The Georgia District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration in anticipation of National Small Business Week May 4-8, 2015, recognized its award winners for Georgia at an awards luncheon in Atlanta today and they include an Augustan.   

Randy Griffin, President of Augusta based non-profit CSRA Business Lending was recognized as Georgia’s Financial Champion of the Year by SBA which is awarded each year to one accountant or financial services provider in the state for their advocacy and impact on small businesses in the state.

“I am honored to receive this award and think it is an attestation to the quality work our staff does every day in reaching small businesses in the communities we serve”, Griffin said.  

Griffin was hired as the only company employee of CSRA Business Lending in 1987 at the age of 24 when the company was facing decertification by SBA and closure.   Since his arrival loan production increased from an average of two projects per year in 1987, to an average of forty-five (45) projects per year over the past five (5) years.    CSRA has now financed over $700 million in small business projects during his tenure.      

CSRA Business Lending is a non-profit Certified Development Company of the U.S. Small Business Administration making SBA-504 loans (SBA’s business mortgage program) in conjunction with banks throughout Georgia and portions of South Carolina and also operates a $7.0 million dollar direct loan program called CSRA Direct targeted at making smaller loans up to $250,000.

Each year since 1963, the President has issued a proclamation calling for the celebration of Small Business Week.  "National Small Business Week is a perfect opportunity to take time to celebrate the achievements of the small business community”, said Terri Denison, the SBA’s Georgia District Director.  “Here in Georgia we are honored to recognize members of the Georgia small business community and their champions from around the state.”  The national winners will be selected May 4 – 8 during Small Business Week in Washington. 

The winners of the 2015 Georgia Small Business Week Awards are: 

2015 Georgia Small Business Week Annual Award Winners

1.  Georgia Small Business Person of the Year

Mr. Scott Soesbee

FlameOFF Coatings

3400 Chapel Hill Rd

Douglasville, GA 30135

2.  Financial Services Champion of the Year

Mr. Randy Griffin

CSRA Business Lending

3023 River Watch Parkway, Suite A

Augusta, GA 30907

3.  LGBT Business Champion of the Year

Bishop Oliver Clyde Allen, III

Vision Community Foundation

704 Ormewood Ave

Atlanta, GA 303012

4.  Minority Small Business Champion of the Year

Dr. Robert Yancey

SCORE Atlanta

233 Peachtree St NE Harris Tower

Suite 1800

Atlanta, GA 30303

5.  Small Business Media Champion of the Year

Mr. Gale Baldwin

Savannah Morning News

1375 Chatham Parkway

Savannah, GA 31405

6.  Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year

Master Sergeant (Ret) Andrew L. Carlisle

DVETS

160 Holly Pointe

Warner Robbins, GA 31088

7.  Women in Business Champion of the Year

Ms. Antoinette Ball & Ms. Marionette Ball                                                       

Women Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project, Inc.

250 Georgia Ave., Suite 213

Atlanta, GA 30312

8.  Young Entrepreneur of the Year

Mr. Travis Allen

iSchool

8343 Roswell Rd

Atlanta, GA 30350