Development authorities to sponsor seminar on small business loan program
By W. WINSTON SKINNERwinston@newnan.com
City and county development authorities will be sponsoring a seminar on a new loan program offered by the state for small businesses.
Greg Wright, president of the Coweta County Development Authority and the Development Authority of Coweta County, told the joint authority on Thursday about the State Small Business Credit Initiative. The program, offered by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, is designed to “enhance credit to assist Georgia companies,” he said.
“There will be minimal expense – maybe just for some refreshments,” Wright said. He said he would notify the authority about dates for the seminar once it is scheduled.
Wright said the seminar will probably be held in late June or early July.
In other business:
• Wright told the authority about plans to submit the CCDA website and newsletter to a competition sponsored by the Southern Economic Development Council. Last year, the website won an award and the newsletter received an honorable mention.
• Wright said Georgia Power’s biannual bus tour will make a stop in Coweta County later this month. While the visits are always brief, they offer an opportunity to show off aspects of “one segment of Coweta County” and set the stage “for a more extended visit,” Wright said.
• Steve Stripling, authority treasurer, said the authority’s finances are sound. The authority spent $624 more than its income in May, but Stripling said there were more marketing expenses than usual.
The budget is “well under control for the year,” he said.
• The board approved $3,240 to be paid to Vision Internet for updates to the authority’s website, largely to incorporate new branding. “We built money into the budget,” Wright said, knowing the work would have to be done.
Stripling said there is $5,000 allocated for contract services that can be accessed to pay the bill.
“At some point in the next year or two,” Wright said, there will have to be “a complete overhaul” of the website.
• David Brown, who chairs both authorities, praised the CCDA/DACC board – noting almost all members are present at most meetings. He said the commitment of members to be present and to actively participate is “good for the county.”
