Arthur L. Slotkin, the Georgia District Director of the SCORE Association announced the establishment of a new branch of the SCORE Association in Valdosta, Georgia today.  SCORE, a resource partner of the US Small Business Administration, is a not-for-profit organization composed of volunteers who provide free mentoring and free or low cost training to entrepreneurs who wish to start a new small business or grow a business. The leadership of this branch is provided by Ms. Erica Hill who founded and ran the “Entrepreneurs of Valdosta,” a group composed of volunteers who engaged in many of the services that the SCORE Association provides at its more than 300 chapters around the United States. According to Slotkin, the affiliation of the Entrepreneurs of Valdosta with SCORE provides infrastructure, training and resources to the local branch which will help further the aims of SCORE in Valdosta.

As part of the larger SCORE organization, the Valdosta branch will conduct a series of three training sessions in October, November and December of this year for local entrepreneurs focusing on business basics, business plan development, marketing, finances and sources of funding for small businesses. This program is called “Simple Steps to Starting Your Business.” The Simple Steps program will be offered at no cost and participation is being funded by the SCORE Association and the SCORE Foundation. Further information about this training program will be forthcoming.