EABA is happy to announce that we have joined forces with 8 NEW members over the past month! Engagement with the businesses that we have committed to support is key to our overall success - and joining EABA as a member is the best way to stay connected.

Thank you, EABA members, for being a part of the efforts to empower and protect EAV's small business community!

Say "hi" to our newbies and follow them on social:

Primed Instincts Dog Training

Flat Iron

MikChan's

Mercer Street Meals

Stranded Productions

Metropolitan Studios

DW Electric

Gangsta Grillz ATL

Update on the scheduled start of resurfacing work in the East Atlanta area the week of August 29, 2022 (weather permitting).

The project will include milling and resurfacing for:

• Glenwood Avenue SE between Moreland Avenue SE and Brownwood Avenue SE
• Glenwood Avenue SE between Florida Avenue SE Moreland Avenue SE
• Moreland Avenue SE between Portland Avenue SE and Metropolitan Avenue SE (in both directions)

The work will take place in the evening hours, Monday-Friday to minimize traffic impacts.

The street resurfacing is one of the final components of the Glenwood-Moreland Intersection Improvement Project to create a permanent traffic shift to realign the intersection and eliminate the existing 70-foot offset.

For more information on this project you can email: ATLDOT@atlantaga.gov. Stay engaged and informed on the Atlanta Department of Transportation via Twitter @ATLDOT, ATLDOT Facebook page, Instagram channel @ATL.DOT, Nextdoor platform, and the ATLDOT website at ATLDOT.Atlantaga.Gov.

Thank you to all the awesome business and community members that showed up to our August General Meeting! We had a great time networking with you all and sharing information that affects our small business district. 

View August General Meeting Minutes Here

Take a look at some photos from the meeting below. Hope to you see even more of your smiling faces at the September General Meeting on Tuesday 9.20 from 6-8 PM @ East Atlanta Kids Club (602 Brownwood Ave)! 

Thank you to everyone who filled out the Visioning Questionnaire in May and June! We had 331 responses from residents, business owners, property owners, employees, visitors and nearby supporters of East Atlanta Village.  We are thrilled with the input and ideas that you all shared. 

OUR MOST POPULAR RESULTS:

• 77% of participants want to be included in East Atlanta Main Street information via email. 
• 84% of the participants are residents of East Atlanta. 63% are customers and 52% are property owners. 
• 41.8% feel very included where 55.5% feel somewhat included in EAV. 
• 81% travel to EAV by foot, 74% by car and 33% by bike. 
• 61% who travel to EAV by car park on the street outside of the business and almost tying around 41% people park on residental streets and parking lots not knowing if the parking lot is for one business or for everyone. 
• Overall variety of businesses, 58% and outdoor patios 57.9%  are the top two design items that contribute to the overall look and feel of the village with historic buildings, unique storefronts and murals all tying around 40%. 
• 70.3% think it's very important to save the historic buidlings like the Madison Theatre. 
• 66% believe the  MOST IMPACTFUL in preserving EAV's unique character, improving visitor experiences, and best support local businesses is preserving restoration and re-opening of idle storefronts and the historic Madison Theater.
• 94% of participants are most familiar with the East Atlanta Strut as a nonprofit in East Atlanta with EACA at 86%, EABA at 71% and East Atlanta Kids Club 61.5% and Neighbor in Need at 55%.
• 57% believe that hands on community projects would make it easier to get involved in our community organizations with text alerts at 42%. 
• An average of 52% of participants volunteer their time, make cash donations and are members of East Atlanta community nonprofits. 
• Only 21% of the attendees take advantage of the resources that EABA and EACA provide the community where 41% don't know where to find them. 
• 30% said that they could contribute through cash donations and volunteer their time as board members. 

See all the charts from the questionnaire here. 

NEXT STEPS:

We will continue to dive into these results and create a work plan for East Atlanta Main Street that centers on what YOU as community and business members want. As a Main Street startup with the City of Atlanta, our focus for this year is to complete our affiliate accreditation so that we are a full-fledged Georgia Main Street in 2023. With the Main Street accreditation comes so many opportunities to amplify our small business district with a focus on design, organization, promotion and economic vitality - especially through a historical preservation and inclusive lens.  

To all those that completed our questionnaire and helped us create a VISION that supports the design, organization, promotion and economic vitality of EAV - THANK YOU!

JULY WAS FOR WINNERS:

With the generous support from Councilmember Bakhtiari, EABA was able to match gift card donations with a purchased gift cards from members. 

We awarded 28 winners, 28 prizes valuing over $1300. 

See all the winners here. 

Place: Hodgepodge Coffeehouse  
Date: Sunday 8.21
Time: 11 AM - 2 PM

Each month, the District 5 office hosts Coffee with Your Councilmember as an opportunity to connect directly with Councilperson Liliana Bakhtiari and her team. They rotate locations each month but can always be found at local small business in District 5. This month, they will be at Hodgepodge Coffee in East Atlanta on Sunday, August 21st, from 11am-2pm. Join anytime, and stay as long as you would like!

#FilmEAV update from your friendly neighborhood business association!

Blue Marble Media will be shooting a USAA commercial on Wednesday 7/27 from approximately 12noon-8:00pm inside Banshee at 1271 Glenwood Avenue SE.

They have secured the lot at 532 Joseph Ave (behind Southern Feed Store) for equipment truck parking and will not be using any street parking.

They also rented out the Glenwood for crew, so GW will be closed as well.

Questions and concerns can be directed to locations manager Melanie Antos.

melanie@mellenproductions.com

Cheers, EAV!

Invest Atlanta is the official economic development authority for the City of Atlanta. With equity front and center, its purpose is to strengthen Atlanta’s economy and global competitiveness to create increased opportunity and prosperity for the people of Atlanta.

Interested in learning more? Book a virtual office hours appointment with the Invest Atlanta team today to see how Invest Atlanta can support your business!

ATL in Business
No-cost, personalized business consultations from 13 providers for Atlanta small businesses and non-profits.

Request services here.

Upcoming Partner Programs and Events

May 31st: Deadline to Apply to NextFab Ventures Spring 2022 Cohort
NextFab Ventures help hard tech entrepreneurs jump-start their business by providing them with hands-on technical and business consulting. In addition to access to equipment, software, and training, NextFab invests up to $100,000 in every selected team. 

June 1st: INNOVA Conference in partnership with the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute 
Innova is a one-day symposium offering presentations by thought leaders from the corporate world, small business and entrepreneurs, innovation organizations, universities, and government on how innovation fuels Georgia’s growing economy. 

June 1st: Deadline to Apply to Techstars Atlanta Powered by J.P. Morgan
Techstars Atlanta Powered by J.P. Morgan accelerator program is designed to provide equitable access to funding and support for Black, Hispanic and Latino, Indigenous American and Pacific Islander entrepreneurs who are building the future of Commerce Technology, Consumer Brands and Platforms, and the Creator Economy.

June 3rd: Deadline to Apply to "Ignite Ideas" Cohort with Invest Atlanta
In partnership with Comcast NBCUniversal The Farm, this two-session virtual workshop will help prospective small business founders gain a better understanding of their idea. The next session will be held June 7-8, 2022 from 6-7:30 pm. Click here for FAQs. 

June 13th: Deadline to Apply to Atlanta BeltLine's 2022-2023 Public Art Exhibition Season 
Atlanta BeltLine, Inc is seeking qualified visual artists, art teams, performers, musicians, and sculptors at every stage of their careers to submit their credentials for our Art on the Atlanta BeltLine (“AoAB”) 2022-2023 Public Art Exhibition season.

June 13th: CMET Entrepreneur Business Accelerator Begins
The Center for Micro-Entrepreneurial Training is conducting a 5-day virtual training. This 5-day immersive training is for women and minority entrepreneurs who have limited knowledge about managing, building, or starting a new business. 

June 17th: Deadline to Apply to Comcast's RISE Grant Program
Comcast will award $10,000 grants to 100 small Atlanta area businesses owned by women and people of color, including Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, and Asian American owners, among others. The application process will open to qualifying businesses June 1-14, and prospective owners must have their businesses located in the City of Atlanta or in Fulton, Gwinnett, Clayton, Cobb or DeKalb counties.

June 20th: Deadline to Apply to Black Ambition's Prize 2022
Through two separate Prize tracks, the Black Ambition Prize competition provides a platform for early-stage, Black and Latinx founders across the nation and students and recent alumni of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to access growth capital, pitch feedback, and mentorship.

June 24th: Deadline to Apply to VHLX in partnership with Visible Hands and Google
Google for Startups is providing $10k in cash to participating Latinx founders and teaming up with Visible Hands to support them on their journey from the start. This 12-week virtual fellowship for Latinx Founders will run August 1 to December 16, 2022. 

June 30th: Deadline to Apply to Power-up Latino's Business Advancement Program
The PowerUp Latino Business Advancement Program provides personalized business counseling to businesses that want to increase sales, improve operations, implement digital processes, maintain healthy finances and gain access to capital and new customers.  

Rolling: Applications Open for Whole Foods Local & Emerging Accelerator Program
The program, which supports the company’s longstanding core value of seeking win-win partnerships with local suppliers, will offer mentorship directly from Whole Foods Market experts, tailored education for small and emerging producers and the potential for financial support to promote business growth. 

Rolling: Village United's ELEVATE Incubator Program Application
ELEVATE is a 12-week incubator that is tailored to serve the most urgent needs identified by small businesses. ELEVATE moves businesses from aspiration to application to the achievement of growing from sole operators to a thriving business with employees.

Rolling: LaunchPad 2x's First Friday Pitch Off Entrepreneur Application
First Pitch Friday events will be held the last Friday of each month through September 2022 from 1:00 - 2:00PM EST. LaunchPad 2x will reach out when an opportunity to participate is available and confirm dates and guidelines for the presentation.

Rolling: Goodie Nation's "Intentionally Good" Program Application
Intentionally Good is a relationship and growth program from Goodie Nation that increases the competitiveness of tech-focused social entrepreneurs and diverse founders (Black, Latinx, and Women) for endorsements, pilots and strategic partnerships, and funding through professional development, warm introductions, and mental health sessions. 

Rolling: Panoramic Ventures' Startup Showdown Application
Startup Showdown offers early-stage startups the chance to pitch investors and increase their visibility among an expanded investor network. Five finalists are selected to compete on stage in front of a panel of guest investor judges where we invest $120,000 in exchange for 7% of your company.

Rolling: theClubhou.se "Make Startups" Entrepreneurship Accelerator Application
This program offers classes followed by six months of weekly mentoring which completes the full Make Startups Certificate of Entrepreneurship. The program is free if you qualify for funding through Atlanta's Workforce Development. Please add "Zane Access" in the section "where you heard about the program".

Partner Business Resources

• B Local Georgia: Works with business of all shapes and sizes, established or starting up, to obtain their B Corp Certification.
• Full Course Monthly Seminars: Partners with restaurants to optimize operations, develop sustainable growth strategies, and bring the right investors to the table.
• Tech AF: Helps founders who are pre-product and pre-revenue go from idea to product with a 16-week online course supported by live coaching and mentorship.
• Mailchimp Bloom Season Business Guide: Offers a new manual with first-hand experiences for starting, running and growing the business of your dreams.
• Technology Association of Georgia's Digital Health Ecosystem: Provides a living directory showcasing the digital health companies who have chosen Georgia.
• Invest Atlanta Dealroom Startup-Investor Platform: Connects startups, investors, and other ecosystem members via this free, virtual data platform. 
• Curricula's Free Security Awareness Training Program: Provides free security awareness training program designed to help protect organizations with up to 1,000 employees and build a security culture at no cost.
• United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO): Offers a wide range of FREE intellectual property (IP) resources, including application assistance, education and training, and other services 
• SBA Mentor-Protégé Program Tutorial: Provides small businesses with business development assistance and help to successfully compete for federal contracts.
• Startup Atlanta Guide to the Ecosystem: Includes an ecosystem overview and more than 300 resources with clickable links
• How to Start a Small Business – A Veteran’s Small Business Guide: Outlines the steps to get a successful company off the ground by introducing wide range of excellent resources to help turn an idea into a successful business for veterans.
• Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Platform: Offers learning modules, expert coaching, peer networking and more. Complete two courses or coaching events to be eligible to apply for a Verizon Small Business Digital Ready $10,000 grant.
• National Science Foundation's Seed Fund: Supports startups navigating the earliest stages of technology translation, investing roughly $200 million annually.
• Women in the Workplace Platform: Equips women via roundtables and marketplaces with local resources from the Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative, Invest Atlanta, WorkSource Atlanta, The Mayor’s Office of International Affairs and One Atlanta. 

THANK YOU to all who completed our EAV Main Street Visioning Questionnaire! We received 330 responses from residents, business owners and visitors of East Atlanta Village. WOW! The input we received from you all will be vital in establishing a work plan for our Main Street initiatives right here in East Atlanta. 

Throughout the month of July we will be announcing winners of the raffle prizes we've collected through generous donations of EAV small businesses. THANK YOU to the following businesses for their donations - and to District 5 Councilperson Bakhtiari for a donation that allowed us to match those prizes and double your chances of winning:

Argosy - $25 certificate, ScreenFixing - $25 gift card, Village Fitness EAV - 4 free sessions, Traci with an Eye Graphic Design, LLC - $150 certificate, East Atlanta Strut - Strut T-Shirt, EABA - Bundle w/ East Atlanta T-shirt + Images of East Atlanta Book, East Atlanta Copy Center -100 color business cards, Park Pet Supply - $25 gift card, Holy Taco - $25 gift card, MikChan's - $25 gift card, JenChan's Cabbagetown - $25 gift card, Music with Monique - 1 free session, $25 certificate, Big Daddy Biscuits - $25 gift certificate, The Midway Pub - $25 gift card, Carolina Hemp Store - $25 gift card, Gate City Tattoo - $50 gift card, Furside Pet Grooming - 2 self service dog washes, Chelsea Sommers, Realtor - Bundle w/ Cooler, Water Bottle + Local Beer

WINNER ANNOUNCEMENTS: Raffle winners will be announced onTuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays in July via email and social media. Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up! If you receive a WINNER email please respond so we know you're planning to claim your prize.

CLAIM YOUR PRIZE: All prizes can be picked up and signed for at ScreenFixing EAV during regular business hours throughout the month of July. Prizes must be picked up by Sunday, July 31 at 5 PM. Alternatively you can stop by the EABA table at the EAV Farmers Market on Thursday, July 21 between 4-8 PM to grab your prize.

Your support of the East Atlanta Business Association and our Main Street initiatives helps our small business district continue to thrive - THANK YOU!

Read the minutes from our June meeting HERE.

NEXT MEETING: August 16 | 6-8PM | 602 Brownwood Ave | EVERYONE WELCOME!

Sponsor our next meeting! Donate snacks, wine, beer or non-alcoholic drinks. Your name and logo will be mentioned in EABA emails, social media posts, FB event as well as recognition on the agenda. Of course a shout out at the meeting too!

Have you filled out our EAV Visioning Questionnaire yet?

EABA will be at the East Atlanta Village Farmers Market every Thursday this month to get input from our community. What do you want to see in your neighborhood? Stop by and tell us! Completion of the 5 minute questionnaire gets you entry into a raffle to win a gift certificate to many of your favorite East Atlanta businesses. There will be up to 40 chances to win!

Thank you to ScreenFixing, Traci with an Eye Graphic Design, LLC, Argosy, Park Pet Supply, East Atlanta Copy Center, Village Fitness, East Atlanta Strut, Jen Chan's, Holy Taco and Chelsea Sommers, Realtor for their donations. More to come!

We will be at the market from 4-8pm with a QR code for you to easily complete the questionnaire on your own device. We'll also have hard copies. The Visioning Questionnaire is a Main Street initiative.

Come say hello and help us help our awesome neighborhood!