“A lot of business owners feel like they are in a bubble,” said Greater Eastside Chamber of Commerce President Jamie Dempsey. “It doesn’t have to be that way.” The summit, hosted by the city’s Office of Economic Development, offered the more than a dozen entrepreneurs a look at the resources the city has to offer business owners and, thanks to the guest speaker, a road map to taking out business loans.
The economic development office offers the Snellville Business Toolbox www.snellvillebusinesstoolbox.com a one-stop shop for both start up and established businesses looking for help and resources. The city also offers a mentor-protégé program, peer advisory boards and Solutions Seminars at which business owners can get their questions answered. Maria Peck, loan officer for Access to Capital Entrepreneurs, said the nonprofit organization has worked with business owners in 68 of the state’s counties. ACE offers small business loans and has assisted 526 businesses, loaned out $21 million, translating into more than 3,500 local jobs, she said. Peck advised those in attendance to use the city’s resources as well as ACE’
