Georgia Microenterprise Network urges renewed push for HB 863, highlights microloan and training programs

Elizabeth Wilson, chief executive officer of the Georgia Microenterprise Network, told the Small Business Development Committee that the group supports House Bill 863 (the Georgia Small Business Set Aside Act) and Senate Bill 207 (occupational-licensing relief for returning citizens) and urged lawmakers to consider renewed action next year.

Wilson described GMIN as a nearly 30-year-old statewide intermediary that provides technical assistance, procurement-readiness training and capital access targeted to rural entrepreneurs, women- and minority-owned businesses and microenterprises (businesses with fewer than five employees). She said the network partners with community development financial institutions, Invest Atlanta and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to expand reach.

Wilson and Adam Smith, who introduced her, highlighted GMIN’s role delivering entrepreneurship training inside correctional facilities and said that curriculum is available via tablets to people who are incarcerated. "We get letters every week from individuals who are incarcerated asking us for more trainings," Wilson said, describing the program as a pathway to lawful employment and a tool to reduce recidivism if coupled with licensing reform.

On capital, Adam Smith described GMIN’s microloan work, including a ‘‘Lehi fund’’ microloan program that makes loans up to $30,000 with no application fee and, in early rounds, no credit check. Smith said flex-fund loans run with a 36-month repayment schedule; as an example he said a $10,000 loan yields roughly a $217.16 monthly payment. He added the Sapelo Foundation is a partner for statewide lending.

Committee members pressed GMIN for repayment and default-rate statistics; Smith said the organization does not yet have comprehensive success/failure numbers to present but reported most borrowers meet monthly payments and some have paid off early. GMIN said it is considering adding credit checks in future rounds but so far has emphasized flexible access and capital-readiness support for new borrowers.

Wilson asked the committee to note that HB 863 did not pass this session but asked for ongoing support, saying the bill would help microenterprises access procurement opportunities. The committee chair requested that GMIN provide concrete success-rate data on repayment and program outcomes for follow-up.

The committee did not take a vote on the bills during this hearing; GMIN committed to provide the committee with additional program data on repayment and borrower outcomes.