| |
In January 2006, Henry County completed the key steps and process to become the
State of Georgia’s 15th “Entrepreneur Friendly” community, a designation through the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD). Henry County strives to foster an entrepreneur environment by building entrepreneurship and small business into its overall economic development strategy.
Henry4Biz.org was created to provide a wealth of information about many subjects that affect small business, from planning and financing to marketing and legal aspects. Learn more about starting your own business, preparing a business plan, getting credit, business taxes and regulatory responsibilities, networking, and much more.
HOW GEORGIA DEFINES "SMALL BUSINESS"
The state of Georgia defines a small business as a Georgia resident business that is independently owned and operated that has fewer than 300 employees or less than $30 million in gross receipts per year.
ARE YOU READY TO START YOUR OWN BUSINESS?
Take the following self-assessing survey found in the Start Up Basics guide developed by the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to  determine if you are ready to start your own business. Also, please find a list of Frequently Asked Questions and a  Small Business Guide that provides guidance on starting.
LOCAL RESOURCES
County and City Government Offices
Available Sites and Buildings
The Henry County Development Authority team can assist with your site location needs as a start up company and provide expansion assistance as your company grows. Click here for a listing of available sites and buildings in Henry County.
CONSULTING and EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)
SCORE, “Counselors to America’s Small Business” – Sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration, SCORE provides free, one-on-one counseling to potential entrepreneurs and mentoring to those who decide to start their own business. For those already in business who are having a problem, SCORE volunteers are available to help. McDonough / Henry County SCORE business counselors are located in the:
Henry County Chamber of Commerce
1709 Highway 20 West
McDonough, Georgia 30253
Contact 770-954-0021 or visit SCORE's website to schedule an appointment.
Clayton State University Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Clayton State University SBDC provides training, technical assistance and research to help entrepreneurs improve their chances for success. Professional staff works one-on-one with business owners to help them apply the most appropriate principals and techniques to their particular business situation. Click here for a list of current course offerings.
To schedule an appointment with the Clayton State University SBDC office, contact:
Clayton State University Small Business Development Center
2000 Clayton State Boulevard
Morrow, Georgia 30260
678-466-5100
Click here to access website.
Georgia Center for Nonprofits provides information and resources on how to start and sustain a non-profit organization in Georgia. Click here to access website.
Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC) offers free government contracting training classes and counseling. For more information, contact:
Clovia Hamilton, Procurement Counselor
Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center
678-778-1523
Click here to access website.
The Henry County Library System, with five branch locations, now offers a collection a small business resources to help educate up-and-coming entrepreneurs and foster small business start-ups and entrepreneurial growth. Book titles include Bootstrapping 101: Tips to Build Your Business with Limited Cash and Free Outside Help, Entrepreneur Magazines' Ultimate Small Business Marketing Guide, Passion to Profits: Business Success for New Entrepreneurs, and numerous others. Click here to visit the Henry County Library System's website.
WORKFORCE AND TRAINING ASSISTANCE
Georgia Work Ready
 Georgia Work Ready can help you hire the best people and boost your bottom line. It's available at no cost for companies meeting minimum hiring requirements and is easy to access through the state's network of technical colleges. Georgia companies can implement Work Ready two ways - through job profiling and Work Ready Certificates. Work Ready job profiles identify the job tasks and skill levels necessary to be successful in any job. Companies match those profiles to employees' Work Ready Certificates - which measure core skills - to ensure the right person is placed in the right job every time.
Southern Crescent Technical College is a Georgia Work Ready Partner and is one of the access points for job seekers to obtain the Georgia Work Ready Certificate. To obtain more information about the assessments or to schedule an assessment session, contact the assessment office at (770) 228-7364 or (706) 646-6151.
Click here for more information on the benefits of Georgia Work Ready.
Click here for a list of Henry County companies who recognize, prefer or require Work Ready Certificates as part of their hiring process. Don't forget to add your company to the list!
Georgia Department of Labor
The Clayton County Regional Career Center, serving Clayton, Fayette, and Henry County, is available to assist with your recruitment and screening needs as well as provide other employment support services.
Clayton County Career Center
Georgia Department of Labor
2450 Mount Zion Pkwy - Building 100, Suite 100
Jonesboro, GA 30236-2500
(678) 479-5886
(678) 479-5256 FAX
NETWORKING/NEW BUSINESS CONTACTS
Make new contacts and create opportunities to expand your business by meeting potential customers through Henry County Chamber of Commerce events, committee involvement, ribbon cuttings, publications and mailings. Monthly events include Business Before Hours, Business Boosters Luncheon and Business After Hours. For information on membership, contact the Henry County Chamber of Commerce at 770-957-5786 or click here to visit the Chamber's website.
The Greater Henry County Chapter of (SHRM), a local affiliate of the Society of Human Resource Management serving Henry, Spalding, and Clayton counties, is another great resource to tap into. Monthly meetings provide ample opportunity for networking, professional development, and information exchange. For more information, click here.
SMALL BUSINESS LOANS
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Loans
SBA provides a number of financial assistance programs for small businesses that have been specifically designed to meet key financing needs, including debt financing, surety bonds, and equity financing.
Information on the 504 SBA Program Loan, click here.
Information on the 7(a) SBA Program Loan, click here.
Local SBA Preferred 504 and 7(a) Lenders
 Bank of America
Contact: Cindi Shaddix
Phone: 404-971-0516
Click here to access website.
Fidelity Bank
Contact: DeeDee McIntyre
Phone: 770-914-4304
Click here to access website.
SunTrust Bank
Click here to access website.
United Community Bank
Contact: Marlene McKee
Phone: 678-289-2510
Click here to access website.
Wells Fargo
Click here to acess website.
Georgia SBA Preferred 504 and 7(a) Lenders
Business Loan Checklist
SBA Loan Application Checklist
|