For breweries like Jackie O's in Athens, the goal is to make the best beer possible. But running a business, especially a brewery can be a challenge. 

"To be able to create beers that are not only obviously good, but the quality is there," says General Manager of Jackie O's AJ Castro. "And, making sure that we're keeping up with the competition primarily." 

Especially as the craft brewing industry continues positive growth across the region and the state according to data from industry organization Brewers Association.

"There's breweries popping all over the place, like in this town there are two brewerIes that popped up just in the last three years," says Jackie O's Chief Financial Officer, Luar Romero. 

Romero and Castro say that the opportunity to join the first cohort of ELITE USA businesses will give them an edge in the market. 

"In order to keep moving forward we need to study and be prepared to make that next step," says Romero. "We want to make sure that we continue with the longevity of the brand and give our customers what they want."

Jackie O's has been in business since 2006 and produces over 100 different beers.  The owner, Art Oestrike, named the business after his mother, Jackie, and Romero says they hope to learn skills in management, fundraising and make connections to support Jackie O's stable growth.

"We don't want to screw up in that process so we want to make sure that we are taking the steps necessary to educate ourselves to take that next step," says Romero. "They offer education for a company that is growing and i think we are fitting that."

Elite USA selected 10 businesses and organizations, including Jackie O's and the city of Athens. Leaders at ELITE USA, a partnership between Jobs Ohio and the London Stock Exchange Group, say the choice to focus on Southeastern Ohio isn't an accident.

"There are amazing businesses, amazing people amazing talent that is already there, says Valentina Isakina, Managing Director for Financial Institutions with JobsOhio. "But, not necessarily all of the news gets to those places. So we though bringing such an opportunity to those businesses and creating that spotlight on them will create an opportunity for the entire community to be lifted."

This first US group of participants  will spend a year training, networking and exploring financing and investing options - they join more than 1000 companies across the world that have completed the ELITE program. There is a cost associated with the program, but the exact amount was not disclosed. 

"We've been working on this opportunity for about a year and a half," says Isakina. "And, what ELITE has to offer for small and medium-sized businesses, is absolutely remarkable. If you look at the results of the companies that go through the  program, they grow up to seven times and create more than four times the jobs of their industry peers."

Castro says he thinks that participating in ELITE will not only help Jackie O's, but allow them to help the area that has supported their business for more than ten years. 

"We try to give back to the community as much as possible, so I think outside of what it would do for the company, it's equally important to us what it would do for this community, says Castro. "It is very refreshing to know that there are people out there that understand the importance of what these programs can do for an area such as Southeastern Ohio."