May 21, 2008 - The U.S. Small Business Administration Georgia District Office will hold an informational meeting on the agency’s new Emerging 200 (e200) initiative on May 21, 2008 at the Auburn Avenue Research Library, 101 Auburn Avenue, NE in downtown Atlanta. The meeting will be from 6:30 to 7:30 pm.

The Emerging 200 or e200 initiative is designed to provide 60-80 hours of advanced business training and other resources to owners and executives of existing, inner city businesses with high potential for accelerated future growth.   The companies that will best benefit from participation in the initiative are those with minimum annual revenue of $400,000 and have been in business at least three years.
Atlanta’s inner city is generally defined as the area starting downtown, running south to the Atlanta airport, and east and west to the Atlanta city limits.  The cost of the training is being underwritten by the SBA with no charge to participating firms.  There is an opportunity for up to 20 companies to participate.

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

he formal announcement of e200 was held at Atlanta City Hall on May 5 at a media conference hosted by Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin.  Atlanta is one of 11 cities where this program is being launched.  The others are Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Memphis, Chicago, Milwaukee, Albuquerque, New Orleans, Des Moines, and Oakland.  The e200 Atlanta initiative is being cosponsored with the Atlanta Development Authority and Atlanta Workforce Development Agency.
Interested small businesses can register online for the May 21st meeting at www.sba.gov/ga, selecting “Registration for e200 information meeting” under the Spotlight section.  Interested parties may also call Vianna Harrison at the SBA Georgia District Office at 404/331-0100, ext. 607.
Cosponsorship Authorization #08-0405-50.  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. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made, if requested at least 2 weeks in advance. Contact Vianna.Harrison@sba.gov.

Release Date: May 7, 2008
Contact: Jim Hightower (404) -331-0100, ext. 215
email address: james.hightower@sba.gov
Release Number:  08-27