Features
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Georgia Manufacturing Activity Registers its First Increase in Six Months
October 07, 2013
Georgia’s manufacturing experienced a slight increase – the first increase in six months – due to strong gains in employment, production and supplier delivery time, according to the Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) released by Kennesaw State University’s Econometric Center in the Michael J. Coles College of Business.
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How Common are Small Business Administration (SBA) Loans?
October 04, 2013
Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed loans get a lot of attention in Washington. President Obama, for instance, believes that “the SBA should be provided additional resources to assist small businesses in acquiring capital necessary to start, continue, or expand operations”, the Congressional Research Service reports.
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Small Business Employment in Recessions and Expansions
October 02, 2013
Small business employment has grown more slowly than big business employment since the end of the Great Recession. That wasn’t supposed to happen. Conventional wisdom is that small business employment declines more in economic downturns, but rises more in economic expansions. Small companies, the argument goes, are more nimble, making their employment decisions more responsive to economic conditions.
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3 Questions for You to Ask Yourself About Employee Health Care
September 30, 2013
Small businesses face important decisions about employee benefits, and as deadlines for Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements draw near, timing is of the essence. You should consider the following three questions to make more informed decisions for your workforce.
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VSU Homecoming Theme “commUNITY” Continues Traditions & Features New Events
September 27, 2013
Valdosta State University’s homecoming celebration will feature numerous activities throughout the week of Sept. 30 – Oct. 5 for alumni, students, faculty, staff, and members of the community.
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Proposed SPLOST Referendum to Fund Wastewater Treatment Solutions
September 25, 2013
On November 5th, voters will be asked to approve a one-penny sales tax in the SPLOST VII referendum, which in the city of Valdosta will help fund the relocation of the Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). Over the past five years, the plant has struggled to stay in compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit limits during heavy rain events.
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If You Want Entrepreneurial Success, Learn to Embrace Failure
September 24, 2013
First off, let me tell you this: I fail – a lot… and I’m ready for more failures. Before you say, “Are you out of your mind,” let me explain a bit. I hate the feeling of failure. Nobody likes to fail. But I learned during my entrepreneurial career that if you want to achieve entrepreneurial success, you need failures. You need to fail and the more you fail, the closer you are to your goal.
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Couples in Business: You and Your Partner, Inc.
September 23, 2013
After firing my husband, Joe, at least three times from our family-owned communications and production company because we absolutely could not work together, I was anxious to read a new, self-published book by therapists, Miriam Hawley and Jeffrey McIntyre. The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based couple interviewed about 45 couples in business together to collect anecdotes and strategies for You & Your Partner, Inc.: Entrepreneurial Couples Succeeding in Business, Life and Love.
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70% of Small Business B2B Websites Lack A Call to Action
September 20, 2013
Does your home page on your website have a call to action? In other words, does your website home page attempt to get the visitor to do something — besides simply read and leave?
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Changing Jobs? Take Your 401(k) and ... Roll It! Says Stacy Bush
September 19, 2013
If you've lost your job, or are changing jobs, you may be wondering what to do with your 401(k) plan account. It's important to understand your options says Stacy Bush.
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Are Americans Becoming Interested in Entrepreneurship Again?
September 17, 2013
The recently released Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), a nationally representative survey of American adults, reveals that the fraction of Americans who intend to start a business rose to 12.5 percent in 2012 — a substantial increase from the 8.3 percent recorded in 2008.
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State of Georgia Ports: GPA Adds Cargo, Customers in FY2013
September 16, 2013
In his State of the Port address, Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Curtis Foltz reported record cargo volumes, an influx of new business, and more than 1 million square feet of distribution center space leased or developed.
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GDECD Commissioner Chris Cummiskey Leaving Post to Join Southern Power
September 13, 2013
Gov. Nathan Deal today announced that he has nominated U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson’s chief of staff, Chris Carr, to succeed Chris Cummiskey as the commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Cummiskey will join Southern Co. as chief commercial officer of Southern Power.
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Doug Robinson: Great Salespeople Aren’t Born…They’re Good Storytellers
September 11, 2013
When your employees sell your products and services, do they jump into a presentation of nuts and bolts to explain how it works, or do they tell success stories?
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Nexxtep Hosts 4th Annual Partner Conference
September 10, 2013
State Senator Tim Golden will discuss the recent Invest Georgia legislation and other upcoming legislation that will impact business owners in South Georgia at Nexxtep's fourth annual Partner Conference on Thursday, September 12th at the Rainwater Conference Center. Nexxtep holds the conference each year for its clients and regional business leaders.
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Why, When, What and How to Outsource Tasks
September 09, 2013
Is it a good idea for a small business to outsource some tasks? Contrary to what many small business entrepreneurs think, it is often a great idea to outsource certain tasks to others. But, before you make any decisions to outsource, here are a few things you need to think about.
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Commentary: Georgia's Senate Race: Who'll Win?
September 06, 2013
Who’s going to win? It doesn’t matter the race really. The question is almost the political equivalent of commenting on the weather. It is an entry into picking the brains of other politicos to compare notes and strategies for an upcoming campaign season. And yet, for this election cycle in Georgia, it is the wrong question at this time.
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VSU’s SIFE celebrates 20 Years of Changing Lives
September 05, 2013
Twenty years ago, Dr. Wayne Plumly recruited nine students to begin Valdosta State University’s chapter of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE). At the time, Plumly had no idea that this group would grow into an organization of more than 150 students, competing annually for national championships.
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Artesian Contracting Supports Georgia's Military Bases
September 04, 2013
For the past 25 years, Artesian Contracting has renovated, remediated and improved base facilities at military installations across Georgia. The firm is based in Albany near the Marine Corps Logistics Base and also has satellite offices at Moody AFB and Robins AFB. Approximately 80 percent of the firm's work is in Georgia and government projects represent about 75 percent of its completed projects.
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Learn How To Acquire New Businesses: Review of Successful Acquisitions
September 03, 2013
Business acquisitions are announced in the Wall Street Journal almost everyday and are glamourized in movies such as Oliver Stone’s “Wall Street.” But most small business are not public. So most owners only have imagined what an acquisition process entails — or they just have cliched Gordon Gekko quotes to go on.
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Big Business Tactics Your Businesses Can Use
August 30, 2013
Don’t buy into the idea that as a small business, you’re limited to your personal capabilities. Software is getting more affordable. And DIY is “in” right now in a major way. The lines blur between “big” and “small” business when it comes to tools and techniques like these.
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49% of Workers Do Not Negotiate Job Offers
August 29, 2013
A failure to negotiate a job offer means many workers are leaving money on the table. A new CareerBuilder survey finds that even though 45 percent of employers are willing – and expect – to negotiate salaries for initial job offers, almost half (49 percent) of workers accept the first offer given to them.
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3 Things Small Businesses Can Learn From Google Product Failures
August 28, 2013
People tend to give Google a hard time for trying out so many different products – many of which eventually go to the chopping block. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt is famous for saying “We celebrate our failures.” We discuss three reasons why your small business should celebrate them too.
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Azalea Health named as one of Georgia’s “Small Business Rock Stars”
August 27, 2013
Azalea Health was announced today as a winner of Georgia’s first “Small Business Rock Stars” competition, a new program representing the first-ever collaboration of the Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA) and the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD). The program recognizes outstanding, unique and impactful small businesses in the state of Georgia.
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SGMAC and U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston Welcome Col. Franks to Valdosta
August 26, 2013
Friday, the South Georgia Military Affairs Council (SGMAC), with special guest U.S. Representative Jack Kingston, hosted a luncheon welcoming Col. Chad Franks to Valdosta as the 23d Wing Commander of Moody Air Force Base. The luncheon, co-hosted by Georgia Power and Colquitt EMC, drew nearly 150 area leaders to the Rainwater Conference Center.