conversation with Les, you can connect with him on LinkedIn – Les Adkins on LinkedIn.

Watch what Les does and you can learn what you should be doing!

Registration For 2012 Class Now Open Through March 23!

What does the e200 advanced training entail?

Over seven months, participants are required to participate in approximately 60-80 hours of classroom instruction, generally two three-hour sessions per month.  The method used is primarily instructor-facilitated discussion of the training curriculum.  Outside subject matter experts are included as guest speakers to bring a “real world” perspective.  Additionally, class participants meet and work in smaller CEO Peer Mentoring Groups for an additional 15-20 hours during the training period.

Topics/subjects include:

• Business & Leadership Assessment
• Finances
• Marketing & Sales
• Business Development Resources
• Growth Action Plan

In order to successfully complete and graduate from the program, participants must not have more than two unexcused absences from classroom or CEO Peer Mentoring Group sessions.  They must also prepare and give a 15-minute presentation at the last class session on a three-year strategic growth plan for their business developed from their learning experience before a panel of business and economic development experts.

What types of businesses does e-200 target?

The e200 advanced training series is open to the President, Managing Partner, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, or Chief Operating Officer of small businesses that:

• Are located in Fulton or DeKalb county
• Have been in active operation at least three years
• Have annual revenues between $400,000 and $10 million
• Have at least one employee besides the owner(s)

There will be up to seventeen small businesses accepted for the 2012 e200 program.  This program is provided at NO COST to participants.

For more information, please contact Dorothy Atkins (404) 331-0100, x 614 or Vianna Harrison, (404) 331-0100, x607.  Formal Expressions of Interest to participate must be received by midnight, March 23, 2012.  The 2012 e200 class begins April 16, 2012.

To participate in SBA’s e200 Emerging Leaders Initiative, the business must:

• Be located in Fulton or DeKalb County
• Have been established for at least three (3) years.  This is not for start-up companies.
• Have annual revenue between $400,000 and $10 million per year.
• Have employees.  (i.e. at least one employee besides the CEO participant).
• Be represented by the key decision maker of the qualified business (i.e. CEO, Owner, President)

To submit an “Expression of Interest” to participate in the 2012 e-200 program, please go to http://www.interise.org/SBAe200 and complete the online form.

To register, please click on the link below:

               http://sba-young-entrepreneur-summit.eventbrite.com/

Politics and Schools with the Chamblee Business Association on March 15th

The Chamblee Business Association will host BJ Van Gundy, Vice Chairman of the Georgia Republican Party, as guest speaker for the March 2012 general meeting. Mr. Van Gundy will provide a recap of the March 6^th Georgia Republican Party Presidential Primary as well as provide insight into how the election became such a roller coaster over the past several months. While  Mr. Van Gundy’s perspective comes primarily from Republican contests, BJ’s 20 year experience in regional politics covers a broad base.

Additionally, Mr. Van Gundy will provide information on the controversial topic of Georgia Charter Schools.  The Georgia Legislature has had significant debate this session on the topic of Charter Schools. Mr. Van Gundy is the former Chairman of the Board of the Georgia Charter School Association and served as a Commissioner on the Georgia Charter School Commission.

We won’t be limited to just these topics however as BJ is willing to help us with getting our heads around anything political.  Bring your questions AND opinions!

CBA Business Meetings

CBA meetings are open to the public, and all are encouraged to attend. The meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at the Chamblee Civic Center, at 3540 Broad St. in Chamblee. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. and the program begins at 8 a.m. There is no charge for first-time guests; the cost for returning guests is $10 and $5 for members. A continental breakfast will be served.