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History: The Edge Connection
a.k.a Cobb Microenterprise Council and Cobb
Microenterprise Center
Founding Partners: United Way of Cobb County; Coles College
of Business, Kennesaw State University; KSU Small Business
Development Center; YWCA of Northwest Georgia; and Center
for Family Resources.
1997–2001
History: October 1997, United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta
announced its implementation of microenterprise development
programming as a strategy to alleviate poverty and provide
employment for low to moderate income, under indicator #9,
Economic Self-Sufficiency for funding support. United Way of
Metropolitan Atlanta requested the support of the Georgia
Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (G-CAPP), to
assist with education and training for agencies and entities
within metro Atlanta who desired to create microenterprise
organizations. G-CAPP introduced microenterprise development
to Georgia in 1996 with national leaders who were brought to
Georgia to provide training and technical assistance to
forge this economic development strategy.
October 1997, four community entities; Coles College of
Business and its Small Business Development Center, Kennesaw
State University, YWCA of NW Georgia, United Way of Cobb
County and Center for Family Resources, received one year of
training and technical assistance from Patricia Harris,
Director of Programs at G-CAPP. This immersion technical
assistance initiative produced one of the first community
based microenterprise programs in the country, named, Cobb
Microenterprise Council. The YWCA of NW Georgia served as
the fiscal agent for the new organization from November 1998
to June 2001.
The founding funders are: United Way of Metropolitan
Atlanta, Community Development Block Grant, Department of
HUD, and Turner Foundation. The first organizational budget
was $121,000. The Micro Loan Fund for the organization was
capitalized with Community Reinvestment Act dollars from:
SunTrust - $5,000, First Union - $5,000, Wachovia - $5,000
and Bank of America - $5,000; totaling $20,000.
The founding leaders are: Dr. Timothy Mescon, KSU; (Ret.)
Colonel Sandy Boyce, YWCA of NW Georgia; CEO, Jeri Barr,
Center for Family Resources; Dr. Carlotta Roberts, Director,
Small Business Development Center; Edward Sabatino, Area
Director, United Way of Cobb County; Craig VanDevere,
Volunteer, United Way; and Jim Robinson, Volunteer, United
Way. Patricia Harris served as the microenterprise expert
and facilitator and became the founding Executive Director,
November 1, 1998.
2001–2003
In July 2001, with the retiring of the founding partners as
board of directors, the organization was named, Cobb
Microenterprise Center. The founding partners assumed the
role as advisors to the organization.
During 2002 and 2003, TEC Board of Directors and Staff
created a new strategic direction for the organization. By
offering in-depth, affordable entrepreneurial training and
support for low- to moderate-income individuals, TEC has
made great strides in eradicating the cycle of poverty and
garnering national recognition for its strategies and
successes.
During the fall of 2003, Connie Evans, a national
microenterprise organizational consultant, provided tools
and strategies that assisted TEC in creating a five year
strategic direction business plan (FY 2003-2008) for the
organization which included expansion for delivery of
services with the emergence as a national SBA Women’s
Business Center, feasibility of launching social enterprises
in a business incubator and virtual office services, and the
feasibility of launching a commercial complex kitchen to
incubate catering and food related businesses.
2004–2007
During 2004 the Board of Director’s initiated a “GO” on the
feasibility study to acquire additional space to launch the
first phase of the social enterprise business incubator.
During 2005 the Board of Director’s assessed the economic
impact and services of the organization and realized that
services had increased by 300% due to the awarding of the
SBA Women’s Business Center and the Hewlett Packard
Microenterprise Technology Resource Center and Lab,
therefore, it was concluded that the organization needed to
be re-branded to meet the needs of Metro Atlanta and its 19
county reach.
During the fall of 2005, the Board of Directors voted to
re-brand the organization to The Edge Connection…empowering
and developing Georgia’s entrepreneurs. On the programmatic
side, the Board of Directors revisited the core business
model and developed key indicators to measure the programs
and service delivery units. Therefore, a three legged-stool
approach to our delivery of services: training, technical
assistance, and technology. The three T’s would become the
cornerstone of the organization and how services and access
to resources are conducted within the organization.
To move toward this level and fulfill its bold vision for
the future, TEC must continue to pursue strategic growth and
financial sustainability.
On August 19, 2005, CMC/TEC Board of Directors met in a
day-long retreat to review and update the organization’s
strategic plan, which was originally adopted for the fiscal
year 2004 beginning July 2003. Connie Evans, an
organizational consultant facilitated the retreat and
updated the strategic plan based on outcomes from the
previous year and recommendations from the Board of
Directors and its Executive Director.
This Benchmark Report is a result of the Summary and
Conclusions from the Strategic Plan Update FY 2006 and other
organizational goals and objectives developed by the
Executive Director.
The Summary Report Update FY 2006
Three significant implementation items emerged as a result
of the updated strategic planning session conducted by the
Board of Directors on August 19, 2005:
1.
Rebranding of the organization
2. Development of new module in the curriculum focused
on training client’s how to access capital
3. Monitoring and reporting on the key indicators
selected
Additionally, the Executive Director is reporting on
the following nine items that have resulted in
significant social and economic impact:
4. Restructuring the organization
5. First Annual Gala and Award Event
6. Acquisition of space to launch the social enterprise
business incubator and business support services
7. New and Enhanced Programs and Services
8. Social Enterprises: Commercial Complex Kitchen and
Production Center
9. Financial Profile/Proposed Budget 2007
10. Strategic Partnerships
11. Community Leadership and Recognition
12. Legislative Agenda and Advocacy
During
2004 the organization become a Small Business
Administration, Women’s Business Center (WBC); one of 90
centers in the United States. With this classification, the
organization grew by 350% within its first year of becoming
a WBC. The board of directors initiated a branding process
after data outcomes reported the organization was serving 19
counties in Metro Atlanta and achieving economic impact of
over $4 million dollars since inception.
The organization launched its new brand January 1, 2006: The
Edge Connection…empowering and developing Georgia’s
entrepreneurs.
Today The Edge Connection has a multitude of classes that
target concept and start-ups businesses, development
services for growth enterprises, access to capital through
micro loan funds, loan funds, SBA lending, procurement,
certification of women and minority businesses, and
development workshops and seminars.
The organization has a budget of over $1M in philanthropy,
earned income, donations, in-kind contributions, and
volunteer support.
Current Programs at The Edge Connection:
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Exploring Entrepreneurship – 6 hour entrepreneurial
course for business feasibility.
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Plan for Success – 12 week microenterprise business
development program.
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Advanced Business Services – 6 week advanced
entrepreneurial education program for growth business,
bankable business plans, and diversity supplier chain
business strategiesLearn to Earn – 12 week program for
inmates on work release in cooperation with Cobb County
Service Board and Cobb County Sheriff’s Department.
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Million Dollar Business Program – targeting growth
businesses with potential of $1M dollars in revenue
within 5 years.
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Business Coaching – this program is a strategic
partnership with Action Coach International, which
targets growth and multi-million dollar business
models.
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Business Technology Services – technology education
for business owners.
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Financial Literacy – training and resources on
managing budgets, credit, alleviating debt,
investments, and retirement.
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Business Incubator – on-site business incubation
services for growth businesses.
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Business Seminars
and Workshop -- a variety of offerings monthly.
New
Directions for 2008
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The Edge Connection celebrates its 10th Anniversary and
Award Gala on November 1, 2008, Marriott Marquis.
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Capacity Building – TEC will expand its program services
and offerings in 2008 to a new 30,000 square foot “green
and sustainable” facility that will house the following:
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Commercial Complex Kitchen and Production Center – 6-9
stations for chefs, organic growers and food related
businesses with three shifts per day. The Production
Center will provide access to assemble, bottle and
package products for the market place.
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Business Incubator – house 30 businesses with wrap
around support services for admin, training, and
consultation.
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Market Place – a retail store to showcase and test
market products.
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Event Space – space for chefs to host events for their
clients.
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Office Space – space for organization staff,
consultants.
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Business Library and Resource Center – space for clients
to utilize for research, study and access to technology.
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Technology Lab – Hewlett Packard 19-seat technology lab
for business technology training,
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Opportunity to house Cox Family Enterprises – this
resource will continue the business partnership with
Coles College of Business and provide and provide a
strategic alliance
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