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Entrepreneurship Week Proclamation February 24 - March 3, 2007
2/20/07
Georgia small businesses will find it
easier to interact with state government under regulatory reform
initiatives announced today by Governor Sonny Perdue.
"Our small businesses are the backbone
of Georgia's economy, and these reforms will assure they continue to
thrive in our state," said Governor Perdue. "I commend our state
agencies for working in close cooperation to ensure that Georgia's small
businesses experience a more efficient means of assistance and a higher
level of customer service."
Last March, Governor Perdue signed an
Executive Order calling for a more streamlined process for Georgia
businesses to obtain regulatory assistance from the state. The
Governor's Entrepreneur & Small Business Office (ESBO), housed in the
Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), has put these key
steps in place:
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A small business liaison from each
state agency has been selected. Small businesses are able to go
directly to this person for quick responses to each query regarding
regulations for that particular agency.
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A new toll free number has been
established: 877-REGS-4-GA (877-734-7442), where calls will be
directed to the proper agency liaison.
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A new website has also been
developed: www.regs4ga.org , where Georgia businesses can find
specific regulations and related helpful resource links.
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A tracking procedure to identify
the issues, questions and trends of most concern to Georgia's small
businesses has been established. Agency liaisons report their
findings to ESBO each month. These findings could lead to
streamlined rules and regulations, or legislation if necessary.
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An annual progress report will be
submitted to the Governor.
 Governor
Perdue announced the reforms today during an observance of National
Entrepreneurship Week, a nationwide celebration of entrepreneurs to be
held Feb. 24 - March 3, 2007. The Governor also presented a proclamation
supporting the goals and ideals of the national event and the importance
of entrepreneurship to Georgia's economy.
Small businesses make up one of the
strongest segments of Georgia's economy. In 2004, the most recent year
for which statistics are available, small businesses in Georgia grew 22
percent more than the previous year, outstripping their 4.9 percent
growth in the U.S. as a whole. Of the half-million incorporated
businesses in the state last year:
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97.5 percent are categorized as
small by the federal government (under 500 employees)
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95 percent employ fewer than 50
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50 percent employ under 5
In addition, the number of businesses
owned by women in Georgia grew 35 percent between 1997 and 2002, the
second-fastest rate in the country. Women-owned businesses are the
fastest-growing business segment in Georgia.
Among GDEcD's programs that benefit
entrepreneurs and small businesses in Georgia are:
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The "Entrepreneur Friendly"
program, an official designation that means a community is
strategically developing an environment that welcomes small
businesses and entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs and small business
owners in these counties are also eligible to receive free,
customized market data to enhance their competitiveness. Currently
33 Georgia communities have received the certification and more than
50 are in the process.
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The Entrepreneur & Small Business
Regional Project Management team. This team of 10 small business
specialists is in its second year. Spread out throughout the state,
this team focuses on assisting small, fast-growing companies, many
within Georgia's strategic industries, with resources that can
assist them with expansions and new investment. The team also works
closely with Georgia's Centers of Innovation and facilitates the
"Entrepreneur Friendly" designation.
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The Governor's Mentor Protégé
Program, Georgia's business-to-business mentoring program, and the
first state-operated program of its kind in the nation. Since the
program's inception six years ago, more than 125 small companies
have increased their chances of success through mentoring by
established, prospering corporations.
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The Entrepreneur & Small Business
Coordinating Network, established in 2004 by Governor Perdue,
assures statewide support for small businesses with 28 state,
federal, non-profit and private sector partners.
Proposal
for Business, Cultural, and Sightseeing Travel to China
October 7 thru October 21, 2007
6/11/07
The US-China
Connection, Inc. and Global Achievers once again will organize a group
to visit China during October 7 thru October 20, 2007!
This time, we
plan to take 14 days and to travel to following cities: Beijing, Xian,
Chendu, Jiuzhaigou, Hangzhou and Shanghai. Please read the detailed
travel plan.
The total package
price will be $3,850, and the following items are included:
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All air tickets and
ground transportation from and returning to Jackson-Hartsfield Atlanta
International Airport
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Four star hotel
accommodation (based on double occupancy per hotel room; single
supplement is needed if single occupancy is required)
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Daily meals (American and
Chinese combination breakfast most of the time, Chinese lunch and dinner
)
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English speaking local
tour guide
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A group escort will
accompany if the group size is ten or higher
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Gate admissions to all
scenic and culture destinations listed in the travel day- by-day
schedule.
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Targeted business and
education meetings
Not included are
the following:
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Transportation between
the traveler’s home and the airport in Atlanta.
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Chinese visa cost ($75
per person including delivery handled by US-China Connection)
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Gratuities in China for
tour guides, luggage service, bus drivers (about $5 per day)
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All personal costs such
as laundry, certain beverages, telephone bills, postage, pay per movie
costs and travel insurance if desired.
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Single supplement:
$40/night
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Travel insurance, luggage
insurance
Please note that
voluntary non-usage of meals and admissions will not refundable or
exchangeable.
Please feel free
to ask questions and register with Ms. Bette Hickman at 770-254-7345 or
bhickman@alobalachievers.org
For an Itinerary
click here.
Northern
Ireland Exchange Visit
6/18/02
On
June 5, six visitors arrived from the Belfast area of Northern
Ireland for an exchange visit after a group from Global Achievers
visited them in May. Three teachers and three administrators met
with education and government officials to firmly establish a
partnership between Craigavon schools and schools in Georgia.
LaGrange High School, Troup County Comprehensive High, and Starr's
Mill in Fayette County will be matched with Portadown College,
St. Michael's Grammar School, and Lismore High School for the
next school year. While here, they also toured sites such as Callaway
Gardens, the Little White House in Warm Springs, the Carter Library
and Museum, and the Martin L. King, Jr. Historic Site. In addition,
Mr. Aidan McCormick of the Southern Education and Library Board
of Northern Ireland made a presentation to Rep. Jeanette Jamieson
and Rep. Lynn Smith at the Georgia State Capitol on June 10. He
emphasized the need for entrepreneurial programs such as Global
Achievers in the economy of the 21st century for all countries.
Students in these programs on both sides of the Atlantic will
do market research to discover products that > may be exchanged
in their students companies.
Aidan
McCormick of SELB; Ed Smith, Assoc. Supt. of Troup County Schools,
Allan Grant of Portadown College; Eileen Mooney of SELB, and Rep.
Lynn Smith. Seated is Rep. Jeanette Jamieson
Visiting
the Little White House in Warm Springs
Enterprise for Life
6/18/02
Enterprise
for Life Conference was held in Nottingham, England, on May 13-15,
2002. Representing Global Achievers were Bette Hickman, Executive
Director, and Janie Lore, Principal at Central Educational Center,
and Ellen Latimer, Global Achievers Cooordinator at Central Educational
Center. They presented "Preparing Young People for the Global
Economy of the 21st Century." The conference was the first event
in Nottinghamshire's Enterprise for All Project which seeks to
address the poverty of aspiration and risk-averse culture that
prevents people's achieving their potential and making the most
of the opportunities around them.
Eugene
Luzckiw, Director for Enterprise Education, Toronto, Canada; Beverley
Burton, No Limits Education and Training in Nottingham; Norma
Black, Course Director and Founder of the Learning Game from Scotland;
Bette Hickman; and Lynne Bianchi, Science Educator and Researcher
of Sheffield Hallam University.
Peter Nangle of Blackburn College, Blackburn, England, partner
of CEC; Ellen Latimer and Janie Lore of CEC and Bette Hickman.
Market
Day in Oviedo
5/31/02
May 31 was Market Day in Oviedo, which
is in the northern part of Spain near the Atlantic Ocean. Several
schools in this area called Asturias have been partnered this
year with Global Achievers schools in Georgia and North Carolina.
Videoconferencing and e-mails were used extensively among the
schools, and they also made product catalogs of goods available
for sale. This first year of partnership has proven to be very
successful and both sides are looking forward to an even more
active year in 2002-2003. The first photo is an overview of the
market with approximately twenty booths.
Sandy Creeek High School in Tyrone sent "United We Stand" t-shirts
and peachbuds candy as well as other items. Kennesaw Mountain
High sent sweatshirts and jewelry and Columbus High School exported
lotions and soaps. In addition,Calhoun High School exported many
native American items such as dreamcatchers and jewelry and imported
beautiful leather handbags. In addition, Dodge County High School
exported small stuffed animals called "Smoochies" and candy such
as Goo Goo clusters, pecan logs, and peanut brittle.
Sixth Annual Golf Tournament declared a success
4/15/02
The
Sixth Annual Golf Tournament sponsored by Global Achievers on
Wednesday, April 10, was a great success-with the sun coming out
after a rainy week. Michael Murray of East Ayrshire, Scotland,
joined the group at Orchard Hills Golf Club in Newnan, and Richard
Smith piped "Amazing Grace" as well as several other Scottish
tunes to begin the playing. 58 players joined in a beautiful afternoon
and enjoyed barbeque and stew at the end of the day. Teams from
LaGrange, Griffin, Fayetteville and Newnan were present for the
event. The first place winners were Harold Hammond, Bill Hammond,
David Helton, and Toby McSwain. In second place were John Thrasher,
Dan Kazmierczak, and Bob Dean and Gary Shepherd. Third went to
Don Pierce, David Lamb, A. Canote, and Derrick Howard. George
Barron received the Closest to Pin Prize and Bubba Johnston was
the winner of the Longest Drive. Sponsors included Chateau Elan,
Sky's Flying Service, Belk Department Store in Newnan, N-Vision
Studios, Best Western Little White House Inn and the Chipley Murrah
Bed and Breakfast in Warm Springs, Bleyle-Loftin Group, Bank of
Coweta, SouthTowne Motor Company, Woodbury Banking Co., Crain
Oil Company, Coweta Greenhouses, MONY of Griffin, and Harwell,
Brown, & Arnall, P.C. Our thanks to all who participated in this
worthwhile event for Global Achievers.
The First Annual Evening with Robert Burns
4/16/02
The First Annual Evening with Robert Burns sponsored by Global
Achievers at the Newnan City Hall on Tuesday, April 16 was a great
success. It was a pleasant evening---with musical selections,
poetry recitations, story-telling as well as artwork by Young
Artists of Newnan and Coweta County and masks made by students
of Mrs. Gail Zoeller from Elm Street School. Ms. Sue Brown of
Elm Street played "Auld Lang Syne" for the finale. Michael Murray
of Scotland read selections from Robert Burns and Cathy Wright
of Newnan presented a Joel Chandler Harris "Uncle Remus Tale"
in dialect. Winning selections of artwork will be presented by
Bette Hickman at the World Federation Competition to be held in
Cupar, Fife, Scotland on Saturday, April 27. Refreshments representing
the South and Scotland were provided by Teri Lewis. Student performances
by children from Northside School and Arbor Springs as well as
art from Elm Street were highlights of the evening. Ms. Shelley
Recesso of S.L. Mason Elementary School in Valdosta sent artwork
from her students as well as gifts for the partner school, St.
Anthony's in Saltcoats. Ms. Nancy Royal and Mr. Robin Merriman
of Ruth Hill School and Mrs. Anne Powell and Lori Boyd of Smokey
Road Middle as well as Dr. David Gregory of Elm Street were in
attendance. Mayor Keith Brady gave the welcome emphasizing the
Sister City relationship between Ayr, Scotland, and Newnan as
well as the commonality of our two cultures. Two members of the
Atlanta Burns Club were present as well as representatives from
the local government and education community and parents. Global
Achievers expresses appreciation to the Burns Celebration Committee,
Angele's Gallery and Framing, Bodacious Foods, Inc., Dr. Gerald
Troutman, and Newnan Utilities for assisting with this event.
We look forward to increasing the participation for the Second
Annual Burns Evening in 2003.
Northern Ireland trip successful
4/15/01
Bette Hickman, Executive Director of Global Achievers,
organized a study tour to Scotland and Northern Ireland to visit
partner schools and to meet with various education, cultural,
and government officials. Through the Achievers International
office in Ayr, Scotland, school partnerships were established
last spring between several schools in Georgia and schools in
the Craigavon area of Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland initiative
is a part of a grant to Global Achievers from the Callaway Foundation.
Students, teachers, administrators, business and government leaders
were represented on the study tour. The visit also focused on
strengthening and expanding existing ties between Newnan and Coweta
County and the Ayrshire region of Scotland. In June teachers and
other officials from Craigavon will visit LaGrange as well as
in Fayette County and Coweta County.
Global Achievers returns from successful trip to Spain
4/15/01
Geraldine
Welch, Associate Director of Global Achievers, recently met for
several days in the Asturias region of Spain with the leaders
of the Valnalon Project (See www.valnalon.com) who coordinate
the partnerships established with Global Achievers. Mr. Jose Antonio
Vega, Mr. Jose Manuel Perez Diaz, and Mr. Ivan Diego coordinated
the visit. Schools having partnerships in Spain include Sandy
Creek High School in Tyrone, Dodge County Elementary School, Eagles'
Landing High in Henry County, Kennesaw Mountain High in Cobb County,
Calhoun High in Calhoun, Columbus High School in Muscogee County,
and Cabarrus County High School in Concord, North Carolina. Ms.
Welch also met with educators and the deputy mayor of Aviles,
Spain, to establish a partnership with schools in that city. The
sister city of Aviles is St. Augustine, Florida, and several visits
have been made over the years because of this relationship. The
fall of 2002 was the first time Achievers groups were established
with Spain and it has proven to be a very rewarding experience
with videoconferencing among many of the school groups. Global
Achievers looks forward to much growth with the students and teachers
in this northern area of Spain.
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