[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6095831,"mediaKeyId","2836540-5e0acd56c3321ed92c207ea1d68b1278","parentId",2836540,"title","Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project urges inclusion of small-business concerns in SB28 debate","audioSeconds",705,"startMs",3396000,"endMs",4101000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2836540-5e0acd56c3321ed92c207ea1d68b1278&start=3396&end=4101","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2836540-5e0acd56c3321ed92c207ea1d68b1278/thumbnail_3396000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6095831/Georgia/Womens-Entrepreneurial-Opportunity-Project-urges-inclusion-of-small-business-concerns-in-SB28-debate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095831-a4345c1c9bc4f31a4accfab128b53bc5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145740&Signature=U8~xjvy5wxkP2u8Ag9JM15u6SDX8V93nHTFqeihUksakeL0T985VMCahd9aIONmlOUxfPcNKZSHkychp6aiVk9M3mkgJsxvH-Pl3qgkXmh0SlZdnAiwSXv8JDLD9yQ06RkH9jdq8a00LtvlXSqdLClvDe9K7XXBqZujyw9lJaAosuInjh48gKoHyEjbxSOcO~lsqW8pTp3ao9Mv-KZhVyds~qiUBrwFhcyyH6txoy0aA44BM~CozEP8NlBvNrW2Q3og4uxmXol2DyVmR9FVRkMC5m7Ob91-yXkl2A-tX8sHujrMnQR8ylkN7honpLcNg~gVGeHhVDPEJEIINGWc~Dw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Georgia Legislature","date","2025-04-01T00:00:00Z","article","Antoinette Ball, a founder of the Women's Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project (WEAP), told the Small Business Development Committee that her nonprofit supports underserved women entrepreneurs through training, networking and procurement help. \"We are a nonprofit 5 0 one(three) organization located right down the street in Grant Park,\" Ball said, introducing WEAP's mission to equip women for business ownership and leadership.

Speakers from WEAP emphasized federal contracting, workforce transitions and state regulatory changes. Shanae Commodore (federal procurement trainer) said Georgia has \"over 9,000 federal defense contractors, totaling over a billion dollars in revenue,\" and urged programs to help firms pivot as contracts shift. Montez Diamond, founder of the Endow Group, urged that SB28 — described by presenters as the \"Red Tape Rollback Act of 2025\" — include clear processes for small-business participation, economic-impact analyses and mechanisms that let small businesses join task forces or advisory bodies during rulemaking.

Presenters raised certification portability as a practical barrier. WEAP representatives suggested that federal credentials such as GSA schedules and federal small-business certifications lack automatic equivalency with state Disadvantaged Business Enterprise or Minority Business Enterprise certifications, increasing time and cost for firms seeking state contracts. They recommended exploring statutory or administrative mechanisms to recognize equivalent federal approvals or streamline state certification processes.

Committee members asked how the state could reduce regulatory burdens and improve outreach. Presenters recommended more accessible public-comment opportunities, clearer explanatory materials on rule impacts, and targeted training in procurement and AI tools to help small firms remain competitive. Several members invited WEAP to collaborate on local outreach; WEAP said it runs community programs, has an online membership of more than 900 and will provide resources for training and regulatory navigation.

No formal votes or changes to SB28 were made during the presentation; the speakers asked the committee to consider ways to ensure small-business voices are included as the bill proceeds. Members thanked the presenters and discussed follow-up briefings and connections between state procurement agencies and local entrepreneurs.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","4.1.25 Small Business Development","oneSentenceSummary","Representatives of a women-focused nonprofit and small-business advocates briefed the committee on workforce, federal procurement transitions and concerns about SB28 (the \"red tape rollback\" bill); they urged clearer public-comment processes and certification equivalencies for small businesses.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature Georgia , Georgia","taxId",77688,"location","Georgia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6095836,"Georgia retailers describe Organized Retail Crime alliance and urge continued legislative tools",685,1876000,2561000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2836540-5e0acd56c3321ed92c207ea1d68b1278&start=1876&end=2561","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2836540-5e0acd56c3321ed92c207ea1d68b1278/thumbnail_1876000.jpg","/articles/6095836/Georgia/Georgia-retailers-describe-Organized-Retail-Crime-alliance-and-urge-continued-legislative-tools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095836-6dae246aa33fd5f95a027cea61652916/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145740&Signature=DIAiiiqpWJNSwJQBIYPF6lxVmHc6Ky2xjzxUkalMMOGAOw5fs~piw-lmqTXhcyMftQf5olt~SiuQLdTxb5Sf8cWSHv-8FSFnEmx25waQXfW2gYQ1ZyPJLNhcQvcO0ZVhr-EqQTiJX2dqAqjehmNNx-Wh-LYvNZnbN55XEG-tJmN9i-9rzqQ71DCBKSCPQQpbSaxDi5ZlIvLQT0LUMa6e2csKQRb3A0BWOYdx9GuAVnZXZTxIXT87bqFK8L8NbNeEG1bz9g9vO3yajTAobr3J4OgzkwotsDYtUyoAF11Kd2CANwLnZUtRX5F7lh5AEYlNXyxkIGM5RAQ4HzpkgFDZKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ben Cowart, vice president of government affairs for Georgia Retailers, told the Small Business Development Committee that organized retail crime remains a major concern for retailers and local businesses and described a partnership network known as the Georgia Retailers Organized Crime Alliance. \"Georgia Retailers, is a statewide business advocate organization\" he said, and he credited a 2010 partnership that helped pass the Georgia Smash and Grab Act and build GROC into a national model.

Chad McManus, chair of the GROC council and senior manager of asset protection for a major retailer, told the committee the alliance links roughly \"750 members strong\" (he said membership was nearing 800) and more than 90 law‑enforcement agencies to share intelligence and coordinate enforcement. McManus described monthly intel-sharing meetings that let retailers and police connect investigations and cited education, legislative work and training events as core activities.

Roy Stallard, director of organized retail crime for Ulta Beauty and a GROC council member, said the group is partnering with the Georgia Attorney General's newly funded organized retail crime and cybercrime prosecution unit and with local agencies to pursue large, multi-jurisdiction investigations. He described multi-county burglary investigations resolved in Gwinnett County and the use of RICO-style approaches when criminal groups operate across jurisdictions.

Cowart told the committee GROC and allied prosecutors supported the House's recent passage of HB 447 targeting gift-card fraud and expressed appreciation for the AG office's ORC unit funded last year. Committee members asked for additional data: Representative 22 requested an estimate of the percentage of retail loss in Georgia and how theft increases costs; McManus and Stallard said they would provide figures and materials after the meeting.

McManus gave local examples of retail impacts, including small retailers at Atlanta's Battery district and stadium-area shops that face theft and inventory loss. Multiple committee members encouraged outreach; GROC said it runs training, a law-enforcement conference and a public retail-crime conference (scheduled August 13 at a Cobb County training facility) and offers a public website for resources at Georgiarock.org.

Several members noted organized retail crime's community impacts beyond large chains, citing effects on small businesses, associates' safety and costs that can translate into higher consumer prices. No formal legislative actions or votes occurred during the presentation; GROC council leaders invited follow-up and offered to coordinate local briefings and materials for the committee.","Georgia Retailers and the Georgia Retailers Organized Crime Alliance (GROC) briefed the committee on intel-sharing, law-enforcement partnerships and recent state policy changes; members requested data on retail loss and outreach to small retailers.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6095839,"Startup MycoLogic pitches containerized mushroom modules to Georgia small farms",715,912000,1627000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2836540-5e0acd56c3321ed92c207ea1d68b1278&start=912&end=1627","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2836540-5e0acd56c3321ed92c207ea1d68b1278/thumbnail_912000.jpg","/articles/6095839/Georgia/Startup-MycoLogic-pitches-containerized-mushroom-modules-to-Georgia-small-farms","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095839-f47882a6f4ccffd440fefc38ef761497/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145740&Signature=BPKGRGQIIhXOKWtozQh-Iq-HNyNiLTSEM5f1bkCcpRom4zcnurNVYgnpc-TxibiHj9CxfkK~SThpEzurx-T2-LrGdLN4vehj5MP9wqXwrTTne~QNJHcw4jDOBAsKUiVStsdrpN3W6I-ZzHiY0oNMDYH56bhg97eDG4ojA-JsZIi48Foytpu~Oc57pExpF6oFZPRfs-EnsxzXMR72gigVIDIDb5yY7z3ruw4LsePiAkX~2URQDPLr2Nd49fNkcSf7V3RqgFrdpMzZsBQ09AN5He49gT~hhwOl~hUXsNYGq3kC~0Y65mACGExlZx2WXT0JT9qU~ukZsfcQZlvSi3xWjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chris Cornelison, a professor of microbiology and co-founder of MycoLogic, told the Small Business Development Committee that his company has developed a containerized cultivation system to let small farms grow specialty mushrooms locally. \"We're optimized for mushrooms,\" Cornelison said, describing a 40-foot converted shipping container fitted with sensors and software to control humidity, CO2 and temperature for different mushroom varieties.

Cornelison said the project began with a 2017 research grant from the Georgia Department of Agriculture through the USDA specialty crop block grant program and expanded with additional support from the Georgia Research Alliance and Georgia Centers of Innovation. He said the company licenses a culture library from the university and built a product line that supports more than 23 edible and medicinal varieties.

The technology is a combination of hardware and software: Cornelison described a semi-autonomous, clean-in-place system that reduces labor and uses agricultural residues such as cotton gin byproduct and \"spent peanut holes\" as substrate. He cited one Georgia case study — Gowan Valley Farms of Dalton — which he said produced more than 15,000 pounds a year from a single unit and reported \"over $200,000 a year in revenue\" with two employees after switching away from conventional vegetables.

Committee members asked about practical details. When Representative Tom asked whether mushrooms start from a spore or a seed, Cornelison answered, \"A spore,\" and later explained the production steps: spore → mycelia → inoculation into substrate → fruiting. Chairman Yoda asked about cost; Cornelison said the 40-foot unit is currently offered for $127,000. He also told members that, based on pilot data, a unit at \"max capacity\" could produce about $270,000 of mushrooms annually under modeled wholesale prices.

Cornelison credited university and state programs with helping translate research into a company and said the start-up benefited from a Grow New York competition prize: he said the company placed third and received a $250,000 SAFE note administered by Cornell. He also said Georgia Farm Credit has been open to financing units as farm infrastructure.

Committee members pressed on training and market channels. Cornelison said the company provides onboarding, troubleshooting guides and consultation to help new growers succeed. He said growers sell through farmers markets, restaurants and local wholesale accounts; small farms see best margins at direct retail outlets but are exploring wholesale channels.

A number of lawmakers asked Cornelison to bring demonstrations and outreach to districts; Cornelison said he would be happy to work with localities and meet interested growers. The presentation concluded with members thanking the presenter and asking for follow-up materials.","A university spinout described an automated 40-foot production module that the founders say can let small farms produce specialty mushrooms using cotton and peanut byproducts; committee members asked about costs, markets and technical support.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project urges inclusion of small-business concerns in SB28 debate

Georgia retailers describe Organized Retail Crime alliance and urge continued legislative tools

Startup MycoLogic pitches containerized mushroom modules to Georgia small farms