478 Bibb Fund Announces Newest Grant Recipient

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 21, 2014 Media Contact: Jessica Walden, (478) 301-2014 or jessica@collegehillmacon.com 478 Bibb Fund Awards Micro-Grant to Personal Chef Start-Up MACON – Aspiring entrepreneur and chef Savannah Girard was recently awarded a $2,000 micro-grant by the 478 Bibb Fund. Girard was awarded the grant after submitting her business plan for the her start-up Savy Taste, a local personal chef service that focuses on creating freshly prepared meals in her clients’ homes.

The 478 Bibb Fund, established by a group of local entrepreneurs and business leaders, was designed to spur innovation and entrepreneurship in Central Georgia. Girard will use her funds to help pay for her food safety certification, business license, registering her trade name and membership with the American Personal & Private Chef Association.

“This is the fourth business that our group has funded in the past 12 months, and it continues to excite us as a group to see young, creative entrepreneurs ready put their ideas into action, passion into business and talents to work in Macon,” said 478 Bibb Fund Founder Stewart Vernon, founder and CEO of America’s Swimming Pool Company (ASP) and one of the recently named “Five under 40” by Macon Magazine.

"My dream of Savy Taste, a personal chef business, is coming true,” said Girard. “I can provide fresh, local, and organic meal options for the families of Macon and save them of the hassle of going to the grocery store and no worrying over preparing any of it. The 478 Bibb Fund allowed me to pursue my passion and provide fresher and healthier food options for any client."

Now that Girard has the funding in place for her business license and insurance, she plans to launch Savy Taste this fall.

The 478 Bibb Fund began in April 2013 and continues to receive applications from local residents. Previous recipients include entrepreneurs behind the successful Macon Beer Company and Hometown Yoga. The micro-grant program remains open to all individuals and organizations in the Central Georgia region and is currently accepting applications on its website 478bibbfund.com. The group takes no equity and doesn’t expect repayment, a stake in the idea or any other compensation post-award. According to the site, the leaders who established the grants simply “want to help great ideas become reality.”

In an effort to promote Macon makers and foster local talent and entrepreneurship, the College Hill Alliance is promoting the 478 Bibb Fund and other micro-grant organizations in the Central Georgia region. The Alliance can also help individuals and organizations establish their own micro-granting program to foster local entrepreneurship.

For more information, contact Jessica Walden at the College Hill Alliance: 478.361.6998 / jessica@collegehillmacon.com. ###