Registration is available for the Rural Commerce Outreach Initiative (RCOI) conference that is planned at the University of Georgia’s Tifton Conference Center on May 6th and 7th. The initiative will feature a vendor showcase and workshops designed to help new businesses, existing businesses, agribusinesses and nonprofits to take steps to ensure a strong economic future. The Rural Commerce Outreach Initiative was developed out of the Southwest Georgia Stronger Economics Together (SET) Training that was provided through Fort Valley State University Extension Agency and the United States Department of Agriculture. The SET training opportunity allowed nineteen counties in Southwest Georgia to work toward a singular goal to help small business, agribusiness, and nonprofits grow stronger. The event has confirmed Georgia Secretary of Agriculture Gary Black and US House District 2 Congressman Sanford Bishop as speakers. There are several breakout opportunities that will include: Agri-Women in the South, Helping Small Business Owners win Loans, Tax Strategies for the Small Business, Make the Web Work for you Through Social Media, Farm Credit/Farm Loans and many more. For more information, please go online to: www.swgastrong.org for a full list of speakers and times. “We get calls from people wanting to know when training opportunities will be available to start and market their business”, says Barbara Reddick, Senior Planner with the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission. “We are finally able to offer all these things in this two day learning event right in Southwest Georgia!” If you are interested in attending, please contact Kerrie Davis or Barbara Reddick at (229) 522-3552 or kdavis@swgrc.org. The initial SET grant application was a combination of applications submitted from the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission and Southwest Georgia United Empowerment Zone, Inc.
