CEDARTOWN BIZ BUILDER COMMITTEE MEMBERS BRITT MADDEN, JR.: LEAD ORGANIZER, MADDEN CONSULTING BILL FANN: CEDARTOWN CITY MANAGER DALE TUCK: CEDARTOWN CITY COMMISSION CHAIR TODD BUSSEY: BUSSEY’S FLORIST & GIFTS KATHY CARTER: UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA MARDI JACKSON: GEORGIA NORTHWESTERN TECHNICAL COLLEGE JIM POWELL: GEORGIA NORTHWESTERN TECHNICAL COLLEGE
A publication from the City of Cedartown ©2014 Public Information Office 201 E. Avenue Cedartown, Georgia 30125 www.cedartowngeorgia.gov
What is
? The Cedartown Biz Builder program was born out of the Downtown Renaissance Strategic Visioning and Planning workshop. The Renaissance workshop, held in the fall of 2013, aimed to spur new growth and excitement in Downtown Cedartown. As part of that excitement, a group of volunteers formed with one goal in mind: providing new business owners and budding entrepreneurs with top-notch education to increase their chances of success in the local business market.
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Through education of basic business concepts and the ability to provide experienced mentorship, the existing business community and local beginning-stage businesses will be provided with valuable insight and become more attractive to capital outlets.
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the mission:
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Quite simply, education. The survival rate for small momand-pop shops are low; however, there are several local businesses in Cedartown that have stood the test of time and flourished. How do we position new start-ups to succeed in Cedartown? The answer is education.
80%
of new businesses fail within the first year
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the need:
(source: Bloomberg)
and here’s why they fail
their business idea is not viable
they do not have a solid business plan
they don’t hustle; they do not take ownership failure to communicate
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Cedartown Biz Builder’s goal is to educate and equip entrepreneurs with the tools they need to avoid these pitfalls -- to fill a need in the local business community.
How was created
?
The idea was transformed to action through a collaborative partnership between the City of Cedartown & Georgia Northwestern Technical College. In January of 2014, the City of Cedartown and Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding, whereby GNTC agreed to provide 64 hours of college instructor-led training to students enrolled in the Cedartown Biz Builder program. Total cost to the City of Cedartown: approximately $10,000, which includes 12 paid scholarships for selected students.
An increase in educated business owners and entreprenuers which leads to ... an increase in the success rate of local businesses ... which leads to ... an increase in business activity in Downtown Cedartown ... which leads to ... an increase in “local shopping� in the City ... which leads to ... an increase in hometown pride ... which leads to ... increased marketability and tourism for Cedartown
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the pay-off:
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Who are
?
students When the Cedartown Biz Builder program debuted in the spring of 2014, dozens of individuals expressed interest in becoming a student.
The Cedartown Biz Builder program was kick started by a series of free workshops in March 2013. These workshops, facilitated by GNTC instructors, were open to any individual wishing to build up their current business or start a new one in Cedartown. From that, a strong base of potential students were identified for the 12 City-sponsored scholarships. These individuals were asked to complete an application. The Cedartown Biz Builder Committee reviewed applications, and from there, 12 students were selected.
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What do students study
?
Students in the Cedartown Biz Builder program spend two nights per month in a classroom setting and one evening a month taking part in networking sessions. Two nights each month, from May until October, students gather at City Hall for class -and yes, it’s just like a real college class, complete with textbooks, instruction and even homework. An additional night of a networking session allow students to build relationships and resource contacts. Topics covered include:
• entrepreneurship • effective marketing • management • • customer service • small business management • • business regs & compliance • leadership & motivation • In October, students finish the Cedartown Biz Builders program and complete their capstone project. A graduation celebration is held in November.
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Where do
WE GO from HERE
?
Our goal is to equip hometown entrepreneurs with the tools needed to build their dream business on a solid foundation. As far as we’re concerned, the sky’s the limit with our students. The ideas that have come from students in the Cedartown Biz Builder Class of 2014 are as varied and unique as they come. One woman dreams of opening a plus-size boutique on Main Street, another hopes to open an indoor soccer facility. One man has set his sights on operating a kid-and-family-friendly party center, another wishes to open a food truck. The Cedartown Biz Builder program began as a vision born from a grassroots, volunteer-led committee, and since then, has grown into a extensive and unique training resource. It is the hope of the Cedartown Biz Builder committee that our students will be able to see their dreams turn into reality through participation in this program.
“Entrepreneurship is living a year of your life like most people won’t, so that you can spend the rest of your life like most people can’t.” -- Anonymous 7
In their own words: students
“This is a very good program. It forces you to think about options and obstacles you may have never considered.” - Demetrius Dulaney “I really enjoy the class. The professors and mentors have motivated me to think outside the box.” - Donna Harris “Whether you’re a seasoned business veteran, or are an interested person who has the desire to obtain the knowledge to become a business owner (but never had the opportunity), this is THE program to enroll in.” - Harold Gipson “The support you receive from the professors and from your classmates in the Biz Builder program is amazing.” -Corey Guzman 8