Following National SBDC Day, Troy University hosted a community-focused meeting in Georgiana to continue building partnerships and increasing awareness of resources available to small business owners across Butler County.
The meeting, led by the Alabama Small Business Development Center Network at Troy University, brought together city leadership, economic development officials, business owners and community stakeholders.
Designed as a continuation of SBDC Day efforts, the meeting created space for collaboration while ensuring attendees were informed about services available to support business creation and growth.
Butler County Economic Development Director David Hutchinson shared updates on current projects across the county and highlighted success stories of local businesses, emphasizing the importance of aligning economic development initiatives with direct support for entrepreneurs.
Mayor Ninna Bonner also addressed attendees, outlining her vision for the City of Georgiana and her commitment to creating an environment that supports both new and existing business owners. Her remarks reinforced the role of partnerships in strengthening the local business community.
The meeting also featured participation from SBDC clients, who had the opportunity to showcase their businesses and engage directly with community leaders. Local entrepreneurs, including Rike’s Tacos of Troy and Pasticceria LLC of Ozark, provided samples of their products, offering a tangible example of the impact of small business support across the region.
Bolivar noted that follow-up meetings like this are an important part of the SBDC’s approach to community engagement.
“These conversations allow us to stay connected to the community and make sure people know where to go when they have an idea,” Bolivar said. “It’s not just about one event—it’s about building relationships so that local leaders and business owners can help guide others to the right resources.”
By bringing together local officials, economic development leaders and business owners, the meeting also encouraged those in attendance to share information about available resources within their own networks, helping connect more individuals in the community to business support services.
The event reflected Troy University’s ongoing approach to community engagement —focusing not only on providing direct services, but on strengthening relationships and building a connected network of partners working to support entrepreneurs in rural communities.
Through the leadership and support of the Troy University Sorrell College of Business, these efforts continue to expand beyond individual engagements.
“By working alongside local governments, economic development organizations and business owners, the University is helping create pathways for individuals with business ideas to access guidance, resources and long-term support,” Bolivar said. “As partnerships continue to grow across Butler County and surrounding areas, Troy University remains committed to serving rural communities by increasing access to opportunity and supporting the development of sustainable local economies.”
