Sen. Ossoff Expanding Small Business Opportunities Across Georgia

Augusta, Ga. - U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is delivering resources to bolster small businesses across Georgia.

Sen. Ossoff brought Republicans and Democrats together to support small business growth and development across Georgia through training programs and entrepreneurship support. Sen. Ossoff is delivering resources to small business training programs across the state, including in Augusta, Lawrenceville, Athens, and Jonesboro.

"Small businesses are the backbone of Georgia's economy and our communities," said Sen. Ossoff. "These projects will support their growth for years to come."

Sen. Ossoff is delivering funding for the projects through bipartisan government funding legislation that became law on February 3.

Please find a summary of projects for which Sen. Ossoff is delivering funding below:

• AUGUSTA: GABCC Foundation ($500,000): This funding will support the GABCC's Rural Small Business Impact Initiative to provide training, technical assistance, and programming to small businesses and entrepreneurs in rural East Georgia.

• LAWRENCEVILLE: Gwinnett County Public Library Foundation, Inc. ($334,000): This funding will expand access to resources and tailored support for small businesses and entrepreneurs in Gwinnett County.

• ATHENS: University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc. ($500,000): This funding will support small businesses looking to compete for Federal contracts with on-demand training and workshops to help grow their businesses.

• ATHENS: Athens Regional Library System ($198,000): This funding will provide equipment, tools, and programming to foster small business creativity and entrepreneurship in Athens-Clarke County.

• JONESBORO: Clayton County Government ($1,200,000): This funding will help construct a small business incubator in South Metro Atlanta to support entrepreneurship and job creation.

"Thank you to Senator Jon Ossoff for your continued support of business owners in rural East Georgia. Through our Rural Small Business Impact Initiative in Augusta, the GABCC Foundation was awarded $500,000 to provide training, technical assistance, and programming to small businesses and entrepreneurs. This marks the second program you have supported for the CSRA region, and shows your commitment is creating real opportunities for our business community to grow and thrive." said Ronic West, Founder, GABCC Foundation.

"We are thrilled with this funding. It allows us to continue and expand two of our highly successful entrepreneurship programs that empower and equip adults and teens to pursue their own business ideas. We will also use some of the money to purchase new entrepreneurial books and digital resources for our customers. Workplace development and economic opportunity are two of our main focuses at Gwinnett County Public Library. These funds will allow more individuals to achieve their dreams of starting their own business and potentially freeing them from dependency on government assistance or other charitable resources," said Gwinnett County Public Library Foundation Executive Director Charles Pace.

"The Library is thrilled to receive this support and Federal funding from Senator Ossoff," said Beth McIntyre, Executive Director of the Athens Regional Library System. "This partnership underscores a shared commitment to innovation, lifelong learning, and community growth. The Library will not only be a cornerstone for education and access to knowledge, but also a hub for local business development, creativity, and collaboration - helping our community grow stronger, smarter, and more connected."

"The University of Georgia and our Small Business Development Center (SBDC) are appreciative to receive this support and looks forward to continuing to promote long-term business sustainability and growth across Georgia through this new programming. This funding will be used to provide small business owners with training and educational resources needed to secure government and corporate procurement opportunities," said Blake Raulerson, Vice President for Government Relations at the University of Georgia.

"We extend our profound gratitude to Senator Jon Ossoff for securing this transformative $1.2 million investment in our Small Business Incubator. Senator Ossoff's steadfast leadership ensures our community has the tools to build a stronger, more prosperous future for all in Clayton County…Where the World Lands and Opportunities take off," said Dr. Alieka Anderson-Henry, Chairwoman Clayton County Board of Commissioners.

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