Business owners affected by disaster find help at the Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University
Leaving hurricane−lashed New Orleans behind‚ Violet Henderson discovered that her losses were…
Georgia (Oct 17, 2005) — Business owners affected by disaster find help at the Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University
Terri Thornton
Abstract
Contact: Terri Thornton‚ 404−932−4347 or territhornton@mindspring.com
Leaving hurricane−lashed New Orleans behind‚ Violet Henderson discovered that her
losses were more than just her home and possessions. Her business and main livelihood
had also been destroyed by the flooding.
“I spent days and days calling insurance companies‚ FEMA‚ just about anyone who I
thought might help us‚” Henderson said. “It was terrifically frustrating‚ until quite
by accident we found the Kennesaw State University Small Business Development Center.”
Responding quickly to business owners affected by the hurricanes in the Gulf Coast
communities‚ the Coles College of Business has launched the Small Business Restoration
Initiative. This collaborative effort leverages the strengths of the Coles College
of Business‚ the Small Business Development Center (SBDC)‚ the Cobb Microenterprise
Center‚ and the depths of experience of the Coles College alumni‚ faculty and students.
With assistance from partnering accounting‚ legal‚ banking and other professional
firms‚ the initiative launched a business disaster website (http://coles.kennesaw.edu/disaster) to assist business owners struggling to rebuild business documents‚ contact their
former customer base or apply for disaster loans.
“According to some reports‚ the recent hurricanes crippled over a third of small and
micro establishments in the affected regions‚” said Prof. Govind Hariharan‚ Co−Director
of the Initiative and Interim Chair of the Department of Economics‚ Finance‚ and Quantitative
Analysis at the Coles College. “The pressing need for help‚ accompanied by the enthusiastic
support of business leaders like Dr. Paul Lopez of HomeBanc were integral in our taking
this initiative forward‚” he added.
Just 48 hours after Violet Henderson’s call to the KSU Small Business Development
Center‚ SBDC Director Lydia C. Jones assisted her in applying for an SBA Disaster
loan. After the paperwork was completed‚ Violet and her husband Derrick stopped by
to thank her for the extra effort that helped them have a glimmer of hope that their
nightmare might soon be over.
“This initiative is unique because most of the humanitarian aid is going towards personal
relief‚ but very little attention has been given to the business owners who’ve been
equally as devastated by the disasters‚” Jones said.
The Small Business Restoration Initiative is spearheaded by Co−Directors Jones and
Hariharan‚ as well as Cobb Microenterprise Center Executive Director Patricia Harris‚
HomeBanc Mortgage Corporation Executive Vice President of Business Development and
Sales Dr. Paul Lopez‚ and Smith Moore LLP attorney Toby Watt.
“The goal of HomeBanc is to support and enrich our communities‚” said Lopez. “This
committee is one way I can lend my expertise to enrich and fulfill lives‚ which is
the mission of HomeBanc.”
For more information about the program call the KSU Small Business Development Center
at 770−423−6450 or visit http://coles.kennesaw.edu/disaster/.
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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its nearly 43,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.
