River Valley Black Chamber of Commerce

05/31/2026

Branding our organization to be a center of excellence with respect and integrity to serve the community in a capacity where the hard work that we put in translates into outcomes that are pragmatic and oriented to succeed.

05/29/2026

05/28/2026

📣📣📣 We are pleased to announce our upcoming Tax Sale Class!

🗓 Wednesday, June 24, 2026
⏰️ 5:30 PM
📍 Columbus Public Library

We will offer a comprehensive overview of the tax sale process, and provide helpful information on how to prevent your property from going to sale. We look forward to seeing you there!

Please use the link below to register.
⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeqs36OaWYnAJb7I041mI-xgWsSvHEDu4r7if3dvsiuBtEy1Q/viewform?pli=1

05/28/2026

Join us for Chamber Day! RVBCC and other chambers of commerce will meet at Synouvus Park for a joint evening of networking and fun
📆 June 12
⏰ 7:06pm (Arrive NLT 6:30pm)
📍Order your shirt today
https://2026-chamber-day.checkoutstores.com/

05/26/2026

Our RVBCC President joined a conference other Black Chambers across Georgia.

05/22/2026

Muscogee County: We want your feedback! State Route (SR) 520/US 280 at Chattahoochee River: Bridge Replacement project. Comments are open for 10 days.
The Georgia DOT and FHWA, in coordination with the Columbus Consolidated Government (CCG), have determined that the proposed transportation project will have “no adverse effects” on South Commons under Section 4(f).

Please visit the project page at https://sr-520-us-28-bridge-replacement-0015559-gdot.hub.arcgis.com/

WTVM News Leader 9

05/21/2026

Understanding the Difference 💡: Federal, State, and Local Opportunities

🏢 Federal: opportunities may include programs connected to SBA resources, disaster assistance, federal contracting, or grants. gov opportunities. Business owners should understand that the SBA generally does not provide grants to start or expand a for-profit business, but it does support counseling, resource partners, and certain specialized programs. 

🍑 State: opportunities in Georgia may include financing tools, loan support programs, incentives, rural development resources, and small business support programs through state agencies. These often require your business to be active, properly registered, and financially documented. 

📍Local: opportunities may come through city, county, chamber, economic development, or community grant programs. For example, Columbus has previously administered ARP-related small business grant funding through a partnership between Columbus Consolidated Government and the Greater Columbus Chamber. 

📝Your Documents Must Match the Type of Funding

Not every grant or program asks for the same paperwork. That is why you cannot wait until the application opens to start getting ready.

For most opportunities, you should have:

✔ Active Secretary of State registration
✔ EIN confirmation letter
✔ Business license, if required locally
✔ Articles of Organization or Incorporation
✔ Operating Agreement or corporate documents
✔ Business bank account
✔ Profit & Loss statement
✔ Balance Sheet
✔ Recent tax returns
✔ W-9
✔ Business plan or project summary
✔ Budget showing how funds will be used
✔ SAM. gov registration for certain federal opportunities

Some Georgia-related small business finance programs specifically look for active filings, good standing, organizational documents, and Georgia-based business operations. 

Why This Matters

Grants and programs are competitive. Reviewers are not only looking at your story, they are looking at your structure.

They want to know:

✔ Is your business legally active?
✔ Are your records consistent?
✔ Can you document your revenue and expenses?
✔ Do you have a clear use of funds?
✔ Are you compliant at the state and local level?
✔ Can you execute the project if awarded?

Your paperwork tells the story before you ever speak.

Stay active. Stay organized. Stay compliant. Stay grant ready.

05/21/2026

RVBCC Thursday Talk today will feature an update; Small Business Revitalization Grant;
📆 May 21
⏰ 8:30am
📍Tap in via zoom to join
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/uBWQNrwoQViJMh6sbVu9Qg

05/20/2026

📣 MESSAGE FROM MADAME PRESIDENT 📣

This is the FINAL PUSH before the RVBCC SBR Grant deadline on May 30th.

Resources are only impactful if our communities use them. Watch this important message from Madame President Stephanie Quinones — and don’t forget, grant recipients will be recognized during our Juneteenth festivities on June 17th!

Share this with a business owner from these counties who needs to see it:

🔴 Chattahoochee
⚫️ Clay
🟢 Crisp
🔴 Dooly
⚫️ Harris
🟢 Macon
🔴 Marion
⚫️ Muscogee
🟢 Quitman
🔴 Randolph
⚫️ Schley
🟢 Stewart
🔴 Sumter
⚫️ Talbot
🟢 Taylor
🔴 Webster