Macon-Bibb County, in partnership with the University of Georgia’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and State Bank & Trust Company, held its first-ever Contractors Academy from September 2017 through April 2017. A graduation will be held to celebrate the inaugural participants on Wednesday, May 10, at 12:00 p.m. in the fourth floor training room at the Historic Macon Terminal Station (200 Cherry Street). Thirty-seven small and local business owners completed the entire Academy and will be presented with certificates.

“We want to improve the capacity of and increase the opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses to earn contracts with our local governments,” says Macon-Bibb’s Small Business Affairs Director Dr. James Bumpus. “Through the Academy, we hope these business owners will have a greater understanding of our projects, our procurement process, and how they can support the major projects we have underway that are improving our community.”

Business owners from various sectors including technology, computer repair, manufacturing, construction, retail, real estate, and engineering participated in the classes. Over the course of eight months, the Academy hosted monthly technical assistance classes for local business owners interested in increasing their business capacity. Participants learned about how to work with government, how to get started in business, marketing tools, credit myths and realities, and more.

“This is a significant milestone for our community, and we are seeing other communities around the state in the SBDC family following the lead of Macon-Bibb County,” says Josh Walton, SBDC Area Director.

There is a second class planned to begin in September 2017. To be considered for the program, business owners can apply for a scholarship to attend (funded by Macon-Bibb, State Bank, and the SBDC) on line at http://www.maconbibb.us/small-business-affairs/ beginning May 1, 2017.