Henry Golatt – City of Columbus Program Development Coordinator
As a veteran economic and community development practitioner, Henry has dedicated a large part of his life and career to assisting individuals and groups–representing small businesses and communities alike–to realize and maximize their entrepreneurial dreams.
Henry’s body of work has earned him regional and national accolades for implementing programs that empower existing and aspiring entrepreneurs by building physical, human, and social infrastructures, networks, and ecosystems. Included among the career awards received by Henry are the District Director’s Partnership Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration (Arkansas) and the Minority Business Development Agency Regional Director’s Award (Region VI).
In 2011, Tuskegee University recognized Henry’s work alongside the work of other community economic development notables and awarded him with the 16th Annual Booker T. Washington Economic Development Award acknowledging Henry’s vision and leadership in piloting entrepreneurship and community development programs directed at underserved communities and populations. In 2015, Henry was once again honored to be named in the inaugural class of the Delta Entrepreneurs Network – a program of the Delta Regional Authority – as an Entrepreneurial Fellows.
Henry joins the City of Columbus as the new Small Business Coordinator/Concierge within the Economic Development Division of the Department of Development. In this role, he manages an internal team which collaborates with external partners and stakeholders to deliver specialized technical assistance and financial services to constituency groups including aspiring entrepreneurs, small businesses, and neighborhood and business associations.
Prior to joining the City of Columbus, Henry worked in higher education where he served as Director of a university-based full-service community economic development outreach center and small business assistance program. In that capacity, Henry honed his skills and demonstrated his passion for community-based development through several key projects including the development of a small business incubator. Under his leadership, that center rose from a local program to a national model for community economic development, particularly among Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Henry holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of Arkansas and is a certified small business facilitator and instructor.
Published in OhioMBE – Feb. 15, 2018 – pdf
