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Deidre N. Williams,
SVP, Small Business and Membership Services -
Greater Columbus GA Chamber of Commerce

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Service Core of Retired Executives www.score.org
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A nonprofit associate dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship. They have been assisting small businesses for nearly 50 years.
S.C.O.R.E. is supported by the US Small Business
Administration (SBA)
Volunteers deliver mentoring services at no charge.

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Volunteer MENTORS who share their expertise across
62 industries
FREE, confidential business COUNSELING in person or via email
FREE business TOOLS, templates and tips via their website
Inexpensive or free business WORKSHOPS (locally) and webinars (online 24/7)
With 364 Chapters – they easily align entrepreneurs with volunteer mentors

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FREE Online business workshops
FREE Interactive worksheets to accompany areas of interest
Areas of Interest include: o
Accounting and Budgeting o o o o o
Business Planning
Cash Flow Management
Customer Relations
Legal
Financial

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Jeff Morton – Director, Columbus S.C.O.R.E. Office
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Appointment Line is 706.596.8331
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Office Hours are 9:30am to 11:30am: o
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
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Email address is score671@bellsouth.net
Located in downtown Columbus:
Wells Fargo Bank Building, 2 nd Floor
101 – 13 th Street, Columbus, GA 31901

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The University of Georgia’s Small Business
Development Center – Columbus, GA www.georgiasbdc.org
Supported in part by the SBA
Areas of specialty include: o o o
Consulting
Continuing Education
• Classroom
• Online
Research

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Consultants who can help: o o o o o o o o o
Develop and update business plans
Identify sources of capital
Set up record-keeping systems and analyze financial records
Identify foreign markets for products or services
Conduct specialized research geared to specific needs of the business-owner
Create marketing strategies and advertising campaigns
Explore suitable ways to conform to government regulations
Increase opportunities to sell to federal, state, and local governments
Analyze statistical and demographic data

Category/
Program
Date Start
Management Assistance ***
SBDC StartSmart Sep 21 9:00 AM
Length Location Cost
3hrs Columbus $495.00
Procurement/International/Technology
Introduction to
Government
Contracting
Sep 20 10:00 AM
Starting A Business
5 Proven Steps to
Choosing a Winning
Franchise
Aug 30 1:30 PM
2hrs Columbus $0.00
2hrs Columbus $0.00

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Data Sources o
Census Data o
Economic Census Data
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Georgia Business Facts
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Industry Fact Sheets o
Industry fact sheets are a compilation of secondary data and industry trends in the United States and Georgia. They contain information relevant and important for both those operating a business within the profiled industry, as well as those considering going into business.

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Mark Lupo – Columbus Area Director o o
Todd Carlisle – Consultant
Deborah Free – Administrator
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The University of Georgia SBDC
Cunningham Conference Center at Columbus State University
3100 Gentian Blvd., Suite 119
Columbus, Georgia 31907
Telephone: (706) 569-2651
Fax: (706) 569-2657

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GTPAC www.gtpac.org
GTPAC’s Mission: o
To provide marketing and procurement technical assistance to Georgia businesses, large and small, operating in the government procurement markets at the federal, state, and local levels as a prime contractor or subcontractor
GTPAC’s Goal: o
Business growth and the creation or retention of jobs resulting from government contract awards

Train business owners at procurement workshops, seminars, and classes.
Coach businesses on the procurement process and on marketing their products and services to government organizations.
Notify businesses of bid opportunities.
Network opportunities for clients with government agencies and primes.

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Training
Bid match service
Paperwork assistance
Procurement history
Reference Library
E-Commerce assistance
One-on-one counseling
Service provided at NO COST

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Mr. Roy H. Leggett - Columbus Counselor
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Enterprise Innovation Institute
Georgia Institute of Technology
3100 Gentian Blvd.
Columbus, Georgia 31907
Telephone: 706) 569-2688
Fax: (706) 562-8447
E-mail: roy.leggett@innovate.gatech.edu

 www. www.columbusincubator.org
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Key Objectives o o o o o o
Increase innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology job creation in Georgia
Solve technology challenges for businesses
Attract and retain technology jobs
Increase the number of patents in our region
Develop new methodologies
Educate the business community on the types of research available at the state and federal level
Mission o
Increase technology-related jobs in the Valley area.

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Our foundation for innovation is the two floors that we occupy in the modern Cunningham Center on the campus of
Columbus State University. Our 20,000 sf facility accommodates up to 33 tenant companies focused on business development and technology innovation.
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Offices starting at less than $400 per month
Access to meeting and training rooms
Utilities included in rent
Shared work room including copier, fax, and scanner.
High-speed Internet connection
Access to free business consulting services

Contact Information:
The Regional Technology Incubator is located on the campus of CSU in the
Cunningham Center
3100 Gentian Boulevard Columbus, GA 31907
Phone: (706) 562-8339
Fax: (706) 562-8447

 www.sba.gov
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Access online information 24/7 for small business news and information and training entrepreneurs
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Has nationwide partners who assist millions of potential and current small business owners start, grow and succeed

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The SBA – Georgia District Office offers resources and programs targeting small businesses provide an advantage necessary to help small businesses effectively compete in the marketplace and strengthen the overall US Economy

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Terri L. Denison – District Director
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Regional Office Location:
Region IV SBA
233 Peachtree Street NE Suite 1800
Atlanta, GA 30303 United States
Telep hone: 404-331-4999
Fax: 404-331-2354

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Business One Stop Shop (BOSS)
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Established June 1998 – Ron Hinze and Steering
Committee
 www.columbusgachamber.com
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Mission: o
To provide new and existing small businesses in the greater Columbus region quality, responsive, and professional resources in one convenient location.

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Provide counseling and assistance to startup and existing businesses
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Improves access to and awareness of new and existing resources
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Link businesses to existing resource agencies and organizations
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Improve ability of existing resource agencies and organizations to market, promote and track their programs
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Helps businesses to improve their products and services

New and existing small businesses come to the BOSS or are referred by a service provider.
Specific Services include assistance with:
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Business licenses, permits, zoning, inspections, compliance, bids, disadvantaged business enterprises, certificates of occupancy
Federal, state, and local procurement assistance
Financing
Training, mentoring, networking, consultant program
Startup and business plan counseling
All services FREE of Charge
Eight step Program to ensure business success

Intake Tasks
 Screening
 Counseling
 Referral
 Follow-up
 Evaluation
 Tracking
 Reporting
THE
BOSS
MODEL
Small Business Market
 Better Business Bureau
Service Providers
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 Columbus Consolidated Government
 Columbus Small Business Incubator
 Columbus State University
 Columbus Tech
 Development Authority of Columbus
 Electronic Commerce Resource Center
 Enterprise Zone
 Export Assistance Center
 Finance Center
 Fort Benning Small Business Advisor
 GA Department of Administration
 GA Department of Human Resources
 GA Department of Labor
 GA Institute of Technology
 GA Governor’s Office
 GA Secretary of State’s Office
 Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce
 National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO)
 Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)
 Small Business Administration
 UGA/BOS/SBDC
 Uptown Columbus, Inc
 Urban League of Greater Columbus
 Utilities
Small Business
Services
 Business licenses, permits, zoning, inspections, compliance, bids, disadvantaged business enterprises
 Federal, state, and local procurement assistance
 Financing
 Training, Mentoring,
Networking, Consultant
Program
 Startup/ Business Plans
Counseling

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Professional Consultant’s Program (PCP)
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Provide small business members of the Greater Columbus Georgia
Chamber of Commerce and clients of the Business One Stop Shop
(BOSS) of Columbus, professional business consultation on a one on one basis.
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Use volunteer professional members of the Chamber on a pro bono basis o o o o
Develop a consulting structure for the interview process
Use all the appropriate marketing available to the Chamber and
BOSS
Develop a follow-up structure to determine effectiveness of the program
Develop a structure for recognition of professionals involved

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1st consultation with BOSS
Complete BOSS Intake Form
1st consultation visit with SCORE or UGA/BOS Small
Business Development Center
Working on Business Plan and Financial Blueprints
Final consultation to SCORE or UGA-SBDC to review
Business Plan and Financial Blueprints
Financing
Obtain necessary licenses/permits/certifications and business insurance
Open a business checking account
OPEN FOR BUSINESS!!


Deidre N. Williams – Senior Vice President Small Business and
Membership Services
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Location:
Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce
1200 6 th Avenue
Columbus, GA 31902
Telephone: 706.257.1198
Fax: 706.327.7512
Email: dwilliams@columbusgachamber.com

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S.C.O.R.E.
The University of Georgia’s SBDC – Columbus Office
Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center
CSU’s Cunningham Center –
Regional Technology Incubators
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The (SBA) Small Business Administration –
Georgia District Office
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GCCC - BOSS

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