Georgia’s Small Business Resources
This video illustrates how the Georgia Department of Economic Development can help a small business like Jon’s learn about business licenses, labor laws, taxes and other details for starting his business. Jen discovers information about tax breaks, academic research and export assistance as she looks for ways to grow her company.

Last year, the department’s director of small business, Mary Ellen McClanahan, directly assisted 1,300 companies and advised 150 communities and organizations. The Centers of Innovation connected and assisted nearly 4,000 Georgia companies during 2014, up 30 percent from the previous fiscal year. And the International Trade division received the Presidential “E Star” Award, the nation’s highest honor for excellence in providing export programs and services. More than 14,500 Georgia companies exported .6 billion in goods and services to 230 countries and territories in 2013. In FY 2013, GDEcD’s International Trade division worked with 1,346 companies in Georgia. Work with these companies resulted in 420 export deals that were valued at .9 million.

These are just a few of the reasons why Georgia is consistently ranked as the top state for business.