Newspaper Page Text
The Lee County Ledger, February 1, 2006, Page 5A
Sumter EMC
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Submitted Photo
Kinchafoonee Primary School Second Grade Model Students for January
Front Row: Richard Green, Hannah Beamon, Sophia Leverette, Hannah Barnes, Ivey Newton, Jarrett Wilson.
Back Row: Hayley Marshall, Spencer Taylor, Asia Adams, Justin Paul. Not Pictured: Alexis Cater.
LEE COUNTY
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Lee County Impact Fee Advisory
Committee will hold a Public Hearing to
consider and receive public comments
on a Capitol Improvements Element to
be prepared under the minimum plan
ning standards and procedures for local
comprehensive planning established by
the Georgia Planning Act of 1989. This
public hearing regarding Impact Fees will
be held Thursday, February 9, 2006 at 4:
00 P.M. This public hearing will be held at
the Lee County Board of Commissioner's
Administration Building Assembly Room
at 104 Leslie Highway, Leesburg, Georgia,
This meeting is open to the public and the
public is encouraged to attend.
1/25/06 & 2/1/06
Submitted Photo
Kinchafoonee Primary School First Grade Model Students for January
Front Row: Ally Mims, Ashley Loga, Nicholas Neff, Noah Whitcomb. Back Row: Kaleb Evans, Hadlee
Lewis, Wayne Early. Not Pictured: Tanner Brunson, Grace Harper, Precious Tucker.
Join Us For A
Occasion
REGISTERED BRIDES & GROOMS
Wendy Williams and Jason Logan February 4, 2006
Kristy Dixon and Matthew Powell February 11, 2006
Gina Hobbs and Dan Webb March 4, 2006
Jennifer Dubois and Caleb Johnson March 25, 2006
Blair Conley and Micah Stowe March 25, 2006
Lindsey Powell and Scott Fletcher April 1, 2006
Valerie Pollock and Trevor Allen April 1, 2006
Amanda Goodson and Jason Rooks April 8, 2006
Alisha Brooks & Keith Bragg April 15, 2006
Breena Hines & Justin Parker April 22, 2006
Ashley Carmichael and John Woodall April 22, 2006
Amanda Mathis and Landon Wilds April 29, 2006
Lauren Perry and Jeff Collins May 6th, 2006
Amber Crowe and Scott Stanfield June 10, 2006
Jill Wiggins and Clint Adams July 1, 2006
Meredith Wildes Randy Spielman July 1, 2006
Amanda Roberts and David Childress July 15, 2006
Lindsey Satterfield and Justin Watson October 21, 2006
Financing Your Business -
The Basics
Special to the Ledger
By Terri L. Denison
SBA Georgia District Director
While poor management is cited most fre
quently as the reason businesses fail, inadequate
or ill-timed financing is a close second. Whether
you’re starting a business or expanding one, suf
ficient ready capital is essential.
Before inquiring about financing, ask yourself
the following:
• Do you need more capital or can you manage
existing cash flow more effectively?
• How do you define your need? Do you need
money to expand or as a cushion against risk?
• How urgent is your need? You can obtain
the best terms when you anticipate your needs
rather than looking for money under pressure.
• How great are your risks? All businesses
carry risks, and the degree of risk will affect
cost and available financing alternatives.
• In what state of development is the busi
ness? Needs are most critical during transitional
stages.
• For what purposes will the capital be used?
Any lender will require that capital be requested
for very specific needs.
• What is the state of your industry? De
pressed, stable, or growth conditions require dif
ferent approaches to money needs and sources.
Businesses that prosper while others are in
decline will often receive better funding terms.
• Is your business seasonal or cyclical? Season
al needs for financing generally are short term.
Loans advanced for cyclical industries such as
construction are designed to support a business
through depressed periods.
• How strong is your management team? Man
agement is the most important element assessed
by money sources.
• Perhaps most importantly, how does your
need for financing mesh with your business
plan? If you don’t have a business plan, write
one. Lenders will want to see your plan for the
start-up and growth of your business before they
finance it.
There are two general types of financing:
equity and debt financing. The more money, or
equity, you have invested in your business, the
easier it is to attract financing. If your firm has a
high ratio of equity to debt, you should probably
seek debt financing. However, if your company
has a high proportion of debt to equity, you
should increase your equity before you bor
row additional money. That way you won’t be
over-leveraged to the point of jeopardizing your
company’s survival.
There are many sources for debt financing:
banks, savings and loans, commercial finance
companies, and the SBA are the most common.
Many state and local governments have small
business lending programs. Family members,
friends, and former associates are all potential
sources, especially when capital requirements
are smaller.
Traditionally, banks have been the major
source of small business funding. Their princi
pal role has been as a short-term lender of
fering demand loans, seasonal lines of credit,
and single-purpose loans for machinery and
equipment. Banks generally have been reluctant
to offer long-term loans to small firms. The SBA
guaranteed lending program encourages banks
and non-bank lenders to make long-term loans
to small firms by reducing their risk and lever
aging the funds they have available. Visit http:
//www.sba.gov/financing/index.html for more
information on SBA loan programs.
Additional equity can be sought from non
professional investors such as friends, relatives,
employees, customers, or industry colleagues,
although venture capitalists are the most com
mon source. Most specialize in one or a few
closely related industries. Most venture capital
ists prefer three-to-five-year old companies that
have the potential to become major regional or
national businesses and return higher-than-aver-
age profits.
You may contact these investors directly,
although they typically make their investments
through referrals. The SBA licenses Small
Business Investment Companies, which make
venture capital investments in small businesses.
Check the Web sitehttp://www.sba.gov/INV/
forentre.html for more information.
YGHILD CARE.
Afterschool Program at Lee County
Elementary School Gym. Transportation
included. 1:15 ratio, safe environment.
Includes homework, snack, creative, and
sports times, field trips, and much more!
For more information, call 759-9008.
Time: 3 - 6 pm daily plus school
holidays. Financial assistance available.
S Company
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2842 Palmyra Rd. (corner ofLedo & Palmyra) 432-0348
Business Checking
Monthly Fee
Per Item Charge
Minimum Balance
$100 Minimum Deposit To Open
Keep more in your checkbook
with our New Free Business
Checking Account!
(229) 446-0102
BANK of LEE COUNTY
A Division of Bank of Terrell
Next to Forcl Town
3000 N. Slappey Blvd., Albany
EQUAL HOUSING
LENDER