Nearly 20,000 SBA Loan Applications Yet to be Returned; November 23 is Deadline to Apply for Physical Damage

(BUSINESS WIRE)--With only a few days remaining before the November 23, application deadline for physical disaster loans, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announces that it has approved 1,085 disaster loans for $40,361,300 to Georgia homeowners, renters, businesses and non-profit organizations affected by the September 2009 severe storms and flooding.

“We want to thank all of our federal, state and local partners, as well as the volunteer organizations and individuals that helped the SBA to provide financial assistance to the victims,” said Frank Skaggs, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East.

“However, there are nearly 20,000 people who have not returned their SBA loan applications. These individuals have until November 23 to return completed applications for physical damage to the SBA. Homeowners or renters who do not qualify for a disaster loan may be referred to FEMA for grant consideration.

Interest rates are as low as 2.750 percent for homeowners and renters and 4 percent for businesses with terms up to 30 years. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition. These loans are for uninsured or uncompensated losses up to SBA’s loan limits.

All Disaster Loan Outreach Centers and Business Recovery Centers in the disaster area will cease operations at the close of business Monday, November 23. Victims in the following counties in Georgia are eligible to apply for SBA’s physical disaster loans: Bartow, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, Heard, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Stephens and Walker.

SBA Center locations and hours of operation are as follows:
Disaster Loan Outreach Centers
Cherokee County			Cobb County			DeKalb County
Cherokee County Parks & Recreation Gym			The Threadmill			Browns Mill Recreation Center
7545 Main Street, Building 200			5000 Austell/Powder Springs Rd, Suite 120			5101 Browns Mill Road
Woodstock, GA 30188			Austell, GA 30106			Lithonia, GA 30058
Open: Mon-Fri; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.			Open: Mon-Fri; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.			Open: Mon-Fri; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Douglas County			Fulton County			Gwinnett County
Old Douglas County Court House			Fulton County Government Center			Mountain Park Depot
6754 Broad Street			141 Pryor Street SW			5050 Five Forks Trickum Rd.
Douglasville, GA 30134			Atlanta, GA 30303			Lilburn, GA 30047
Open: Mon-Fri; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.			Open: Mon-Fri; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.			Open: Mon-Fri; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
SBA Business Recovery Centers
Cobb County			Douglas County			Fulton County
Powder Springs Library			Douglas County Chamber of Commerce			Government Service Center
4181 Atlanta Street – Bldg. 1			6658 Church Street			7741 Roswell Road
Powder Springs, GA 30127			Douglasville, GA 30134			Atlanta, GA 30350
Open: Mon-Fri; 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.			Open: Mon-Fri; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.			Open: Mon-Fri; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Anyone unable to visit one of the Centers may obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (or 1-800-877-8339 for the hearing impaired) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST, or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Business loan applications may be downloaded from www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Applications may be returned to any of the Centers or mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, Texas, 76155.

Georgia disaster victims may visit SBA’s secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/ to apply for disaster loans.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is November 23, 2009. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 24, 2010.

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City of Atlanta Submits Application for U.S. DOT Stimulus Grant

/PRNewswire/ -- The City of Atlanta and its partners in the Georgia Transit Connector initiative submitted yesterday an application for $298.3 million in federal stimulus to fund a 9.7-track-mile modern streetcar system in Atlanta.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's discretionary Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants are earmarked for local surface transportation projects that will help jumpstart the economy.

"If Atlanta is to remain competitive with other urban areas for economic development, we must improve our connectivity and mobility," said Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin. "A streetcar system will help make Atlanta a more walkable city and serve as a catalyst for development and revitalization in Midtown and Downtown."

The proposed streetcar route is a T-shape, with 6.6 track miles north-south from Peachtree Pointe/SCAD-Atlanta in Midtown to the Five Points MARTA station in Downtown and a 3.1-mile east-west route from Centennial Olympic Park to The King Center.

As proposed now, TIGER funding would cover all capital costs associated with the streetcar, such as construction and vehicle procurement. Several models for operations and management after construction are being considered. Atlanta's application will be competing against applications for transportation initiatives nationwide.

The partners anticipate the streetcar will act as a catalyst for new urban development, support local and regional land use plans, and accommodate significant population and employment growth. The streetcar is projected to meet future travel demand, enhance existing neighborhood character in an environmentally sensitive manner, and improve transportation access and connectivity to disconnected destinations and activity centers in the urban core.

The streetcar will connect with MARTA's existing heavy rail and will be used for traveling shorter distances within Downtown and Midtown, alleviating intra-city congestion. The carbon-free streetcar has the capacity to transport more than 20,000 passengers daily and will reduce MARTA's carbon footprint as it replaces bus service along the Peachtree corridor.

The U.S. DOT is expected to notify recipients of funding by February 2010. If funding is awarded, the City would begin construction immediately with a projected completion date of February 2012.

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Georgia farm organizations to share nearly $1 million to promote, support and enhance Specialty Crops

Georgia Department of Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin says that nearly $1 million in federal funds are on the way from Washington for competitive grants that promote the marketing and enhancement of “specialty crops” in the state. The funds, distributed as part of the 2008 Farm Bill, are designated under the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

Irvin says $909,576.44 in U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) funds will be awarded on a competitive basis for developmental projects that support and enhance the competitiveness of Georgia Specialty Crops. Awards will be presented for projects that can successfully measure the greatest return on investment of the federal dollars. Grants of $10,000 up to $150,000 will be awarded for up to three years.

The Georgia Specialty Crops eligible for these competitive grants include: fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, Christmas trees, turfgrass (sod) in addition to nursery and greenhouse crops.

Organizations eligible to apply include non-profit organizations, corporations, commodity associations, state and local governments, colleges and universities. Applicants must live, conduct business or have an educational affiliation in Georgia. The application deadline is 5 p.m., Friday, July 17, 2009.

Grants will not be awarded for projects that solely benefit a particular commercial product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution, or individual. Single organizations, institutions, and individuals are encouraged to participate as project partners.

To request an application for this grant program e-mail inquiries to grants@agr.state.ga.us or write Georgia Department of Agriculture, Specialty Crops Block Grant Program, 19 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SW, Atlanta, GA 30334.

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Apply for 2009-2010 Quota Hunts Beginning June 1

he Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) reminds hunters that June 1 is opening day of the 2009-2010 quota hunt application period. Successful quota hunt applications are selected solely from the online applicant pool, so interested hunters must apply online through their personal accounts on the Division Web site, www.gohuntgeorgia.com .

“Our goal is to make the application process as efficient and customer friendly as possible. Customers with a WRD online account can facilitate this effort by keeping their e-mail addresses current,” says WRD Assistant Chief of Game Management John Bowers. “By utilizing applicant e-mail addresses for quota hunt correspondence, including sending application status alerts and answering applicant questions, we have successfully improved customer service and saved sportsmen’s dollars.”

To be eligible for quota hunt drawings applicants must ensure that they have a valid online account and must apply prior to midnight as follows: July 31 for alligator quota hunts; September 1 for deer quota hunts; September 1 for State Park quota hunts; October 15 for waterfowl quota hunts; and February 15, 2010 for turkey quota hunts.

Hunters who have applied in years past or those who have recently completed a hunter education course may have pre-existing accounts with which to apply and must login and update their accounts to begin the application process.

Interested persons without pre-existing accounts should visit www.gohuntgeorgia.com and select “Quota Hunts,” from the Home page under the “Permits & Services” menu to create a new account and submit applications online.

Upon completion of the selection process, applicants will receive a status notification e-mail and also will be able to login to their accounts to view their updated status. In addition, complete lists of chosen participants will be available at www.gohuntgeorgia.com .

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DHR invites public comment on 'Babies Can't Wait' early intervention grant application

The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) Division of Public Health (DPH) invites the public to participate in a 60-day review period of Babies Can't Wait (BCW), a statewide early intervention system for infants and toddlers with special needs and their families. DHR has developed a new federal grant application for Babies Can't Wait that will be effective July 1, pending approval. The review period is scheduled to run from March 20 to May 20. Those who are interested may view the grant application online (http://health.state.ga.us) or at Babies Can't Wait offices throughout the state.

The public can provide feedback from March 20th to April 21st in three ways:

(1) Written comments should be mailed to:

Babies Can't Wait
Attn: Phyllis Turner, Acting Part C Coordinator
2 Peachtree Street NW, Suite 11203
Atlanta, GA 30303-3186;

(2) Email comments should be sent to:

Phyllis Turner at: pturner@dhr.state.ga.us;

(3) Facsimile comments:

State BCW Office Fax: (404-657-2763)

More information about Georgia's BCW early intervention program is available at http://health.state.ga.us/programs/bcw. A list of BCW early intervention programs throughout the state where the grant may be reviewed is available at: http://www.health.state.ga.us/pdfs/familyhealth/csncoordinator.pdf.

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December 22 Is Deadline to Apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans

(BUSINESS WIRE)--The U.S. Small Business Administration is reminding small businesses of the deadline to submit disaster loan applications for economic injury as a result of the severe storms and tornadoes that occurred March 14-16, 2008. The deadline to file applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) is December 22, 2008.

Small businesses and small agricultural cooperatives that suffered substantial economic injury in the following counties are eligible to apply to the SBA: Bartow, Burke, Carroll, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Emanuel, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Fulton, Glascock, Gordon, Gwinnett, Haralson, Henry, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, McDuffie, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Richmond, Rockdale, Screven, Walker, Warren and Washington counties in the State of Georgia; and Cherokee and Cleburne counties in the State of Alabama; and Aiken, Allendale and Barnwell counties in the State of South Carolina.

Economic injury disaster loans are available up to $1.5 million for small businesses and small agricultural cooperatives to meet ongoing operating expenses. These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. The loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits.

The interest rate on these loans is 4 percent with a maximum term of 30 years. The SBA determines the amount of economic injury and the terms of each loan based on the financial circumstances of each borrower. Eligibility for the program is based on the size and type of business and its financial resources.

To obtain a loan application, interested business owners should contact the SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the hearing-impaired) or by emailing our customer service center at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. EST. Business disaster loan applications can also be downloaded from the SBA website at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

Disaster victims may visit SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/ to apply for disaster loans.

The deadline to return applications for economic injury is December 22, 2008.

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Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Seeks Applicants for Its 2009 Class

PRNewswire/ -- The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, a non-profit organization created to support the higher education of deserving high school seniors in the United States, announces it is accepting scholarship applications now through October 31, 2008.

Each year, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation awards a total of $3 million in achievement-based four-year scholarships to 250 outstanding high school seniors from communities across the nation. The Foundation annually awards 200 Regional scholarships of $10,000 each and 50 National scholarships of $20,000 each. The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation evaluates applicants on the basis of demonstrated leadership in academics, school, community and civic activities, as well as personal character and the motivation to serve and succeed.

Applications are available at http://www.coca-colascholars.org/ and must be completed online and submitted by October 31, 2008 of the student's senior year. Criteria for the application and frequently asked questions are also available on the website or by calling (800) 306-2653 for more information.

The Coca-Cola Scholars Program, which will mark its 21st year of awarding scholarships with the Scholars Class of 2009, is one of the most-recognized and respected corporate sponsored scholarships in America. The program was created in 1986 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Coca-Cola and to establish a legacy for the education of tomorrow's leaders through college scholarships. Including the 2008 Class of Coca-Cola Scholars, there are now more than 4,000 Coca-Cola Scholars who have benefited from $35 million in scholarship awards.

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Fall participants in UGA’s Washington Semester Program Head to the Nation’s Capital on Sept. 8

Against the backdrop of the upcoming presidential election this fall, University of Georgia junior Lucas Puente will have the opportunity to serve as an intern in the office of Senator Barack Obama through UGA's Washington Semester Program. Puente and the other UGA participants will start their fall internships Sept. 8.

“The Fall 2008 class once again represents the best of UGA,” said Don De Maria, director of the Washington Semester Program. “These bright, motivated students will have great opportunities at their internships, in the classroom and beyond. I am grateful for the support of our faculty, alumni and friends who make this a unique and defining experience for our students.”

Launched under the auspices of UGA’s Office of the Vice President for Instruction one year ago, the Washington Semester Program provides participants with classroom instruction and internship placement in congressional offices, nonprofit organizations and think tanks.

The students enroll in 12 credit hours, six of which include a traditional course and a seminar on life, work and culture in Washington, featuring guest lecturers from UGA and the D.C. area. The other six credit hours can be used for directed study, internship and/or research courses through the student’s academic department.

Joel Clark, director of the University of California, Berkeley’s Washington Program, will teach a course entitled, “Washington Ethics: Crisis, Reform, Reaction,” a course he specially created for students in academic internship programs in D.C.

“The interdisciplinary course explores several facets of politics in D.C., including ethical issues involving Congress, lobbyists, the president and his advisors, judiciary, and the media,” said Clark. “The elections will be a special topic of discussion this semester as we delve into topics such as campaign finance, fundraising and how the media reports on the presidential candidates’ public and private lives.”

The speakers who will be featured during the seminar will include Jere Morehead, UGA’s vice president for instruction; Thomas Lauth, dean of UGA’s School of Public and International Affairs; Joe Whitley, who served as the first general counsel for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Randy Nuckolls, partner at McKenna, Long and Aldridge who serves as Washington counsel for UGA; and Elaine Bunn, Distinguished Research Fellow at the Institute for National Strategic Studies at National Defense University.

Chiefs-of-staff from the offices of Georgia senators Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss, Arkansas senator Mark Pryor, and Georgia representatives Jack Kingston and John Barrow also will be speaking.

In addition, members of D.C. Dawgs, the Washington, D.C. chapter of UGA’s Alumni Association, are involved in academic and cultural activities for the program participants, serving as mentors, hosting events or giving a lecture about their experiences living and working in D.C.

“I am very impressed with the scope and variety of internship placements and the superb quality of students selected for the fall class,” said Morehead. “I look forward to lecturing and meeting with this outstanding class later this fall.”

The priority deadline for spring 2009 applications for the Washington Semester Program is Friday, Sept. 12 with first consideration given to those students who apply by then. Applications will be accepted after the priority deadline until all program spaces are full.

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Mercer to Offer Free GMAT Course For Applicants to Two of Its Programs

Mercer University’s Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics will offer free GMAT prep courses for up to 40 qualified applicants to two of its most popular programs - the Master of Business Administration and its new Master of Accountancy program.

The course will run from 2 to 6 p.m. for four Saturdays, Sept. 6, 13, 20, and 27, in the Business and Education Building on Mercer’s Cecil B. Day Graduate and Professional Campus in Atlanta. The course will be held for applicants in time for second session of the fall semester, as well those seeking admission to the spring semester. The apply to the programs, contact Tracey M. Wofford, associate director of admissions, at (678) 547-6422 or wofford_tm@mercer.edu. For information about the GMAT prep course, or to register once application has been made to the graduate programs, contact Kaitlin David in the School of Business at david_kr@mercer.edu or (678) 547-6161.

Prospective students can visit the School’s Web site, www.mercer.edu/business and click the prep course link for registration information and to check future prep courses and dates.

The Stetson School of Business and Economics holds the highest level of accreditation available for business schools from AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Long a leader in business education in Atlanta with its evening MBA program, the School of Business launched this fall the Master of Accountancy. Both the MBA and MAcc are evening programs targeted toward the growing group of professionals in the Atlanta area in need of career-focused programs to help them succeed.

The Master of Accountancy degree will be offered over one calendar year. The degree is a 30-semester program comprised of 10 courses. The degree is intended to provide students with the knowledge and skills consistent with a professional graduate degree. The program is designed to prepare students for careers in public or private accounting and enable them to achieve career advancement in the accounting profession. While providing an in-depth study in basic areas of accounting, through its electives, it permits specialization in one of two emphases: public accounting (including tax and financial accounting) and international accounting (relevant to public and private accounting).

The Flexible MBA is a self-paced program that provides adults with the flexibility to attain an advanced business degree without interrupting their careers. Classes are held one evening per week in eight-week sessions, allowing students to complete their degrees along a timeline they design.

The course and materials will be available free of charge to the first 40 qualified individuals who register with the Atlanta Office of Admissions. To qualify, individuals must make application to the University’s Atlanta MBA or MAcc program and provide transcripts showing that they have previously earned a four-year degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum 2.5 GPA. International applicants must also have achieved the minimum required TOEFL score for admission and provide an evaluation of any international transcripts showing equivalency to a U.S. four year degree.

For more information, visit the degree programs section of the Stetson School of Business Web page at www.mercer.edu/business. Additionally, online applications for all degree programs are available on the Web site through the “Application” link within each degree program's information page. To contact the Atlanta Office of Admissions for the School of Business, call Tracey M. Wofford, associate director of admissions, at (678) 547-6422 or e-mail wofford_tm@mercer.edu.

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