Election 2026

Independent, source-first accountability

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Issue record

Jobs and small business

In short

Jackson's campaign would support small businesses and make Georgia the top state for entrepreneurship; Bottoms' would create a state Office of Small Business and expand state loans and grants. As mayor, Bottoms announced a grant fund that has given nearly $30 million to businesses and nonprofits, about $8.2 million after her term. She also put $2 million into a United Way program paying young trainees $200 a month; both used federal pandemic aid.

Campaign positions

What each campaign says.

Rick Jackson

Would support small businesses and entrepreneurs and make Georgia the top state for entrepreneurship.

Keisha Lance Bottoms

Would create a state Office of Small Business for firms with up to 25 workers and expand state small business loans and grants.

Evidence timeline

What the record shows.

  1. official action

    Keisha Lance Bottoms: Matches stated record claim

    She announced the fund in July 2020; about $8.2 million of the nearly $30 million came in a 2022 round after she left office, and it was federal pandemic aid.

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    Her campaign says she launched the Resurgence Grant Fund, which let small businesses apply for up to $40,000 and has given nearly $30 million to more than 1,000 businesses and nonprofits. Invest Atlanta, the city's development agency, says she announced the fund on July 27, 2020, with grants of up to $40,000. In 2022 it said the fund's 2020 and 2022 rounds had given nearly $30 million to over 1,000 businesses and nonprofits. Limit: About $8.2 million of the total came in the 2022 round, after she left office. The money was federal pandemic aid, not city money.

  2. official action

    Keisha Lance Bottoms: Matches stated record claim

    In November 2021 she announced $2 million in federal pandemic aid for the program, run with the United Way, paying young people $200 a month while they train.

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    Full detail

    Her campaign says she worked with the United Way to expand the Youth Entrepreneurship Program, putting in $2 million so young people get $200 a month while they train. On Nov. 19, 2021, she announced $2 million of the city's American Rescue Plan money for the program, run with the United Way of Greater Atlanta. Young people get $200 a month while in mentoring, job training and entrepreneurship courses. Limit: The money was federal pandemic aid. The program began as a way to give jobs and support to young people selling water to drivers.

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Sources6 source records

How we use sources

  1. Rick Jackson for Governor, action planhttps://rickjackson.com/action-plan/

    Jackson for Governor, Inc. · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Captured 2026-09-23. His platform, about 1,400 words across 17 headings. It links a fuller nine-page plan (jackson-action-plan-pdf).

    candidate statement

    For: Rick Jackson: campaign position

  2. Keisha for Governor, issueshttps://www.keishaforgovernor.com/issues

    Keisha for Governor · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Captured 2026-09-23. Her platform, in ten sections.

    candidate statement

    For: Keisha Lance Bottoms: campaign position

  3. Keisha for Governor, track record: economy and educationhttps://www.keishaforgovernor.com/issues/education

    Keisha for Governor · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Captured 2026-09-23. The detail page behind the economy item on her track record page. The site files it at /issues/education.

    candidate statement

    For: Keisha Lance Bottoms: Matches stated record claim

  4. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms Announces New Grant Funding to Support Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19https://www.investatlanta.com/about-us/news-press/mayor-keisha-lance-bottoms-announces-new-grant-funding-to-support-small-businesses-impacted-by-covid-19

    Invest Atlanta · Published Jul 27, 2020 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Invest Atlanta is the city's development authority and runs the fund. Dated July 27, 2020: grants up to $40,000, paid from the city's federal CARES Act money.

    official office record

    For: Keisha Lance Bottoms: Matches stated record claim

  5. Mayor Andre Dickens Announces Resurgence Grant Fund Awardshttps://www.investatlanta.com/about-us/news-press/mayor-andre-dickens-announces-resurgence-grant-fund-awards-to-support-small-businesses-and-nonprofits-impacted-by-covid-19

    Invest Atlanta · Published Aug 30, 2022 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Dated Aug. 30, 2022. A 2022 round of more than 420 grants totaling $8.2 million, paid from federal American Rescue Plan money. Says the 2020 and 2022 rounds together gave nearly $30 million to over 1,000 businesses and nonprofits.

    official office record

    For: Keisha Lance Bottoms: Matches stated record claim

  6. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms Announces Launch of Child Savings Account and Youth Entrepreneurship Programshttps://web.archive.org/web/20211119224946/https://www.atlantaga.gov/Home/Components/News/News/13917/672

    City of Atlanta, Mayor's Office of Communications · Published Nov 19, 2021 · Reviewed Sep 25, 2026

    Her office's release of Nov. 19, 2021. Launches the savings accounts with Atlanta Public Schools and Operation HOPE, and puts $2 million of American Rescue Plan money into the Youth Entrepreneurship Program with the United Way. Archived copy; the city's site blocks this desk.

    official office record

    For: Keisha Lance Bottoms: Matches stated record claim