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Rep. Johnson roundtable provides resources to small businesses

July 20, 2017

CONYERS—Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) continued his small-business initiative with another informational roundtable on July 19 with local Rockdale County small-business owners at the (e)station in Olde Town Conyers.

It was the second installment of the Advancement of the Small Business Community initiative, which launched in June with DeKalb County small-business owners at Georgia Piedmont Technical College in Clarkston.

Recognizing the importance of opening up the door for small businesses to gain access to federal and state resources, the second roundtable welcomed Betty Mason from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and Terri Denison of the Small Business Administration (SBA).

The event allowed small-business owners to network among each other, and talk one-on-one with both Mason and Denison about what it takes to overcome hurdles that often come with registering and competing for government contracts through GDOT; or gaining access to capital through the SBA.

The next roundtable will be held on Wednesday, August 9 in Gwinnett County. The intimate roundtables will culminate in September with a district-wide "Think Tank." This event will create an environment where small businesses from the Fourth Congressional District can benefit from the pool of information and opportunities that the federal government affords its constituents. It will feature both panel discussions and interactive individual participation exercises geared towards addressing the specific needs of each small business owner. The event will be held on September 18 at Georgia Piedmont Technical College, 495 North Indian Creek Drive, Clarkston.

"The importance of the small-business community in today's economy is indisputable," Congressman Johnson said. "Small businesses are a vital part of today's economy and account for half of the private workforce's employment. The purpose of this initiative is to strengthen our small businesses by increasing awareness and support through face to face meetings with the experts that can help us do just that."

The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), the Georgia Department of Agriculture, the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the Small Business Administration (SBA), and the U.S. Department of Labor are some of the organizations who will be a part of the September initiative.

Educators, community and economic development specialists, local leaders and other members of our communities will be on hand at the "Think Tank" event in September to show small businesses the proper way to gain access to capital and the proper channels for contracting with the Federal government. The event will also provide the opportunity for business leaders to learn from each other's experiences.

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