3rd annual Southwest Georgia Business Resource Expo brings entrepreneurs together
ALBANY, Ga. – The 3rd annual Southwest Georgia Business Resource Fair brings together business owners and entrepreneurs from across the region.
The recent expo in Albany showcased a diverse range of businesses, providing residents with valuable networking opportunities and insights into entrepreneurship.
“Other strategies include making sure you have good financial statements. Are you working with a bookkeeper or an accountant to get a good profit and loss statement? Do you know if you’re making money? Also, make money. Yeah. You know, sometimes there’s an inclination to maybe not make money to improve on your tax liability. But, if you ever want to sell your business or you want to go get money, you need to show that you know how to run a business and that it’s profitable,” said Nema Etheridge, Business Consultant at University of Georgia SBDC.
Attendees accessed vital business information, covering procurement strategies, business plan development, marketing techniques, and capital acquisition.
A key feature of the event was a panel discussion with business professionals from across Albany, who shared their expertise with the community.
“Finding your customers is the other big challenge that we have. Right. And, when we’re in a more rural economy, it’s a little bit more difficult. We don’t have as many people walking down the streets to see our business or coming to shop at our local stores or whatnot. So, I think that’s where marketing is extremely important. Southwest Georgia is really interesting because we have some of the lowest cost of living that is in the nation. But, we’re like, you know, less than a half a day drive to one of the biggest economies in the world. So, there’s a tremendous opportunity, I think, for all of us. We just kind of have to tap in and be focused, which is what we talk a lot about in the SBDC,” said Etheridge.
“We are an underserved community. We are 72% disadvantaged. And, so, programs and incentives aimed at supporting minority owned businesses and reducing disparities are becoming more prevalent. Partnership powerhouse is a city led initiative, but now it has become an initiative that belongs to 14 state holders comprised of local, state, federal and private agencies. Where we have created a collaborative and resourceful platform to engage with business owners, and our focus is to help minority and disadvantaged businesses,” said Angela Calhoun , City of Albany Fleet Management Superintendent.
Organized by Albany Community Together, Inc., the event aligns with their mission to build wealth and foster economic growth in Georgia by providing affordable access to capital and business support for aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners.
De’Andra Jacobs reporting.
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