The Program
Our Purpose: Studies show that innovation and technology are keys to successful business growth. However, starting and growing a technology based business has special needs; particularly in rural areas. The purpose of the Entrepreneur Outreach Specialist (EOS) team is to help grow these types of start-ups and small businesses located outside Atlanta.
Who we are: Each Outreach Specialist has both a technology background and personal experience in starting and operating his own business. Because each EOS has technology experience as well as success in starting a company, they bring clients a rare combination of both the expertise and understanding about the challenges faced by technology entrepreneurs.
What we do: The EOS provide help to start-up companies and small businesses that are either developing technology or applying technology in innovative ways. They bring the technology resources of Georgia Tech and other state partners to all regions of the state. The Georgia Centers of Innovation Program sponsors the free services of the EOS team. This service is delivered as a collaborative effort of Georgia Tech's Enterprise Innovation Institute, the Georgia Rural Economic Development Center and the entire University System of Georgia. The Centers of Innovation Program is funded by the OneGeorgia Authority.
Don't lose another day by trying to chart the course and navigate the waters of operating a small business alone. The State of Georgia is committed to providing the resources needed to propel the growth of this important business sector; the EOS program is one of several systems in place to achieve this goal. This program works closely with - and refers clients to - other state agencies such as Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) and others.
Background
The EOS program was originally formed as a partnership between the Georgia Institute of Technology and the Georgia Rural Economic Development Center (GREDC); in fact that partnership still exists, with the GREDC supporting the Southeast Region specialist.
The Centers of Innovation (COI) program provided the platform for the original EOS model to be applied statewide. The specialists are distributed throughout the state in seven geographical regions: Coastal, South, Southeast, Central, East, Northeast and Northwest. COI clients can access the specialist assigned to their geographic region; also, some companies begin as client of the EOS program and are referred to a Center of Innovation for special industry assistance as a part of the specialist's overall recommendations.
