GMEN provides training programs to build the operational capacity of MDOs and to insure the quality of services to micro business clients. Training is based on industry best practices.
Annual Conference
GMEN has held nine statewide conferences since 1999. The annual conference focus is on providing best practices for microenterprise organizations in the areas of:
- Program design
- Established and tested training packages for micro business development, lifeskills, and economic literacy
- Defining target markets for microenterprise development services
- Continual evaluation of the effectiveness of a microenterprise development organization
- Potential funding sources for a microenterprise development organization
- Professional development for the staff of microenterprise development organizations
Program Design Services
GMEN provides three program design services for building the capacity of microenterprise development organizations:
- Setting-up a new microenterprise organization,
- Setting-up a new microloan fund, and
- Establishing an IDA program.
Under review is an expansion of the microenterprise development program design services, a module on sectoral marketing. GMEN completed a survey and focus group on current “micro enterprise sectors” in Georgia, and capacity building support needs to maximize economic impact in those sectors.
Support Services
GMEN has a strategic partnership with the Georgia Bar Association — ABC Project to provide pro bono legal services to member organizations. GMEN is directly supported by this partnership with pro bono legal services from King & Spalding.
GMEN’s staff attends industry conferences and provides feedback on capacity building activities. GMEN is a member of Georgia Entrepreneur & Small Business Coordinating Network (ESBN). As such, GMEN members have formed partnerships with the public providers of small business development services to insure that “micro” businesses are included in the small business discussion.
GMEN is a member of the national industry organization: Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO). Georgia microenterprise practitioners serve on AEO national committees and have served as speakers at AEO national and regional meetings. Several Georgia microenterprise practitioners have gone on to become AEO staff. GMEN was proud to have been selected as the host for the 2006 Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) conference. This was held in May 2006 in Atlanta.
Client Support
GMEN provides five services for client support of its member organizations:
- Annual Micro Fair – periodically a venue is provided for entrepreneurs to sell their products and services at GMEN’s annual conference.
- Business Plan Competition – periodically GMEN hosts a business plan competition to provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs to present their business plan and get feedback on potential improvements. 1st Place Winner: June 2005 – Dionna Littlejohn, Body by Deesign
- Marketing Plan Competition – periodically GMEN hosts a marketing competition to focus solely on the marketing section of the business plan to re-enforce the need to have a solid plan for making sales. 1st Place Winners: Feb 2006 – Leslie Sperry, LL Beads – Apolinary Nshimirimana, AP Home Improvements Sept 2006 – Eric Highsmith, 1stCapitalSources.com
- MVP Cards – in conjunction with the Association for Enterprise Opportunity, GMEN has published four sets of MVP cards.
- Marketing Workshops – During some GMEN annual conferences a track has been included to provide resources to entrepreneurs on government contracting at the state, federal, and local level; options for access to capital; and marketing opportunities.
