The Office of Small Business Affairs will hold a Business Development Resource Forum on Wednesday, November 18, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. in the 4^th floor training room at the Historic Macon Terminal Station (200 Cherry Street). The event is open to all local business owners in all sectors, including Minority Business Enterprises, Women Business Enterprises and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises.

“We want to provide local small business owners access to resources that will give them a competitive edge when seeking contracts in our region, as well as with the consolidated government,” says Small Business Affairs Director Dr. James Bumpus.

The first part of the Forum will feature presentations by business development agencies from across the state, and the second part gives business owners the chance to talk directly with the resource providers. The Macon-Bibb Attorneys Office will present information regarding to Title VI Compliance, and the Business Development Services Department will discuss business license compliance.

Each of the participating organizations specialize in areas of business development, including:

• Central Georgia Technical College – Offers an array of degree, continuous education and certificate programs to business owners.
• NOW Crop – A micro-lender offering business owners access to capital.
• Georgia Tech Enterprise and Innovation Institute – Provides MBE, WBE, and DBE certification and works with business owners interested in being awarded federal, state, and local government contracts.
• University of Georgia Small Business Development Center – Helps business owners develop their business plan, business model, and financial projections.
• Georgia Minority Development Council – Works primarily with businesses interested in providing goods, supplies, and services to major corporations in the private sector and offer MBE, WBE, DBE certification.
• Operation HOPE – Offers a Human Financial Dignity Program that works with individuals and communities to improve credit worthiness and access to financial capital.
• SCORE – Offers business owners confidential business mentoring, local business development workshops, and expert resources available on-line.
• Georgia Department of Administrative Services – Provides DBE and MBE certification and other resources for businesses interested in state contracts.

The Business Development Resource Forum is the latest in a series of events hosted by the Office of Small Business Affairs to help businesses learn how to bid on government projects, connect with available (and sometimes free) resources that can help them grow, and become more competitive in the Middle Georgia area. The last event was a Procurement Informational and Work Session held in early October in partnership with the Bibb County School District. To read more about this event, click here.

Business Definitions

Small Disadvantaged Businesses
The Small Business Administration defines Small Disadvantaged Businesses generally as those that generally meet the following criteria:

• The firm must be 51% or more owned and control by one or more disadvantaged persons;
• The disadvantaged person or persons must be socially disadvantaged and economically disadvantaged; and
• The firm must be small, according to SBA’s size standards

Small Business
The Small Business Administration defines a small business as one that is independently owned and operated, is organized for profit, and is not dominant in its field. Depending on the industry, size standard eligibility is based on the average number of employees for the preceding twelve months or on sales volume averaged over a three-year period. Examples of SBA general size standards include the following:

• Manufacturing: Maximum number of employees may range from 500 to 1500, depending on the type of product manufactured.
• Wholesaling: Maximum number of employees may range from 100 to 500 depending on the particular product being provided.
• Services: Annual receipts may not exceed $2.5 to $21.5 million, depending on the particular service being provided.
• Retailing: Annual receipts may not exceed $5.0 to $21.0 million, depending on the particular product being provided.
• General and Heavy Construction: General construction annual receipts may not exceed $13.5 to $17 million, depending on the type of construction.
• Special Trade Construction: Annual receipts may not exceed $7 million.
• Agriculture: Annual receipts may not exceed $0.5 to $9.0 million, depending on the agricultural product.

Socially Disadvantaged Individuals
The Small Business Administration defines socially disadvantaged individuals as those who have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias because of their identity as members of a group. Social disadvantage must stem from circumstances beyond their control. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, individuals who are members of the following designated groups are presumed to be socially disadvantaged:

• Black Americans/African Americans;
• Women;
• Disabled;
• Disabled Veterans;
• Hispanic Americans;
• Native Americans; and
• Asian Pacific Americans.

About the Office of Small Business Affairs

The Office of Small Business Affairs programs apply to all contracts for the purchase of construction-related services, professional services, goods, real estate development, renovation, maintenance or other services awarded by or on behalf of Macon-Bibb County, GA.

The Office of Small Business Affairs provides the following scope of services for local (within the jurisdiction of Macon-Bibb County, GA) owners of small businesses, minority business enterprises, women business enterprises and disadvantage business enterprises:

• Technical assistance for compliance to the RFP/RFQ and bid process;
• General education and training about opportunities to compete for county contracts and the RFQ/RFP and bid process;
• Outreach to Small Business Enterprises, MBE, WBE, and DBE;
• Advocacy for Small Business Enterprises, MBE, WBE, DBE;
• Maintenance of a  current registry of Small Businesses, MBE, WBE, DBE; and
• Small business, MBE, WBE, DBE local certification.

Vision
The vision of the Office of Small Business Affairs is to have equity in local city-county government business opportunity.

Mission
The mission of the department is to develop and coordinate inclusive programs to promote the growth of small businesses, minority business enterprises, women business enterprises and disadvantage business enterprises. The Office supports the enhancement of the economic well-being of the county by providing resources that will improve the competitiveness of these businesses within the RFQ/RFP and bid process.  The office also promotes and supports small business development and workforce development.

Core Values
The core values of Equity, Professionalism, Integrity, and Competitiveness undergird the ethos of the Office of Small Business Affairs.