#smallbusiness | AM 1180 Radio

October 4, 2026

Nominations Open For Georgia’s 2027 Small Business ROCK STARS

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The Georgia Department of Economic Development is looking for outstanding small businesses, including those in Chattooga County and across Northwest Georgia, for statewide recognition.

September 23, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

New Georgia Program Gives Small Businesses Another Option For Employee Health Insurance

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Small businesses in Chattooga County that have struggled with the cost or complexity of providing employee health insurance now have another option through a new state program.

September 20, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Free AI Class For Small Businesses Coming To LaFayette

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Small business owners and entrepreneurs interested in learning how artificial intelligence can help their businesses will have an opportunity to attend a free class in LaFayette later this month.

The class will be held Tuesday, September 29, from 5:30 until 7 PM at the LaFayette-Walker County Public Library.

The session will be taught by Ed Bennett, an AI and automation architect, and will focus on moving beyond one-time questions to AI tools and workflows that can help businesses save time, automate routine tasks and generate new business opportunities.

The program is free and open to the public, and no registration is required.

Organizers say the class is designed for people who want a practical look at ways artificial intelligence can be used in day-to-day business operations.

For more information, call the LaFayette-Walker County Public Library at 706-638-2992.

September 14, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

$6 Diesel Hitting Chattooga County Businesses, Farms And Manufacturers Hard

Local News, Local News Items #AAA, #agriculture, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountyFarmers, #ChattoogaCountyGA, #ChattoogaInfo, #Construction, #ConsumerPrices, #CostOfLiving, #DieselFuel, #DieselPrices, #economicimpact, #EnergyPrices, #FarmCosts, #FarmEquipment, #Farmers, #Farming, #FoodPrices, #Freight, #FreightCosts, #FuelCosts, #FuelPrices, #FuelSurcharge, #GeorgiaAgriculture, #GeorgiaBusiness, #GeorgiaDieselPrices, #GeorgiaEconomy, #georgiagasprices, #GeorgiaManufacturing, #GroceryPrices, #HeavyEquipment, #HighFuelPrices, #Inflation, #LocalBusiness, #LocalEconomy, #LocalManufacturing, #Logging, #lyerlyga, #Manufacturers, #manufacturing, #MenloGA, #NorthGeorgia, #northwestgeorgia, #northwestgeorgianews, #OwnerOperators, #SixDollarDiesel, #smallbusiness, #summervillega, #supplychain, #SupplyChainCosts, #TransportationCosts, #trionga, #TruckDrivers, #Trucking, #TruckingIndustry, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

The price posted on a diesel pump may look like a problem primarily for truck drivers, but with diesel now above $6 per gallon in Georgia, the effects could eventually be felt by almost every business — and household — in Chattooga County.

September 3, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Premier Weight Loss & MedSpa Holding Ribbon Cutting Today For New Summerville Location

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Premier Weight Loss & MedSpa Inc. will celebrate its new location in Summerville with a ribbon-cutting ceremony today at 11 AM.

The business is now located at 9943 Commerce Street in Summerville, and the public is invited to attend the celebration marking the opening of the new location.

Premier Weight Loss & MedSpa offers a variety of services, including weight-loss peptides, hormone replacement and testosterone replacement therapy, Botox and fillers, microneedling and IV therapy.

The business is also preparing to add another service beginning September 16.

Today’s ribbon cutting is being held in conjunction with local community organizations, including Summerville Main Street and the Chattooga County Chamber of Commerce.

The ceremony begins at 11 AM today at 9943 Commerce Street.

For additional information about Premier Weight Loss & MedSpa, call 706-808-0145.

August 30, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Free Webinar To Help Georgia Business Owners Evaluate Funding And Use AI

Local News, Local News Items #AI, #AIForBusiness, #ArtificialIntelligence, #BradRaffensperger, #BusinessAI, #BusinessFinancing, #BusinessFunding, #BusinessOwners, #BusinessWebinar, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #EconomicDevelopment, #Entrepreneurs, #Entrepreneurship, #FinancialEducation, #FinancialLiteracy, #FINFIT, #FreeWebinar, #FundingStrategies, #GeorgiaBusiness, #GeorgiaSecretaryOfState, #GeorgiaSmallBusiness, #GeorgiaSOS, #northwestgeorgia, #NWGeorgia, #smallbusiness, #SmallBusinessFunding, #SmallBusinessResources, #summervillega, #trionga, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is inviting business owners across the state to participate in a free webinar next month focusing on business funding and the responsible use of artificial intelligence.

August 25, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Agriculture Officials Warn Of Fake Farmers Market Vendor Scam

Local News, Local News Items #AgricultureCommissioner, #AtlantaGA, #AtlantaStateFarmersMarket, #AvoidScams, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #ClaytonCountyGA, #ConsumerAlert, #ConsumerProtection, #FacebookScam, #Farmers, #FarmersMarket, #FarmersMarkets, #FarmersMarketScam, #ForestParkGA, #FraudAlert, #GDA, #GeorgiaAgriculture, #GeorgiaDepartmentOfAgriculture, #GeorgiaFarmers, #GeorgiaGrown, #georgianews, #GeorgiaSmallBusiness, #GeorgiaVendors, #LocalNews, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #NorthGeorgia, #northwestgeorgia, #northwestgeorgianews, #OnlineFraud, #OnlineScam, #PublicSafety, #ScamAlert, #smallbusiness, #SocialMediaScam, #summervillega, #trionga, #TylerHarper, #Vendors, #VendorScam, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

The Georgia Department of Agriculture is warning farmers, vendors and small-business owners about a fraudulent event advertised on social media as being held at the Atlanta State Farmers Market.

August 21, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Lyerly Accepting Vendor Applications For Down Home Day

Community Calandar, Community Calendar, Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #CommunityEvent, #CommunitySupport, #DownHomeDay, #FallEvents, #FallFestival, #LiveLocal, #LocalEvents, #LocalVendors, #LyerlyDownHomeDay, #lyerlyga, #LyerlyGeorgia, #northwestgeorgia, #SaturdaySeptember26, #September2026, #September26, #ShopLocal, #smallbusiness, #SupportLocal, #TownOfLyerly, #VendorApplications, #VendorsWanted, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

The Town of Lyerly is now accepting vendor applications for Lyerly’s Down Home Day, scheduled for Saturday, September 26.

The community event will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., providing an opportunity for local vendors to showcase their products while residents come together to shop local and support the community.

Vendor spaces are available for $15 per spot.

Those interested in becoming a vendor can contact organizers by commenting on the official Lyerly, Georgia post or sending a private message directly to the Lyerly, Georgia page. Vendors may also contact Sally Kerce through Facebook or call Lyerly Town Hall at 706-895-2611.

Organizers are cautioning prospective vendors not to send money to anyone through Facebook when applying for a space.

Down Home Day is designed to celebrate the Lyerly community while giving local vendors, makers and small businesses an opportunity to connect with residents.

The message behind this year’s event is simple: Live local. Shop local. Support local.

August 5, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Meat Processors Can Now Sell Products Nationwide Under New USDA Agreement

Local News, Local News Items #agriculture, #BrookeRollins, #ChattoogaInfo, #GeorgiaAgriculture, #GeorgiaFarmers, #georgianews, #Livestock, #MeatProcessing, #RuralGeorgia, #smallbusiness, #TylerHarper, #USDA, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

Small meat processors across Georgia will soon have access to customers across the country following a new agreement between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

July 30, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Congressman Fuller Backs Community Banking Bill Passed By U.S. House

Local News, Local News Items #ChattoogaInfo, #ClayFuller, #CommunityBanks, #CongressmanFuller, #HR6955, #MainStreetCapitalAccessAct, #northwestgeorgia, #smallbusiness, #WashingtonDC, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

Congressman Clay Fuller voted with a bipartisan majority this week to approve H.R. 6955, the Main Street Capital Access Act, legislation supporters say would make it easier for community banks to lend money to small businesses, farmers and families by reducing certain federal regulatory requirements. The bill passed the House by a 270-155 vote and now heads to the U.S. Senate.