Supporting Georgia Businesses
UGA’s commitment to our state’s economic vitality has never been stronger. We are equipping businesses and entrepreneurs with the skills and resources they need to thrive in an ever-changing economy.
In the past decade, UGA’s Small Business Development Center has assisted more than 30,000 entrepreneurs and enrolled almost 50,000 people in our training programs. The SBDC’s training, consulting, and financial services are a leading resource for over 1 million small businesses in the state, directly contributing to Georgia’s economic health.
With more than 320 agents across the state, UGA Cooperative Extension serves each of Georgia’s 159 counties. In addition to providing resources for families, UGA Extension assists farmers and gardeners with training and certifications to improve production and promote sustainable solutions.
Industry Ambassador Program
The University of Georgia is focused on the future of business in Georgia. The UGA Industry Ambassador Program is a three-year pilot that enlists multiple Industry Ambassadors to increase and strengthen our partnerships, generate new experiential learning opportunities, and connect our vast innovation capabilities to companies and business communities across the state and beyond.
Investing In the Georgia WorkForce
Launched in 2022, PROPEL (Planning Rural Opportunities for Prosperity and Economic Leadership) guides rural communities toward improving their economic and workforce development. PROPEL is a collaborative effort between several Public Service and Outreach units: the Institute of Government, the Archway Partnership, the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, and the Small Business Development Center.
The University of Georgia Foundation Board of Trustees provided $250,000 to support this program and enable UGA to serve more communities.
Georgia Power
From workforce development to research to community engagement, the longstanding partnership between UGA and Georgia Power yields expansive benefits across the state.
Georgia Power’s latest investment in UGA was a $5 million gift to the College of Engineering to support work in one of the state’s fastest-growing fields: electric mobility, or e-mobility. E-mobility includes vehicles like cars, trucks, bicycles, boats, and aircraft that use electric powertrain technologies and accompanying infrastructure. The gift establishes scholarships for students pursuing UGA’s e-mobility certificate, bolsters e-mobility research, and funds the creation of a statewide network supporting e-mobility access—particularly for underserved and rural communities.
Georgia Power was a strong partner throughout the fiscal year, supporting initiatives in Academic Affairs, Athletics, Georgia 4-H, the Office of Instruction, Public Service and Outreach, the School of Public and International Affairs, and the Terry College of Business.
We’re proud to partner with UGA to help advance e-mobility on every level, bringing opportunities that will benefit future generations of Georgians for years to come.
- Kim GreenChairman, President, and CEOGeorgia Power