Last week, the Northeast Texas Small Business Development Center, an organization of the United States Small Business Administration responsible for fostering small business and entrepreneurship in Northeast Texas, opened new offices in Atlanta, Texas.
According to a press release, this office, located in Atlanta's City Hall, would be part of a "first of a kind" partnership in the region. The Small Business Development Center has agreed to staff an office to help prospective entrepreneurs develop new business ideas or plan for existing business expansion.
"Tim Wilson is the director of this local office and a friend of mine," said Mayor Travis Ransom. "I mentioned to him I'd like them to open up an office in Atlanta. We arranged the financial match-up ($15,000) and and now we are open for business."
The money came from both the Atlantic City Development Corporation and the Atlanta Economic Development Corporation, each providing $7500 of the $15000, to provide their end of the partnership for the City of Atlanta.
According to Ransom, the office is there to assist local business, to advise and encourage their ventures.
"If you are a small business entrepreneur, they will assist you in a number of ways. Need help in devising a business plan, they do that. Seeing what loans and other funds you may qualify for, they do that. They are there to help you and honestly inform you on your prospect," he said.
"They will even tell you if they think your plan needs work or is a non-starter," said Ransom. "They are there to just assist, with information and services."
The SBDC is part of a nationwide system that links the resources of federal, state and local government to those of colleges, universities and the private sector to meet the specialized needs of small businesses.
"This will be a unique partnership with City Hall," said Ransom. "Business owners and entrepreneurs who need to conduct business at City Hall, such as paperwork, licenses and so forth, will now have a one-stop shop where they will be able to avail themselves of the services of the SBDC conveniently. When we look at ways to incentivise investment, this new community asset should bring us dividends."
The office will be staffed on Monday and Wednesday. To contact the office, call the Regional SBDC Office at 903-434-8237 to make an appointment with the Atlanta
office.