Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 7254 S G M A G A Z I N E | FA L L 2 0 1 6 B U S I N E S S + C U LT U R E 55 The Valdosta and Lowndes County community is often referred to as “Title Town” and the “Azalea City,” but its recognition as Georgia’s first Entrepreneur-Friendly Community is another proud distinction that was received in 2004 by the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD). The designation is part of a certification program that helps communities analyze their existing entrepreneurial environment and develop strategies to foster growth of small businesses. “We were the first community to receive this designation in Georgia,” said Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce President Myrna Ballard. “We kind of helped them develop the program for the rest of the state.” Ballard said Valdosta and Lowndes County were selected because of existing programs in place to grow and support small businesses, including the SEEDS (Sowing Entrepreneur and Economic Development Success) Business Resource Center, and collaboration with the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Valdosta State University. Small businesses are the backbone of the country, especially in Georgia where the GDEcD identifies 99.8 percent of businesses are categorized as small (fewer than 500 employees). “Most businesses, and most job growth, come from the aggregated growth of small businesses,” Ballard said. “The role of the Valdosta- Lowndes County Development Authority is to recruit new jobs and new investment from outside our community into our community—and they do it very well. The Chamber’s job is to home-grow businesses; we don’t recruit from outside the local area.” Ballard explains that creating a pro- businesses environment is part of the Chamber’s mission. “We work with what we have right here to create the kind of business environment where all sizes of businesses can be successful,” Ballard said. “We lobby for the kind of quality workforce that employers need and to provide the resources and the assistance and services that startups, small businesses, and struggling businesses need to be profitable and to flourish.” Each year the SEEDS Center, located in the Chamber’s office, provides free assistance to startup businesses as well as existing and expanding companies in Lowndes County and regional partnering counties. While the SEEDS Center has served as a “virtual incubator” for more than a decade, there are plans to develop a physical, functional incubator to help small businesses grow and succeed. According to Ballard, Greenwood Consulting Group was hired to conduct a financial feasibility study to determine where the incubator should be, how much space will be needed, and how the incubator will be funded from development to continual operation. “Greenwood Consulting completed a financial feasibility analysis in September,” said Ballard. “They have narrowed it down to three potential locations and have run the numbers to determine what it will cost to acquire and remodel and operate each. The Incubator Task Force will select the location that has the greatest potential for success.” Ballard says the next step is for the Chamber to develop a business plan. Greenwood Consulting Group will conduct this phase of the project as well. She anticipates the completion of the business plan in January 2017. In addition to the SEEDS Center, startup and existing small businesses are able to use professional business consulting services provided by the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center, located on the campus of Valdosta State University. According to Lynn Bennett, area director of UGA SBDC at VSU, the SBDC provides continuous support for entrepreneurs from the initial stages with preparing a business plan and cash flow projections to growing a business to the next level. “There is a growing initiative within the Valdosta community to attract new entrepreneurs,” Bennett said. “The spirit of entrepreneurship is growing and owning your own business can be a reality. The UGA SBDC at Valdosta State University is here to support and assist every step of the way and is a valuable source of continuing education for business owners.” Bennett is appreciative of the support the SBDC receives from businesses and organizations that sponsor educational programs for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. “Guardian Bank has been very supportive in helping the SBDC Growing an Entrepreneurial Community 54 S G M A G A Z I N E | FA L L 2 0 1 6 equip small business owners with the knowledge and training needed to take their small business to the next level, in turn developing our local economy and making this a great community in which to work and live,” Bennett said. “The SBDC and Guardian Bank have a solid-based partnership because we share the same mission to help business owners grow and expand their businesses.” Guardian Bank recently provided financial support to host a five-week retail course focused on helping businesses improve their retail performance. “At Guardian Bank we understand that businesses are challenged with economic and regulatory uncertainty and constant change. These challenges can be overwhelming without sound management practices, continuing education, and strategic planning,” said Guardian Bank Chief Executive Officer Parrish Clark. “The partnership between the VSU SBDC and Guardian Bank was specifically formed to help small businesses receive contemporary and meaningful guidance in the ever- changing economic climate.” It Begins with a Plan One of the most successful entrepreneurial efforts within Valdosta and Lowndes County is the annual business plan competition, which began in 2006 and is organized by the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce. The Southwest Georgia Bank Business Plan Competition has a goal to encourage excellence in the planning stages of starting a new business. “As the business plan competition sponsor, we are able to invest in our community by providing capital investment to help start a small business,” said Jud Moritz, senior vice president for Southwest Georgia Bank. “As a community bank, we are focused on helping small businesses start, grow, and succeed.” Southwest Georgia Bank has sponsored the business plan competition since 2014 and is committed to continuing its support. “It takes a committed and sustained effort for a community to intentionally build its capacity to nurture and grow businesses that can employ college and university graduates,” said Ballard. “Knowing that Southwest Georgia Bank is in it ‘for the long haul’ with the Chamber by supporting the annual business plan competition gives us confidence that we can sustain this effort.” Business plan competition winners have included financial management, technology, healthcare, educational services, and management consulting companies. Azalea Health The 2008 business plan winner was Azalea Health, a technology company formed by Valdosta State University alumni Baha Zeidan, Doug Swords, and Dan Henry. The company provides innovative health- related software products and services to increase the efficiency and profitability of healthcare businesses. In eight years, the company has expanded to 77 employees in three Georgia locations—Valdosta, Macon, and Atlanta—and serves customers in more than 40 states. The company’s growth has not altered its original mission. “Since the beginning, Azalea Health Azalea Health, founded by Baha Zeidan, Doug Swords, and Dan Henry, was the 2008 business plan competition winner. Today, Azalea Health has 77 employees in three Georgia cities. PHOTO: PAT GALLAGHER PHOTO: PAT GALLAGHER B U S I N E S S + C U LT U R E 55