“The basic goal of our Emerging 200 Atlanta initiative is to help promising inner-city firms step up to the next level,” said SBA Georgia District Director Terri Denison. “Assisting firms in developing an effective growth strategy will not only help their bottom line but also generate economic benefits for the neighborhoods in which they are located.”

In addition to Atlanta, the Emerging 200 initiative, dubbed “e200” for short, is underway in nine other metropolitan areas across the U.S. Those cities include Albuquerque, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Des Moines, Memphis, Milwaukee, New Orleans, and Philadelphia. The initiative is focused on 17 small companies in Atlanta and firms in the other cities that are have the potential for rapid expansion and job creation. Companies selected for the initiative were those with a threshold of approximately $400,000 in annual revenue and an operational track record of at least three years

The Georgia District Office has completed six of 13 Emerging 200 training classes for its group  of qualifying small businesses in Atlanta’s inner-city commercial area. The seventh session will be held on Sept. 30. The initiative training, being held at the SBA’s local office in Peachtree Center, is being cosponsored with the Atlanta Development Authority and Atlanta Workforce Development Agency.

These companies are Emerging 200 participants in Atlanta:

• ABC Early Learning Academy, Victoria Williams, Executive Director/CEO
• A Budget Lock & Door, Muriel Montia, CFO
• Allen Professional Graphics Group, Monica Allen, President
• Blue Sombrero, Peter Santora, Co-Founder
• C.J. Hearne Construction Company, Christine Hearne, Owner
• Defender Security & Communication, Derrick Parker, President
• F.J. Shelton Inc., Fawn M. Shelton, CEO
• HTS Enterprises, Gary Harris, President/CEO
• Houser Walker Architecture, Hank Houser, Principal Architect
• Jackson’s Dental Center, Montina G. Jackson, CEO
• Matrix 3D, Charles Bythwood, Principal
• Om & Hecho, LLP, Suna Om, General Partner
• Professional Document Services, Derrick Black, President
• Rainey Apparel Manufacturing, Russell Rainey, President
• Smokymountainstone.com, Michelle Uchiyama, President
• Sweet Auburn Bread Company, Sonya Jones, Owner/CEO
• The Royster Group, Ken Tauton, Managing Director

The e200 training applies a real-world, accessible teaching approach along with a condensed MBA-like curriculum that has been carefully reviewed by academics and then road tested by entrepreneurs. The e200 training is based on the case study model with examples drawn from the participating entrepreneurs’ businesses.

The program, providing 60-80 hours of advanced training, is focusing on financials, marketing, human resources, exporting, government contracting and capital access. Through their course work, the participants will work with business professionals, develop contacts with local bankers/lenders,        and draft a three-year strategic growth plan for their businesses. The program also incorporates post-training assistance and business development activities for the participants.

Atlanta’s inner city is home to over 5,600 establishments which collectively employ 141,000 workers. Some 96 percent of Atlanta inner-city businesses employ fewer than 100 people, while 83 percent employ fewer than 20 workers. Atlanta’s largest business clusters, Local Commercial Services and Local Hospitality Establishments, are responsible for 25 percent of inner-city employment.

SBA’s participation in this co-sponsorship is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products, or services of any co-sponsor or other entity. All SBA programs, services and co-sponsored activities are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Cosponsorship  authorization #08-0405-50.