COED Announces Partnership with Start It Up Georgia
The Cherokee Office of Economic Development (COED) today announced its partnership with Atlanta Tech Village’s (ATV) newest program – Start It Up Georgia. The initiative is a free, 12-week virtual program open to everyone who wants to launch a business. Launching on August 10, Start It Up Georgia will provide mentorship, practical and tactical learning labs, community resources, and an opportunity for participants to apply for seed/grant funding at the completion of the program.
As of June, Georgia is facing an unemployment rate of 7.6 percent. Today’s economic crisis presents a complex set of barriers to overcome for both unemployed and those wanting to launch their own business. Start It Up Georgia helps remove those barriers through its interactive learning labs and by focusing on collaborative partnerships from around metro Atlanta and the state of Georgia.
COED joins a growing team of strategic partners that are working to help solve Georgia’s unemployment status through entrepreneurial education. “Economic development has always been a team sport,” said COED President Misti Martin. “ATV’s unique vision with Start It Up Georgia aligns well with COED’s strategy of using entrepreneurship as an effective driver for economic development and future job creation.”
COED’s diverse approach to economic development from product, infrastructure and workforce development to entrepreneurship and film will support Start It Up Georgia through resources, collaboration, and community involvement. Specifically, COED will leverage its resources and vast network of entrepreneurial support through its entrepreneurship initiative, Fresh Start Cherokee. The North Atlanta Venture Mentoring Service (NAV) – one of those key programs – is a team-based program principled and trained by MIT’s Venture Mentoring Service (VMS) that provides entrepreneurs around North Atlanta regular access to a diverse community of 27 mentors.
“Nothing says innovation like trailblazing your own career path through entrepreneurship, especially during an economic crisis,” said COED Community Manager of Entrepreneurship Jonathan Chambers. “Helping Georgia’s unemployed and aspiring entrepreneurs navigate starting their own business can give them the skills and training they need to relaunch their career and join the workforce stronger than ever.”
To learn more or apply for Start It Up Georgia, visit startitupgeorgia.org.