The DeKalb Chamber of Commerce will host a DeKalb County CEO candidate forum on Thursday, April 25th. Members are encouraged to attend.
The format is question-and-answer as opposed to debate. Questions will be accepted from the audience as they arrive, and candidates will have the opportunity to answer them. The questions will be screened for duplication, legibility, and must be appropriate for ALL candidates. Candidates will have one minute to address each question.
The DeKalb Chamber of Commerce is not a political action committee, is not affiliated with any governmental entity, and does not endorse candidates in elections. The DeKalb Chamber is an independent organization lead by the private sector. The DeKalb Chamber hosts candidate forums as a service to allow candidates seeking public office to express their views openly so community members can understand their positions and make informed voting choices. All candidates who filed for the open CEO position have been invited to participate. Less than 50 percent of small businesses have their financing needs met.
If thinking about financing your small business makes your head spin, we?re here to help. Join us for Myths and Realities of Small Business Funding.
This program will cover the new State Small Business Credit Initiative program, designed to support small business? access to capital, in addition to covering other various types of financing including: conventional bank loans, SBA-guaranteed loans, private equity, specialty lending programs and grant funding.
Our facilitators will delve into the common myths and misconceptions surrounding the financing of small businesses and provides a comprehensive understanding of the realities entrepreneurs face.
Through a combination of guided facilitation and class participation, participants will explore various financing options, debunk prevalent misconceptions, and gain practical insights into the various ways of financing a successful small business.
Course Outline
Types of capital
Sources of capital
Demystifying the lending & borrowing process
Understanding business & personal credit
Traditional & non-traditional financing options
Grants ? the promise of free money
Getting loan ready
Learner Outcomes
By the end of the class, participants will:
Have a thorough understanding of various avenues of financing their small business
Have the ability to determine the advantages and disadvantages of the different forms of capital as it relates to their business
Be able to analyze their business from a lender?s perspective
Have a high-level understanding of how to create the BIG three financial statements as well as a Personal Financial Statement
Have knowledge of the various specialty lending programs available through the State Small Business Credit Initiative Discover the right financing path for your small business in our one-hour webinar, 'Finding the Financing Fit for Your Small Business.' Delve into the array of funding options available in 2024, from traditional funding to alternative options. This session guides you through these choices, providing actionable insights and expert advice to help you make informed decisions. Gain clarity on navigating the complexities of financing, empowering you to drive your business toward financial success in the upcoming year.
Course Outline
All About Financing
Analyzing What You Need Capital For
Determining the Loan You Need
Comparing Lenders
Applying for Loans
Closing on Your Loan & Payments
FAQs
Learner Outcomes
Develop a nuanced understanding of the diverse range of financing options available in 2024, allowing you to distinguish between traditional and emerging funding models, enabling better decision-making for your business's financial health.
Gain the ability to analyze and align specific financing solutions with your business's unique requirements. Learn how to assess the feasibility of different options and select the most suitable financing fit to fuel your business growth.
Acquire practical strategies to navigate the complexities and challenges associated with securing funding. Identify potential pitfalls and learn proactive measures to overcome obstacles, ensuring a smoother financing process for your small business. The internet is full of content, and we just keep adding more. It?s harder than ever to stand out with your online presence, yet it?s also more crucial than ever to do so effectively. Content marketing isn?t just another fad?it?s an effective method to serve your target audience better. Getting started with blogging or podcasting can feel overwhelming, but it?s easier than you might imagine. Taking the right perspective to content marketing is the key.
Join Robert Carnes, Marketing Manager at GreenMellen for this Marketing Monday session as he discusses the ins and outs of content marketing from blogging to podcasting to webinars and more. Learn how your small business can use content marketing to generate leads and bring in revenue.
Course Outline
Agenda:
Content marketing overview
Blogging
Podcasting
Webinars
Lead Generators
Practical applications & resources
Q&A
Learner Outcomes
Attendees will gain an understanding of:
What content marketing is and why it?s valuable for any business
How to maximize your time in creating marketing content
How to develop effective content across multiple platforms
Where to begin with content marketing in your business SBDC StartSmart was developed by the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center. This year?s program is tailored to being held virtually to facilitate virtual discussion, class engagement, & mastery of content. Participation in StartSmart will also allow access to online business planning software. The program is facilitated by specially trained SBDC consultants and a long-term relationship with the SBDC and follow-up consulting is available and encouraged.
Whether you are a new business (in business 2 years or less), or are still in the planning phase, building a business takes the right tools?and a lot of hard work. SBDC StartSmart will equip you to be successful!
SBDC StartSmart helps attendees to:
Evaluate & refine your business concept
Improve your knowledge of business concepts
Research markets and competition
Develop a financial forecast to improve chances of success
Develop a thorough, practical business plan
Course Outline
Eight modules cover critical issues for new businesses:
MODULE 1: Business Success ? How do we get there?
MODULE 2: Opportunity & Solutions
MODULE 3: Marketing for Success
MODULE 4: Digital Marketing & Online Strategies
MODULE 5: Navigating Human Resources
MODULE 6: Operations & Managing by the Numbers
MODULE 7: Management with a Plan
MODULE 8: Plan, Run, Review, Revise
SBDC StartSmart programs include 16 hours of instruction delivered over a period of four weeks. Sessions will be held twice a week for 2 hours each. Check your preferred location for details on when their 2021 program will be held.
Learner Outcomes
Owning your own business is the American dream. Building it to withstand the test of time requires a unique set of tools. SBDC StartSmart? provides the resources, support, and motivation to put your dream within reach.
SBDC StartSmart provides the tools to:
Evaluate your concept and develop plans to move forward.
Improve knowledge of business fundamentals.
Build an infrastructure for business operations and processes.
SBDC StartSmart graduates acquire:
An actionable business plan and access to business planning software
Access to financial and business resources.
A network of entrepreneurial peers and professionals.
Notes
A Public Service and Outreach Unit of the University of Georgia. Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All programs of the UGA SBDC are open to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance.
Testimonials
''I cannot thank you enough for the stellar StartSmart program. This experience has transformed the way I do business, both now and in the future.?
''I look forward to following up with my SBDC Consultant to build on this program and continue to strengthen my business plan and practices.'' Join us for this one-hour webinar where we?ll walk you through everything you need to know to discover your strategic position. By learning how to perform a SWOT analysis for your business, you can understand what actions you need to take to ensure your business thrives.
Course Outline
What is SWOT?
What are my strengths?
What are my weaknesses?
Understanding opportunities
Evaluating threats
Learner Outcomes
How to create a SWOT analysis
Learn to identify internal strengths and weaknesses
Understand external opportunities and threats Empower your business with the latest strategies and network with industry leaders at the National Small Business Week Virtual Summit?a must-attend event to catalyze growth and innovation for your company.
Free Registration:
Secure your spot today and gain free access to a wealth of knowledge and resources.
Why You Can't Miss This Summit:
Free expert-led learning webinars. Dive into webinars such as:
?Accelerate Business Growth with AI? by Visa
?Securing Your Small Business in a Work-From-Anywhere World? by T-Mobile
?Unlock AI?s Potential for Your Small Business? by Google
And many more insightful topics from top companies like Amazon, Square, Chase for Business, Constant Contact, and NerdWallet.
Interactive Exhibits and Networking:
Connect with other business owners, get real-time advice from SCORE mentors, and gather invaluable resources.
Actionable Takeaways:
Every session is designed to provide strategies and insights you can apply immediately to your business for immediate impact. The DeKalb Chamber Membership Committee helps to plan and evaluate the Chamber's overall programs and membership offerings including, but not limited to, workshops, seminars, and networking events. Also works to recruit and retain current and new members by managing and auditing the Member Contact Timeline, offer innovative ideas, and ensure all members are having a valuable experience.
This committee meets monthly on the 1st Wednesday of the month from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Some meetings may have been adjusted from their original schedule due to holidays or Chamber events. Do you want to use LinkedIn as a launching pad for your success? This program will show you a unique, three-pronged LinkedIn strategy ? the Three C?s of LinkedIn Success ? to build your business!
The 1.0-hour class will include:
Live demonstrations on LinkedIn of the key parts of the strategy
Why the strategy works and how to put it into practice
Q&A
Course Outline
The 1st C ? How to use (free) advanced search techniques to find and add the right Connections
The 2nd C ? How to project Credibility using your LinkedIn profile
The 3rd C ? How to use Conversations to build your reputation and gain new customers
Learner Outcomes
Techniques to locate the right new connections on LinkedIn
How to generate targeted lists of your perfect prospects ? and what to do next
How to transform your LinkedIn profile into a landing page ? for you!
Profitable things to say on LinkedIn Empower your business with the latest strategies and network with industry leaders at the National Small Business Week Virtual Summit?a must-attend event to catalyze growth and innovation for your company.
Free Registration:
Secure your spot today and gain free access to a wealth of knowledge and resources.
Why You Can't Miss This Summit:
Free expert-led learning webinars. Dive into webinars such as:
?Accelerate Business Growth with AI? by Visa
?Securing Your Small Business in a Work-From-Anywhere World? by T-Mobile
?Unlock AI?s Potential for Your Small Business? by Google
And many more insightful topics from top companies like Amazon, Square, Chase for Business, Constant Contact, and NerdWallet.
Interactive Exhibits and Networking:
Connect with other business owners, get real-time advice from SCORE mentors, and gather invaluable resources.
Actionable Takeaways:
Every session is designed to provide strategies and insights you can apply immediately to your business for immediate impact.
**EVENT FULL** DeKalb County CEO Candidate Forum
Webinar - Myths and Realities of Small Business Funding
Webinar - Finding the Financing Fit for Your Business
Webinar - Marketing Monday: Creating Sustainable Content Marketing for Your Small Business
Webinar - StartSmart (8-class series)
Webinar - Strategic Analysis
Webinar - 2024 National Small Business Week Virtual Summit
Membership Committee Meeting
Webinar - The Three Easy Ways to Grow Your Business Using the New LinkedIn
Webinar - 2024 National Small Business Week Virtual Summit