Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Invest Atlanta announced the introduction of new resources to support Atlanta small businesses, including three programs focused on increasing business activity in Southside communities. The new resources offered through Invest Atlanta and partner organizations will provide support to entrepreneurs and increase small business activity throughout the City of Atlanta.

“Small businesses and entrepreneurs are the unsung heroes of Atlanta’s economy,” said Dr. Eloisa Klementich, President and CEO of Invest Atlanta. “To continue growing this vital sector, we need to  untap  and foster the economic potential of more Atlanta communities. Through these new tools, we are making it easier for people to achieve the dream of being a successful entrepreneur and creating greater economic prosperity for more Atlantans.”

Invest Atlanta, with support from partnering organizations, will provide three new resources focused specifically on increasing entrepreneurship and businesses activity in Southside communities.

• Southside Community & Economic Development Manager: A new Invest Atlanta staff position who will serve as a point person to drive economic activity and increase economic mobility of residents while preserving Southside communities.  The Southside Manager will leverage community development resources and economic development tools to support startups and small business growth, attract private sector investment, market the area to a mix of companies, and coordinate Invest Atlanta resources around targeted place-based activities occurring in the Southside. Invest Atlanta has named current staff person Erika Smith to the position.

One of the first priorities for the Southside Community & Economic Development Manager is to work with strategic partners to develop and deploy resources to small businesses along the Campbellton Road corridor and in Atlanta’s Mechanicsville, Peoplestown, and Pittsburgh neighborhoods.

• Campbellton Road Small Business Renovation Program: A grant program for businesses located on Campbellton Road created in partnership with Wells Fargo and Rebuilding Together Atlanta, a national not-for-profit. The program will provide up to a $12,000 for interior renovation and equipment updates to small businesses located directly on the corridor. Applications are available and due by December 3, 2018.
• Small Business Improvement Grant for Mechanicsville, Pittsburgh & Peoplestown: A grant program through Annie E. Casey Foundation providing up to $10,000 to small business owners and tenants to make exterior and interior improvements to their buildings. The program is in development and will be launching soon.

In addition, Invest Atlanta recently launched ATLInBusiness, a website to provide information on how to start and grow a business in the City of Atlanta. The site provides easy access to small business information, such as how to write a business plan, and resources available through the City of Atlanta, Invest Atlanta, the Small Business Administration and other organizations. ATLInBusiness was developed by Invest Atlanta in partnership with the City of Atlanta, the Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative and Welcoming Atlanta and is accessible at www.atlinbusiness.com.