[{"_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",6619615,"mediaKeyId","2833373-ea98c3f6e5363bedfc6040bbb06007a5","parentId",2833373,"title","Women's Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project urges better procurement access, cites federal contracting shifts and SB28 concerns","audioSeconds",608,"startMs",3398000,"endMs",4006000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2833373-ea98c3f6e5363bedfc6040bbb06007a5&start=3398&end=4006","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2833373-ea98c3f6e5363bedfc6040bbb06007a5/thumbnail_3398000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6619615/Georgia/Womens-Entrepreneurial-Opportunity-Project-urges-better-procurement-access-cites-federal-contracting-shifts-and-SB28-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6619615-cec5809b5ab51d7841ecf8a0f5fe6caa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137486&Signature=Lv3b3E0~r6EZIlZgJqLEu1WchNA~6QpmqZtsyewPhvQ-0hs8h46q2LYOFXMJnjhiJMqrr~paubRIPmkHTdB9K3Cn0Zb4iemXbULe0bHUKP4~fjhCuPyz47-CMJ0JF2~SddHmZZK-P2bV5NHmdzDTsm~BEBGIYzGUIeuIUe~GnmkQt-oC6EhaQYN9kx5a9RgR4d8dKe0DKaZgaxw4lXMkNQhn3-~Vnm5yJmLi52V42n2sNuIEQEw9a~bx589y4KqQypPz0PFOxek5ciF9~-gxO747yRKq~VwDbnCaozGB3BEEQ746L63yYKzuCLXZKUQCdDfnSm4HffDhhq450vsDjg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","State of Georgia ","date","2025-04-01T13:16:29.71Z","article","Antoinette Fall, founder of the Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project (WEAP), briefed the Small Business Development Committee on programs the nonprofit provides to women entrepreneurs, including leadership development, procurement guidance and networking.

Fall said WEAP launched in 1999 as a 501(c)(3) and that the nonprofit focuses on civic engagement, leadership development and small‑business support. She emphasized that “entrepreneurship is more than just a career choice it is a critical pathway to economic self sufficiency.”

Shanae Commodore, who described 35 years of experience in federal procurement, told the committee WEAP helps firms navigate federal and state contracting requirements, and that many federal contract holders face shifting opportunities because of procurement changes. Commodore suggested the state could help by clarifying certification equivalencies and training entrepreneurs in business development, AI tools and federal contracting pathways.

Montez Diamond, founder of Endow Group and a WEAP collaborator, raised concerns about SB 28, described in his remarks as the Red Tape Rollback Act of 2025. He said, “as of March 31, 2025, SB 28 has passed the Georgia Senate and is under consideration in the House,” and described provisions that would require economic impact analyses for major regulatory changes and increase elected‑official oversight of such changes. Diamond said small businesses want written opportunities to participate beyond public comment, including mechanisms that could embed small‑business input into regulatory drafting or task forces.

Speakers urged clearer equivalencies between federal certifications (for example, GSA schedule holders or federal woman‑owned small business status) and state program certifications such as DBE or MBE. THEY asked the committee to consider ways to reduce duplicated certification costs and to provide clearer, plain‑language public notices explaining how regulatory changes affect small businesses.

Committee members asked for follow‑up research on the cost of compliance and the effect of regulation on small businesses; WEAP offered to provide resources and suggested partnerships to increase procurement readiness across Georgia. No committee votes were taken on the presentations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Small Business Development 04.01.25","oneSentenceSummary","Representatives of the Women's Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project (WEAP) told the committee they support women entrepreneurs through training and procurement guidance, urged certification equivalencies (GSA/DBE/MBE), and raised concerns about regulatory changes under SB 28 (Red Tape Rollback Act).","taxTitle","Small Business Development, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Georgia","taxId",17381,"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},6619620,"Georgia retailers describe organized retail crime network, urge expanded enforcement and outreach",958,1874000,2832000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2833373-ea98c3f6e5363bedfc6040bbb06007a5&start=1874&end=2832","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2833373-ea98c3f6e5363bedfc6040bbb06007a5/thumbnail_1874000.jpg","/articles/6619620/Georgia/Georgia-retailers-describe-organized-retail-crime-network-urge-expanded-enforcement-and-outreach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6619620-f5cbb8969c291d2dedd31d27b56c18f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137486&Signature=mLR~OzB-enyGJcm26LHLArZEHKNVwSoP0kYf0DJ9fQhYCEE0rlg-L4Inwy02nGdYDZFcWACI-~Sr0CB93OKApTLFr6LK63jSAyUcPtOvb6rTX4XhYKAVKwpXn2uRgNfqlte8rhdGaPBEpSFndAU~cyP-97HjBOvktGp8pmPtiiWwr37s5Bkx~AyOeoYPIPtAEdHvBTEIisRcHe1vl5CwTB20FayHpDvmPt05ylmN7hSd25gfpbhkqLhVikqdRlvHBoT18slAIOgroXZkvpOr7cXjWvcv2nWOm3sSL4432NKNRFo0LmZ2cH8UM6O04MYEDiKYZNawMT~QSvY7--tvnQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ben Cowart, vice president of government affairs for Georgia Retailers, and Chad McManus, chair of the Georgia Retailers Organized Crime Alliance (GROC), briefed the Small Business Development Committee on organized retail crime and GROC’s statewide work.

Cowart described Georgia as “one of the most retail friendly states” and credited legislative and prosecutorial steps that have strengthened retail crime enforcement. He thanked the legislature for recent funding for the Attorney General’s organized retail crime and cybercrime prosecution unit and noted a pending bill, HB 447, targeting gift card fraud.

Chad McManus, a senior manager of asset protection and GROC chair, described the alliance’s operating model: monthly intelligence‑sharing meetings, law‑enforcement partnerships and coordinated operations. He said the alliance has roughly 750–800 members and “over 90” law‑enforcement agencies connected to the platform. McManus said that during intel meetings retailers often combine images and leads and “we can kind of all combine, and share that information to get the bad guys off the street.”

Rory Stallard, director of ORC for Ulta Beauty and a GROC council member, described recent investigations and interjurisdictional work. He said GROC cooperates with county‑level agencies and the Attorney General’s office on RICO and other complex prosecutions. Stallard said violent smash‑and‑grab incidents and coordinated burglary rings can be traumatic for store employees and disruptive to customers and local small businesses.

Committee members asked about public awareness, prevention measures and local outreach. McManus described training events, law‑enforcement conferences and a recent outreach meeting with retailers at the Battery Atlanta. He gave the committee the alliance’s conference date (August 13) and a website, Georgiarock.org, for more information.

Presenters stressed partnerships with prosecutors and local law enforcement and called for continued funding and collaboration. No formal committee action or vote was taken on enforcement or budget items during the meeting.","Representatives from Georgia Retailers and the Georgia Retailers Organized Crime Alliance told the Small Business Development Committee that organized retail crime (ORC) affects big and small businesses, emphasized intelligence‑sharing with law enforcement, and praised a new ORC prosecution unit in the attorney general’s office.",{"_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},6619625,"KSU spinout Mycologic pitches containerized mushroom modules to Georgia growers",593,909000,1502000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2833373-ea98c3f6e5363bedfc6040bbb06007a5&start=909&end=1502","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2833373-ea98c3f6e5363bedfc6040bbb06007a5/thumbnail_909000.jpg","/articles/6619625/Georgia/KSU-spinout-Mycologic-pitches-containerized-mushroom-modules-to-Georgia-growers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6619625-d679012ead837be34881577fb7ba7a91/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137486&Signature=nuL2aGTwc5sIajKrl6BuCImLDwct9L-Eb~agSh-AI5~pGwLKaBzeA-jcwvw15-NRpIiAfjQEJD2uF5ntX1T7akTHFf0NWRnyHCo9IZpdhaElDX8w6rMLM2PyqrH8hZqI9ptvMKssvnQ~c5oL~9~rk2OMFFvVrT5MUzclu8mb8-n4XCM0Avna4e-VPR2qYKTUQmHTLAW5WQ8lFx7SmElgHEL32x93CVPgloh93~7pTCzwwI1kbkc6fHnVqj3CNFtNlYAQsqgLNWJr3yP0kwXXtPL9sG3tg3m717rMwP4nJvdpk91w6prg3U9fd4FGokPpkbR3rq~bZbr5ALqBxhIFUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chris Cornelison, identified in the meeting as a professor of microbiology and co‑founder of Mycologic, told the Small Business Development Committee that his company has developed a containerized, data‑driven system to grow specialty mushrooms.

Mycologic’s product is a converted 40‑foot shipping container with embedded sensors and software to control humidity, CO2 and temperature tailored to specific mushroom varieties. Cornelison said the company currently supports “over 23 varieties of choice edible medicinal mushrooms” and that the unit is “optimized for mushrooms.”

The company pitched the system as a way for Georgia growers to add a high‑margin crop without arable land and to reuse abundant agricultural byproducts. Cornelison said his team can use spent cotton gin byproducts and peanut shells as substrate inputs and that the approach can “recycle bulk, residues” while adding value to existing farm outputs.

Cornelison described a Georgia pilot with Gowan Valley Farms in Dalton. He said the farm deployed one unit, now operates two employees, grows 23 varieties, and produces more than 15,000 pounds a year in a roughly 320‑square‑foot production area. Cornelison reported the grower now records “over $200,000 a year in revenue based off of just mushroom sales” and that the farm purchased its pilot unit after the study ended.

He described Mycologic’s technical approach as coupling laboratory biological data with automated hardware and software to reduce labor and contamination risk, including automated clean‑in‑place sanitation. Cornelison said the 40‑foot unit is currently offered at $127,000 and that financing interest has come from agricultural lenders such as Georgia Farm Credit.

Cornelison traced the company’s development to grant and partnership support. He said initial funding came from the Georgia Department of Agriculture through the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant program and that the team also received help from the Georgia Research Alliance and the Georgia Centers of Innovation. He noted an out‑of‑state award as well: Mycologic placed third in Grow New York and received a $250,000 SAFE note administered by Cornell University, a prize that has required some New York‑based economic activity to qualify.

Cornelison said Mycologic provides onboarding and training, ranging from basic cultivation instruction to troubleshooting contamination and yield issues, and that the company offers spawn supply and a licensed culture library originating in his university research. He emphasized that the system is intended to lower the labor and facility barriers that Cornell research identified as common obstacles for mushroom growers.

The Small Business Development Committee asked about location and logistics. Committee members confirmed Gowan Valley Farms is in the Dalton area (Rocky Face), asked whether mushrooms are grown entirely inside the module (Cornelison: yes), and discussed typical crop cycles (e.g., lion’s mane can be harvested 7–10 days after entering fruiting). Cornelison also said larger wholesale production models show potential annual production values that can make the unit profitable if run at capacity.

Cornelison declined to make regulatory claims beyond the presented pilot and grant history; the committee did not take any formal action on the presentation.

The committee's discussion focused on potential benefits for family farms pivoting from low‑margin produce to specialty mushrooms, financing options and the training needed for growers to scale while protecting product quality.","At a Small Business Development Committee meeting, Chris Cornelison described Mycologic's containerized 'fruiting modules' that automate mushroom cultivation, citing pilot results in Dalton and grant funding from state and federal programs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Women's Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project urges better procurement access, cites federal contracting shifts and SB28 concerns

Georgia retailers describe organized retail crime network, urge expanded enforcement and outreach

KSU spinout Mycologic pitches containerized mushroom modules to Georgia growers