Public Hearing: YES ☐ NO ☒ Department: Board of Commissioners - District 3
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): District 3
To Allocate an Amount Not to Exceed $10,000.00 to START:ME Program East Lake Coalition from the District 3 Reserved for Appropriation
Body
Information Contact: Commissioner Nicole Massiah
Phone Number: 404.371.2425
PURPOSE:
To Allocate an Amount Not to Exceed $10,000.00 to START:ME Program East Lake Coalition from the District 3 Reserved for Appropriation
NEED/IMPACT:
The START:ME Program is a well-known entrepreneurship initiative run by Emory University Goizueta Business School. It’s designed to help local entrepreneurs-especially those in underserved communities launch and grow small businesses. The program offers business training, Mentorship, access to capital and peer network.
Across four community programs, Start:ME 2026 is supporting 78 ventures led by 96 local entrepreneurs. Highlights from this year’s cohorts:
• 91% are incorporated and 73% reported sales in 2025, totaling $3.4M
• Collectively, they create/retain 155 jobs in addition to founders and operate 13 brick & mortars
• Entrepreneurs are supported by 113 volunteer mentors, many of whom return year after year
FISCAL IMPACT:
Increase appropriations for the following account by the amounts indicated below:
Other Miscellaneous Charges (00203.523909.100.000.0000) - $10,000.00
Decrease appropriations for the following account by the amount indicated below:
Reserve for Appropriation (00203.579002.100.000.0000) - $10,000.00
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
To approve the allocation of $10,000.00 from the District 3 Reserve for Appropriation and authorize the Chief Executive Officer or her designee to execute all necessary documents.