Rural Business Development Archives

America’s SBDC Blog

A “Forbes 100 Best Websites for Entrepreneurs”

UGA SBDC Strategic Coaching Fuels Growth for LaGrange Home Care Franchise

July 1, 2026

When Tammy Strickland’s father—once a top executive of a global manufacturing firm—developed Alzheimer’s, she struggled to find the in-home care he required.

So, she called in her sister, Debbie Thomason, with an idea: open their own home care franchise focused on compassion, quality and trust. When it came time to build the business behind that mission, they turned to the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (UGA SBDC) for guidance in creating their business systems.

Demand for the services offered by Acti-Kare Responsive In-Home Care in LaGrange grew quickly. So did revenue, staffing, and the need for strong systems to sustain that growth.

Strickland has crafted a simple elevator pitch for the company she owns and operates in with her sister.

“I make it simple,” she said. “We take care of people.”

However, the business of providing personal non-medical home care is extraordinarily complex. Once their franchise was licensed, the sisters contacted the UGA SBDC to help put the right operational foundation in place.

Strickland brought marketing and sales experience, but she knew they needed broader business expertise.

“Corporations do trainings, but we didn’t have that. That’s what the UGA SBDC became. They trained us, showing us what we can do and how we can do it better,” she said.

Phil Wise, area director of the UGA SBDC in Columbus, and consultant Thomas Credle began by helping Strickland set up the company’s QuickBooks.

“Tammy had a rudimentary understanding of accounting, so we worked with her to make sure she was properly interacting with QuickBooks,” Wise said. “Then we showed her how to restructure and realign financial statements to better support managerial and strategic decisions.”

Together, they built a budget process that allowed the sisters to measure actual performance against their expectations.

We operate a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week business with a large staff. Our work with the UGA SBDC on our staffing system helped us to develop and manage a plan and to scale faster with support staff.

Tammy Strickland, Founder of Acti-Kare Responsive In-Home Care Tweet

Credle and Wise showed Strickland and Thomason how to use Acti-Kare’s organizational structure to elevate the responsibilities of their primary managers to strengthen organizational dynamics. Now the managers—rather than the owners—run weekly KPI meetings.

“By reallocating their time and duties, Strickland and Thomason were able to do more work on their business than in the business, fulfilling their roles as owners,” Wise said.

The results have been remarkable. Their Acti-Kare franchise, which serves an area from Peachtree City to LaGrange, has almost tripled in revenue. Employees have grown from 32 to nearly 80. The company was awarded a 2025 Certificate of Excellence from State of Georgia Compliance and named “2025 Best in Georgia” by the Georgia Business Journal and “2025 Best of Troup County in Home Health” by the LaGrange Daily News.

“Tammy and Debbie have excelled at being able to ramp up and grow exponentially while maintaining customer care and a high-quality outcome,” Wise said.

The sisters continue to work closely with the UGA SBDC to enhance their organizational dynamics, create new Key Performance Indicators, update their budget, and explore expansion opportunities into additional Georgia markets.

“Phil, Thomas and the UGA SBDC have been a real game changer for us. I didn’t need someone to teach me to be a sales and marketing expert, but I needed someone to teach me how to build a business and put things in place. Some days, it’s felt like having my dad available. They offer that level of business savvy.

Tammy Strickland, Founder of Acti-Kare Responsive In-Home Care Tweet

From Push Mower to a Growing Enterprise with Help From the UGA SBDC

June 17, 2026

From a $30 push mower to a thriving, full-service landscaping company, Griffin Thomas has spent more than a decade building TopLine Lawncare and Landscaping one yard, one crew and one lesson at a time. With guidance from the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (UGA SBDC), Thomas turned a major expansion opportunity into a strong foundation for long-term growth—a move that fueled his company’s rapid growth and earned him the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2026 Georgia Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

Based in Carrollton, TopLine Lawncare and Landscaping serves commercial and residential customers in west Georgia. The company provides comprehensive lawncare, landscaping and landscape design services, supporting projects from routine maintenance to full design-build installations. What began as a teenage side hustle has evolved into a growing business with multiple crews, expanding markets and a clear vision for the future.

Thomas’ journey into landscaping started early. At 14, he began helping a neighbor maintain his farm, learning the value of hard work and responsibility.

“I learned my work ethic from Mr. Brock, and when he passed away, I wanted to continue earning money doing good, honest work,” said Thomas.

At 15, Thomas bought his first piece of equipment—a $30 push mower at a yard sale—and began mowing lawns for families and friends. By his senior year of high school, he had purchased a larger mower and was cutting grass daily after school.

After graduating, Thomas was balancing college coursework with a growing customer list. As demand increased, so did the complexity of the business. Thomas hired employees, expanded into small landscaping projects, and eventually faced a decision.

“I really didn’t have time to do both,” said Thomas. “I found myself trying to juggle school and work and not having enough time in the day.”

Thomas decided to focus exclusively on his business. Over time, TopLine expanded from basic lawn maintenance into landscaping, hardscapes, irrigation and design-build services.

“I’ve had some good mentors along the way, but a lot of it’s been self-taught and trial and error,” said Thomas. “Some people might be intimidated by that, but I guess you really just need to love what you do.”

Griffin Thomas, owner of TopLine Lawncare and Landscaping in Carrollton, Ga.

As the business grew, Thomas identified a new opportunity—a centrally located building that would support expansion, improve efficiency and provide needed office space. However, he was unfamiliar with the commercial loan process and financial projections required to move forward. That’s when he was referred to the UGA SBDC.

Troy Vollenweider, area director of the UGA SBDC at the University of West Georgia, worked closely with Thomas to develop a business plan and financial projections to support the purchase. Vollenweider helped Thomas better understand the commercial lending process and available loan options.

For Thomas, the UGA SBDC’s guidance changed his approach to financial management.

“When you learn how to look at your financials, you’re able to manage cash flow better and project where you’re going to be,” said Thomas. “I wasn’t really doing that before, but now it’s something I review monthly. That’s been the biggest takeaway for me.”

With support from the UGA SBDC, Thomas was able to obtain commercial financing through First Bank, utilizing the Georgia Cities Foundation and the State Small Business Credit Initiative loan programs.

The new facility, located in downtown Carrollton, has been transformative. The business used to operate out of a barn used primarily for equipment storage but now has dedicated office space to support structured meetings, improved communication and more intentional business operations.

The new location has also increased TopLine’s visibility and brand recognition, supported workforce recruitment and contributed to measurable growth. Since moving into the facility, TopLine has added three new crews—one installation and two maintenance—and up to eight employees. Year-to-date revenue is up 24% compared to the previous year, and higher visibility has helped the company secure major contracts, including work with the city of Carrollton.

“Through our work with Troy and the UGA SBDC, we have experienced significant operational growth. We’ve been able to invest in new trucks and equipment to support that expansion. Whether it was a quick phone call or sitting down for hours going over charts, Troy and the UGA SBDC made it happen when deadlines mattered."

Griffin Thomas, Owner of TopLine Lawncare and Landscaping Tweet

Most recently, Thomas was named this year’s SBA Georgia Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

“It’s incredibly meaningful to see that effort acknowledged,” said Thomas. “I’m truly grateful for the opportunity and the journey that brought me here.”

UplinkRobotics and Wyoming SBDC: Building World-Class Tech in Laramie

June 3, 2026

When University of Wyoming engineering students Christian Bitzas, Oreoluwa Babatunde, and Brady Wagstaff noticed a lack of local tech opportunities, they decided to build something themselves. An idea sparked when Bitzas’s father, a home inspector, needed a safe way to check out tight crawlspaces. While options existed in the inspection vehicle field, the team was confident they could build something better.

With help from UW Business Management graduate Zoë Worthen, the first prototype quickly turned into UplinkRobotics, a startup based in Laramie, Wyoming. Today, they manufacture smart, compact inspection drones capable of taking high-definition pictures and sending back live video. These little crawlers let home inspectors, contractors, and first responders easily see into dangerous, hard-to-reach areas without putting themselves at risk.

Uplink Robotics is giving back to the local community. By partnering with the University of Wyoming, creating paid student internships, and mentoring youth 4-H robotics clubs, they are helping grow the next generation of engineers.

UplinkRobotics received the Spirit of Wyoming award from the SBA District Office in May 2026, for their perseverance, community service, and growth. Proving that you don’t need to live in a massive tech hub to create world-class technology, the company is making tough jobs safer, helping the local economy, and building a tech community right here in Wyoming.

Check out the video below for more information about UplinkRobotics and some of the assistance they have received from Wyoming economic development groups, including the Wyoming SBDC, APEX Accelerator and WSSI Innovation Funding programs.

Congratulations to everyone on the UplinkRobotics team!

Lively Little Ones Fulfilling Childcare Need in Fayette County with West Virginia SBDC Assistance

April 29, 2026

When Amber Comer decided to expand her home-based childcare business into a full-fledged Early Learning Center, she knew she wanted to offer more than just daycare. She envisioned a place where children could grow and thrive in a supportive, hands-on educational environment. That vision became Lively Little Ones in Fayetteville.

“We try to, not just provide care, but a higher quality of care,” Comer says. “We want to make sure that we are following a curriculum and lesson plans, and teaching your children so that they can have a strong educational foundation and be prepared for when they start school.”

Comer’s journey in childcare began years earlier. After working in daycare centers as a teenager, she transitioned into entrepreneurship following the birth of her son. She spent four years as a home childcare provider before opening Lively Little Ones in September 2025 on Franklin Heights Road in Fayetteville, serving children ages 6 weeks to 12 years. The center offers infant care, preschool, and toddler programs, as well as before- and after-school care and services during school breaks.

Beyond daily care, Comer and her team are committed to building community connections through monthly events and activities.

“We try at least once a month to do something fun and free for the community,” Comer says. “All of our teachers are very involved, and a lot of them are moms themselves. They want what’s best for the kiddos and want to help give back and offer a place where everyone can feel welcome.”

Small Business Support & Collaboration

Expanding from a home daycare to a full Early Learning Center was no small feat. Comer credits Melissa Colagrosso, director of A Place to Grow Children’s Center in nearby Oak Hill and leader of the regional childcare cooperative, Together We Grow, as a valuable industry resource and for connecting her with Shannon Mitchell, a business coach with the West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC).

“Amber has a true entrepreneurial spirit and is so motivated to move through a process, get things done, and do it the right way,” Mitchell describes.

From the earliest planning stages, the WV SBDC worked closely with the entrepreneur to provide one-on-one business coaching, technical assistance, and strategic guidance. This included:

Development of a comprehensive business plan
Startup cost analysis
Cash flow projections
Operational planning tailored specifically to the regulatory and staffing realities of childcare in West Virginia
Assembling a complete loan package
Direct referrals to financing partners to help move the project forward

“We helped her navigate through the process of funding and permits and just getting open, which is a huge hurdle for any entrepreneur to overcome,” Mitchell says. “Now it’s transitioned into managing a business, and I hope to continue supporting Amber in that way.”

“Both Shannon and Melissa have been very helpful; they’ve answered any questions I’ve had,” Comer describes. “I have been able to call them crying when I’m stressed or anxious about something, and they’re always reassuring and let me know that I’m still making steps in the right direction. Opening your own business is not easy, and there are a lot of unknowns, but when you have people like that by your side, it sure helps a lot.”

A Community Need

Lively Little Ones is currently the only childcare center located in Fayetteville. After the local Head Start relocated to Oak Hill, Comer saw an opportunity to help meet a growing demand for childcare services in a community where working families and employers have long faced limited options.

“We are helping to fill the gap,” Comer explains. “The community has been very welcoming, and I’m very glad to be here.”

As the business continues to grow, Comer remains focused on expanding enrollment and enhancing programming.

“We are about a third of the way enrolled right now,” she shares. “With summer coming, we can get some really cool programs and activities up and running, and we are excited to welcome new students.”

A Broader Impact

As Comer’s business coach, Mitchell is proud of the WV SBDC’s role in turning a community need into a sustainable success story.

Beyond the individual business success, Lively Little Ones represents a meaningful step forward in addressing one of the region’s most persistent economic development barriers: access to reliable, affordable childcare.

“There is such a need for childcare businesses like Lively Little Ones,” Mitchell says. “We cannot grow our workforce and provide jobs for families in need without businesses like hers. They’re essential to the growth of West Virginia.”

Are you looking for help in starting or growing your business? The WV SBDC assists entrepreneurs and small business owners at every stage of the business lifecycle. Learn more on their website.

A Hub for Rural America: The Hank’s Reno Junction Success Story

February 25, 2026

From humble beginnings catering out of his mother’s kitchen to owning the bustling Hank’s Reno Junction Travel Plaza in Wright, Wyoming, Hank Pridgeon’s story is one of entrepreneurial spirit, devotion to community, and a passionate drive to succeed.

Hank’s journey began in 1982, the day after his high school graduation, with a $10,000 loan and a vision. “I always knew I wanted to be in the foodservice business,” Hank recalls. “It was just a matter of finding my niche.” That niche evolved from catering to a steakhouse, then a cafe, and finally, the comprehensive travel plaza that stands today, a testament to his ability to adapt and expand. Notably, this expansion has been marked by strategic growth, moving from a 2,100 square foot leased space in 1987, to the current expansive travel plaza, which includes a 4,000 square foot kitchen upgrade and corporate offices added in 2021.

The Reno Junction Travel Plaza isn’t just a truck stop; it’s a destination. With Sinclair fuel pumps offering various octane levels and DEF, a restaurant serving everything from buffalo burgers to prime rib, a bar, a convenience store, and even the newly acquired 18-room Reno Junction Lodge motel, it caters to the diverse needs of travelers and locals alike. “We like to have fun,” Hank explains, a philosophy that permeates every aspect of his business, from quirky decor like the saddled dinosaur out front, to exceptional customer service. “We like our customers to have fun, and we join them.”

This unconventional approach has paid off. Hank’s business thrives on a foundation of genuine connection with his customers, particularly the truckers who frequent his establishment. “Truckers and bikers are the most loyal customers ever,” he says. “If you treat them right, they’re not only going to come back but are going to tell friends they should stop here. It’s like having an extended family.”

Hank’s commitment to community extends beyond his business. He supports local charities, volunteering his time, and even providing emergency assistance during crises, such as the EF-2 Tornado Response at the North Antelope Rochelle Coal Mine. As Robby Gallob, Town of Wright Emergency Manager, attests, “His heart is bigger than any person I have ever met.” Hank’s generosity is not just about financial contributions; it’s about being present and responsive to the needs of his community. He has also dedicated many years to community boards, including the Wright Town Council, the Wright Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Wyoming Liquor Association.

A key element of Hank’s success has been his ability to navigate the economic landscape of Wyoming. He credits the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) with providing valuable support throughout his business journey. Assistance from P.J. Burns, Northeast Regional Director for the Wyoming SBDC, and utilization of the Wyoming Business Council’s resources has helped Hank make informed decisions and adapt to changing market conditions, especially during difficult times like the 2020 pandemic.

“2020 was undoubtedly our most challenging financial year with the government mandated shutdowns,” Hank admits. “But as an essential business, the truck stop remained open, and we continued to pay all of our employees.” This dedication to his employees has fostered long term loyalty, with multiple staff members having been with Hank for over a decade.

Hank’s entrepreneurial spirit extends to addressing the challenges facing his community. Recognizing the shortage of workforce housing, he purchased apartment buildings and a motel to provide affordable accommodation for his employees and visitors. “We’re a bit unique because we’re not on an interstate highway,” Hank explains. “We’re on the busiest intersection in the state, because of the energy industry around here.” This strategic location, combined with his understanding of his customer base, has allowed the business to thrive even during economic downturns.

Hank’s success is also due to his genuine love for his work. “I get bored real easy, and I always have to have something to do,” Hank says. “People tell me I’m a workaholic. I do take time with family and friends, but a lot of that involves business because all of my daughters and my ex-wife have been involved in my business too.”

Hank Pridgeon’s dedication to Wright, and his ability to see opportunity where others see obstacles, has created a thriving business and a legacy of community support. His story isn’t just about business success; it’s a testament to the enduring power of rural entrepreneurship, proving that with hard work, genuine care for others, and a dash of unconventional spirit, one can build a lasting and impactful legacy.

Learn more at www.hanksrenojunctiontravel.com.

12 3 4