ACE | Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs announced today that Tommie Beth Willis of Colquitt County, GA has been named Regional Director of its South Georgia office. Willis comes to ACE from the Moultrie-Colquitt County Chamber of Commerce in Moultrie, GA where she served as president since 2016. Her efforts at the Chamber were focused on community involvement, promotion and membership benefits, and managing daily operations and the Chamber of Commerce staff. Willis will be responsible for establishing the ACE office in Tifton to serve all of South Georgia, build a staff of five (5) individuals, and seek out strong community relationships to serve small business owners in the region.
As the largest community development financial institution (CDFI) serving small businesses in Georgia, ACE aims to expand its lending capabilities beyond its current 68 Georgia county footprint, which includes metro Atlanta and North Georgia. “Our expansion to South Georgia will allow us to meet increased demand and support the growing needs of Georgia’s small business owners in rural and underserved communities,” said Grace Fricks, president and CEO of ACE. “Small businesses are the lifeblood of communities, family well-being, and our economy,” Fricks continued. “And collaborations like this enable us to be on the frontlines helping them to not only survive, but to thrive.” Through ACE and its partnerships with other local CDFIs, small to mid-size businesses in rural and urban areas across South Georgia will have access to more options for much needed capital and business advisory services to help them grow and expand their businesses and communities.
Willis has a passion for working with businesses and seeing them succeed. “I am excited and humbled for this opportunity to continue serving local businesses and those across our region in a different capacity,” she said. “As we see more entrepreneurs seeking to open and grow their business, ACE will be positioned here in South Georgia to assist them with many of their needs. From loans to business mentoring to networking, ACE will help build bridges and connect dots for businesses owned by women, minorities, and those in underserved areas. My goal is to use contacts I have made through the years to help guide connections with entrepreneurs across the region that can benefit from the services ACE provides. I look forward to working with businesses to help our region grow and become stronger. This will open up doors for business owners in our community for generations to come.”
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