Small Business Assistance Corporation

The Small Business Assistance Corporation (SBAC) dedicates itself to providing professional small business support services to small businesses and entrepreneurs in Southeast Georgia and the Low Country of South Carolina. By facilitating equitable access to capital, management assistance, and business opportunities, SBAC generates employment for low or moderate-income people and revitalizes low-income communities. This Corporation strives for socio-economic improvement for all citizens.

Freedom Trail Tour is an LLC owned and operated by Mr. Johnny Brown. Mr. Brown started this business in 2001 after being inspired and employed by civil rights leader, Mr. W.W. Law. Mr. Law created the Negro Heritage Trail Tours and the King Tisdell and Beach Institute and Ralph Mark Gilbert Museums to educate the public about local black history. Mr. Brown worked under Mr. Law since he was 12 years old, about 22 years. After the Negro Heritage Tour closed, Mr. Brown followed in the footsteps of Mr. Law and started his business. Mr. Brown purchased a 15 passenger van and Freedom Trail Tour was born. Mr. Brown offers knowledge of local black history to tourist and locals. He highlights contributions of African Americans that are overlooked by other tour companies. While on his tours, his customers see remnants of Underground Railroad, where "free persons of color" lived during slavery times, port of entry where slaves were bought and sold, old black communities and Savannah's African-American Monuments. Other sites include The First African Baptist Church (the oldest black church in North America), The Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum, and The Beach Institute-reconstruction School for blacks and Slave burial grounds. Tours are available seven days per week departing from the Savannah's Visitors Center located at 301 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Time of tours are 10:00am and 1:00 and 3:00pm. The price of the tours are $23.00 adults, $20.00 seniors 65 or older, $18.00 college students, $13.00 for children 7 - 17 and free for six and other. He also offers group rates. SBAC made it's first loan to Mr. Brown in 2011, helping him to refinance his bank loan for a larger passenger van to a much lower interest rate. As the relationship grew it was evident that Mr. Brown's success relied on his continuing to grow. Due to lack of collateral and poor credit SBAC funneled Johnnie into our Small Steps program with the intention of growing his capacity to obtain the funding he needed to expand.

Mr. Brown was one of SBAC's first clients to realize the potential of a Smart Steps Loan and its benefits to him. We made a number of smaller loans to him, four of which all were paid back in a timely manner allowing him to improve credit and gain credibility.

Grace Academy located in Ludowici, GA, a rural, CDFI investment area, is a full-service daycare and early childhood education facility. The business is owned jointly by African American veterans, Patricia Smith – who manages the business on-site and oversees day-to-day operations – and her husband, Pernell Smith. The business began in 2016 when the couple took over a bank-owned property and began leasing the space. In 2017, the bank approached the Smiths about purchasing the property. However, the couple was unable to secure financing through private banking conduits and were referred to our organization by Glenville Bank and Trust. SBAC structured a loan to purchase and renovate the building, purchase two additional modular units as well to provide permanent working capital to the business, which was, before SBAC's involvement, an entirely self-funded enterprise. The company is state-licensed, compliant with Bright from the Start and receives funding from the Department of Family and Children Services (DFACS). The loan proceeds allowed the business to expand its service capacity greatly and helped to absorb some of its waiting list customers. Previously, the facility cared for 30 children and is now accommodating nearly 65. Moreover, as a result of the purchase, the business retained 6 low to moderate (LMI) jobs and created an additional 4 LMI jobs. Grace Academy is the only daycare facility within 20 miles of its location and serves the communities of Ludowici, Glenville, Hinesville, and Odum. Their extended hours and educational component have attracted working families within these communities.