b'EDITORS LETTERThe Entrepreneurial JourneyThressea H. BoydEditorIn this issue, we asked Walt Moore, Alyssaopening of its replacement facility located Foskey, and Cindy Corgan, with the SBDCalong Interstate 75 in Adel. While many at Valdosta State University, to answersmall hospitals are closing around the state a few questions on the minds of smalland country, the Southwell leadership business owners.team saw an opportunity to transform rural Have you ever thought about startingWhat are the challenges of starting ahealthcare. your own business? In Georgia, theresmall business? How do you write aEarlier this year, we accepted nominations are approximately one million smallbusiness plan? What are the obstaclesfor individuals to be part of Team South businesses, employing 44 percent of thesmall business owners face? Find out theGeorgia 2019. We received submissions states workforce.answers to these questions, and more,from across the region and selected 11 Small business owners are goodin the article In Georgia, Its Great to Becommunity champions for their innovative neighbors; they are usually the onesSmall. (Page 18) spirit and ability to obtain positive results. sponsoring youth sports teams,Thanks to members of the WhighamAs we congratulate this years team contributing to school programs,Volunteer Community Council for invitingmembers, we encourage our readers to supporting the arts, and donating in-kindme to be a part of the second annualconsider the community champions they contributions to benefit nonprofits and other charitable organizations. As a small business owner, I know firsthand the long hours, dedication,Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze and personal sacrifice it requires todirectly before you.operate a small business successfully. The entrepreneurial journey can be confusing,- PROVERBS 24:25and at times, frustrating.Where do would-be entrepreneurs or seasoned small business owners go to findGrady Grown event. A southern feast thatwill nominate in 2020. It is our goal to have the right tools and resources to start afeatured local ingredients harvested andrepresentation from across South Georgia. business or expand an existing one? Howproduced in Grady County, then preparedWe will begin accepting nominations in do they stay focused on their goals? and served by culinary arts students fromMarch 2020. The University of Georgia Small BusinessCairo High School. Are you receiving the South Georgia Development Center (SBDC) is ready toA grow your own approach, the TechnicalInsider? The monthly e-newsletter is a help. With 17 offices strategically locatedCollege System of Georgia is promotingcompanion piece of this magazine and across the state, the SBDC provides aapprenticeship programs to fill the statesallows us to expand coverage about the wide range of consulting services andworkforce gap. In this issue, read howgreat things happening in South Georgia. educational training for small businessWiregrass Tech is using apprenticeshipSubscribe to the e-newsletter or printed owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.programs to connect companies withmagazine at sgamag.com. skilled employees and provide solutions to During the past five years, SBDC clientscritical employment shortages. created 1,741 new businesses and 13,126editor@sgamag.comnew jobs. SBDC clients also obtained $885Congratulations to Southwell Medical (formerly Cook Medical Center) on thesgamag.commillion in start-up and expansion capital and generated $9.9 billion in sales. 4 SG MAGAZINE| FALL 2019 BUSINESS + CULTURE5'