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Rural Business Outreach Institute

Mission & Purpose

The Rural Business Outreach Institute (RBOI) has a mission to increase entrepreneurship in rural Georgia through assistance, support, and education.”
Individuals are provided the necessary information, technical assistance, and financial support to start their own business, improve and expand their existing business, create employment opportunities, and develop programs to retain jobs.
Check out the RBOI brochure and request that you receive notification of upcoming workshops by sending your name, address and email to ruralbusiness@fvsu.edu.

Overview

Created in 1995 through financial funding received from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Entrepreneurial Outreach Development Initiative for 1890 land-grant institutions, the program primarily serves the surrounding 17 “Tier 1” counties.

Under the umbrella of the Institute, the Small Business Academy was created . This entity offers the community a Small Business Incubator, Entrepreneur Resource Center, Technology Laboratory and several entrepreneurial and youth programming opportunities.

Since inception, the program has been successful in assisting 1,700 businesses and coordinating the approval of more that $3.2 million in loan approvals.

Small Business Academy

Small Business Academy encompasses 13,000 square feet of office space known as The Entrepreneurial Resource Center. This business incubator is devoted to providing office and training space in an environment in which businesses can grow, develop, and succeed at below-market rates.

Check out the Entrepreneur Center Guidelines.

Downloads

Contacts

  • Eddie Madison
    Program Coordinator
    Rural Business Outreach Institute
    1005 State University Drive
    Fort Valley, GA 31030
    madisone@fvsu.edu
    478-825-6127 Office
    478-714-1927 Cell
    478-825-6139 Fax

  • Joy Moten-Thomas
    Director
    Tel (478) 825-6060
    Fax (478) 825-6139
    thomasb@fvsu.edu

Success Stories

Peach County obtains Entrepreneur Friendly status

Rufus Crane
Outline of Need: Peach County is in very much need of grants to improve on the efforts of entrepreneurship and economic development throughout the county.

How Rural Business-Cooperative Helped: With the resources of Fort Valley State University’s Rural Business Outreach Institutes workshops, conferences, and seminars the county was eligible to receive the Entrepreneur Friendly status through the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

The Results: This qualifies the county of Peach to apply for up to $25,000 in grant money to improve the economic development of Peach County and to offer more funding for entrepreneurs of the county.

Rufus Crane

Rufus CraneWhen Middle Georgia entrepreneur Rufus Crane wanted to expand his bookkeeping business, he turned to Fort Valley State University’s Rural Business Outreach Institute for help. The RBOI, which assists business owners in starting or expanding their operations, helped Crane find a small business loan through Wells Fargo.

“This was an exciting moment for Mr. Crane and for me,” said Eddie Madison, RBOI’s program coordinator. “We were able to find additional funds to expand his business, while helping to create more jobs in Middle Georgia.”

Crane, who was happy to close on his new loan said, “Mr. Madison provided clear and efficient service, and the terms were very easy to understand and the interest was low.”

Hidden Acres Nursery

Hidden Acres Bank Loan SigningOn Oct. 24 W.F. White received a loan of $217,530 to start Hidden Acres Nursery, a wholesale nursery, with his son. Participating in the paperwork signing at SunMark Community Bank are (from left) Dollie Horton, Public Service Center director; Janice Nelson, executive director of the FVSU Foundation; David Rucker, attorney; Charlie Adams Jr.; W.F. White of Hidden Acres Nursery; and Jim McClarnon, SunMark Community Bank President.

Outline of Need: W.F. White, a hardworking salesman at a local car dealership, wanted to start a wholesale nursery business with his son. Mr. White contacted the University’s Rural Business Outreach Institute (RBOI) to see how we could assist him in identifying alternative funding sources to help him start his own business. Most of our clients have already been denied by their banks prior to establishing a relationship with us. After a few consultations and words of encouragement, our office assisted in the development of a business plan and loan proposal. As a result, the same bank funded his loan proposal.

How Rural Development Helped: Rural Business Outreach Institute guided Mr. White through the loan process from the initial consultation on down to the loan closing.

The Results: Fort Valley State University Intermediary Relending Program (IRP) and SunMark Community Bank loaned Mr. White a total of $241,700. These funds enable the recipient to build a wholesale nursery and created five jobs for the local community.

Additional online resources

Reports