WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Warner Robins is witnessing a surge in small business interest as hundreds of aspiring entrepreneurs flock to events like the one held today at the Museum of Aviation.
Hosted by the City of Warner Robins in partnership with the Small Business Administration (SBA), the town hall brought together more than 300 individuals looking to start their own businesses.
One of the attendees, Daphne Register, shared her story of turning an unmet local need into a thriving business.
After noticing a lack of cooking classes for children in the area, she opened a Young Chefs Academy franchise in Warner Robins last year.
“It hit me,” said Register, recalling how the idea came to her while driving her daughter to cooking classes out of town. “This would do great in Warner Robins.”
Register credited the city’s efforts to foster an environment that supports small business growth as a key factor in her success.
Warner Robins’ initiatives to revitalize downtown and provide networking and resource opportunities, such as today’s town hall, have been instrumental for entrepreneurs like her.
“They’re really doing a great job,” Register said. “For myself and other business owners, it’s important to stay open to these changes because all it’s going to do is make us better and help us become the international city that we are.”
Mayor LaRhonda Patrick also attended the event and highlighted the city’s commitment to ensuring small business owners have the resources they need to thrive. The city's recent small business boom is reshaping Warner Robins’ local economy, transforming it into a hub of entrepreneurial activity.
Register echoed the excitement, noting how new businesses are moving into the area, bringing even more opportunities for growth.
“We are excited,” she said. “Our landlord of the property just told us this week that we are getting new businesses on the strip. Now we have that opportunity for more people to find us.”
The SBA reports that Georgia is home to more than 1.2 million small businesses, employing over 2 million people statewide. Today’s event in Warner Robins is part of a larger effort to continue supporting this economic growth at the local level.