Partnership for Community Action

Microenterprise Development Program

Where Businesses Come to GROW!!!

Program Overview

The Microenterprise Development Program is a self-sufficiency initiative of the Partnership for Community Action, Inc.  The program is designed to assist new and existing small businesses. The program consists of three tracks:

Track I-Start-up: Business Development

Business Development training is six (6) weeks in length, held once a week on Saturday.  Technical assistance (one-on-one counseling) is also provided to participants.  Following are the topics that are taught during the six weeks:

• Business Development 101

• Developing a Business Plan

• Access to Capital

• Marketing

• Financial Management

• Credit Management

Track II- Existing Business

Open to any business existing for one (1) year, with five (5) or fewer employees and with a net worth of less than $50,000.

Track III– Access to Capital*

Money must be used for business start up and /or expansion.  Business must operate in DeKalb, Rockdale or Gwinnett Counties.  It is recommended that the applicant complete the Business Development training.

*All loan requests are subject to approval by an independent loan review committee.

Fees

Individuals wishing to enroll in the program that are over the income guidelines will be assessed a fee of $100 to cover the cost of training and other program fees.

Benefits of the Program

• Technical Assistance

• Access to Capital

• Resource materials to grow a business

• Business to business networking

• Business plan development and training

Micro-Loan Program Eligibility

Applicant must be 18 years of age or older.

Planning to start a business in one of the Counties; DeKalb, Rockdale or Gwinnett.

Applicant must be either the business owner or co-owner.

Business will create or retain jobs for low-to-moderate income individuals.

Refugee Loan Fund Program:

This program is designed to leverage resources of PCA in order to increase access to micro-enterprise business loan capital and technical assistance for the low-to-moderate income refugees and asylees in DeKalb, Rockdale and Gwinnett Counties.

Community Loan Program:

This program is designed to leverage resources of PCA to create a Revolving Loan Fund designed to provide small business loans for businesses located in underserved communities within PCA’s target areas; DeKalb, Rockdale and Gwinnett counties.

The Microenterprise Development Program

is in collaboration with

Business Tech Solution, LLC

BusinessLINC Community Loan Fund

Contact:  Vonda Echols, Program Coordinator

404.929.2453