Economic Development
The East Athens Development Corporation, Inc. (EADC), is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit corporation, is a Community Based Development Organization (CBDO) as defined in §570.204 of 24 CFR Part 570, designated to carry out community economic development, affordable housing, and neighborhood revitalization programs primarily in the East Athens Census Tracts 1301 and 1302 target areas. The East Athens community has high unemployment, low education attainment, and is basically a low wealth community. EADC has successfully completed a neighborhood rehabilitation project at Triangle Plaza . The current objectives are: micro enterprise development (revolving loan fund and business expansion), Financial Fitness, Community Outreach, and support programs like job training.
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"Making your Dream a Reality"
Micro-Enterprise Develoment
EADC set of programs represent a comprehensive approach to micro Business development with services targeted to those thinking about starting a business (pre-venture), launching entrepreneurs and finally to existing businesses seeking assistance to improve their profitability or sustainability. Micro Enterprise Development in a community means jobs. This is the premise of the EADC program. Every facet of this program is designed to improve the employability of residents, move individuals to self-employment, help business to expand to in order to increase household income and to employ others in the Athens community.
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Access to Capital
Revolving Loan Fund
The East Athens Development Corporation's Micro-enterprise Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) has been created for the purpose of providing capital to start-up and small businesses so that these businesses can create sustainable jobs and provide needed services. The RLF is specifically designed to provide capital to those that do business in areas that are typically underserved by traditional lending institutions.
The revolving loan fund is first, and foremost, for graduates of our Micro-enterprise class (listed above). It can be used for business start-up costs or business expansion. We can help you get all the paperwork ready in order to apply for this loan. It is often the simple things that hold you back in your career.
Referral Information
One of the important avenues to access to capital is referral and assistance with loan application. We provides this services and direct clients to other sources including the ACC Revolving Loan Fund, ACCION, SBA and area lending institutions.
We also offer or participate in and/or sponsor job fairs and one-day seminars. Please check the calendar on our web site for more information: www.eadcinc.com
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Financial Fitness
East Athens Development Corporation, Inc. will administer one day seminars/workshops as well as a sequence of seminars providing key knowledge of the simple strategies and techniques that would significantly improve a person's ability to manage their finances and eventually be able to finance or received a loan for their business or become a successful homeowner. Some of EADC's goals include: participants being able to take charge of their finances by learning to plan and budget, learn the basics of saving, investing, and planning for retirement.
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Community Outreach
Classic City Spring Festival
EADC will assist the East Athens Human Service Advisory Board organize, facilitate, and promote the Fall Festival, which enhance the neighborhood revitalization strategy of East Athens . This festival provides entrepreneurial opportunities for vendors, marketing opportunities for Triangle Plaza businesses, and provides EADC's a captive audience to market the services and programs offered in the East Athens Community.
Community Job Fair
EADC in collaboration with Department of Labor, Athens Career Center and Athens Clarke County Leisure Services will host a community job fair held in the fall of 2005. The job fair will be housed in the East Athens Community Center and will have workshops preceding the job fair to assist participants with resume building, interview skills, and how to fill out an application.
Community Forum
EADC serves as a clearing housing of information and getting this important information to the residents. Therefore, we would host a community forum to have citizen input of programs they would like to see in this area as well as informing the residents of the opportunity for empowerment provided by East Athens Development Corporation, Inc., as well as other agencies that citizens of census tract 301 and 302 can and will benefit from.
Newsletters
EADC serves as a “Clearing House” agency for economic development initiates in East Athens . EADC publishes a community newsletter for community residents and businesses.
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Training & Technical Assistance
Micro Enterprise Training is at the core of the services EADC offers. The classes are varied and address the needs of entrepreneurs along the spectrum – pre-venture – established business owners.
The 12-week course will teach you the ins and outs of starting, or enhancing, your own small business. You will learn how to determine start-up costs, how to acquire information on and assess your competition, how to write the all-important business plan in order to get a loan, how to concentrate your resources and efforts in the right direction. We emphasize marketing yourself, and how to make a winning business presentation. This class will open your eyes and get you started right. You will be encouraged, as well as, challenged by your instructors and classmates.
Other classes include an Advanced Micro Enterprise Class, designed for the business owners, or a graduate of the EADC 12-week session, one-day sessions on the basics of starting a business and 2- 3 session institutes focuses on issues such as marketing, accounting and finance.
One on One Consulting
In the fall of 2003, EADC began providing one-on-one business counseling to area businesses and entrepreneurs. This service provides current and prospective business owners with very specific advice and resources to address problems including cash flow, start up, access to capital, business plan development etc. This service is primarily offered to graduates of one of our classes, seminars, loan applicant or an existing business located or serving residents of the census tract.
Other opportunities
There are many opportunities available to help you move up to the next level in your job. We work with many county and state agencies in order to bring you community job fairs, including a fall job fair for the Christmas season, business expos which highlight micro-enterprise businesses. We also offer youth employment and training courses. So much of today’s jobs are computer based. If you don’t know the basic business programs, then you cannot get ahead in the work place. We have computers available for use with the most common programs used in the work place. See also the Gospel Pilgrim site.
If any of these are your dreams, and you would like to learn how to get started toward making them a reality in your life, then, you've come to the right place.
On this website, you will see how we help individuals, families, and communities realize their dreams. Through our knowledge, expertise, resources, and your willingness to learn and work hard, you too, can realize your dreams.
Please take some time to look through our educational opportunities to see how we can best get you moving in the right direction. Then, call us, at 706-208-0048 to get started toward realizing your dreams today.
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