(a) Five or more persons competent to contract, a majority of whom shall be residents of this state, who may desire to create a business development corporation under this article, for the purpose of promoting, developing, and advancing the prosperity and economic welfare of the State of Georgia and, to that end, to exercise the powers and privileges provided in this article, may be incorporated by presenting articles to the Secretary of State, as provided in this Code section and Code Section 7-1-742. The articles shall contain:

(1) The name of the corporation, which shall include the words "Business Development Corporation of Georgia," and a recitation that the corporation is organized under this article;

(2) The location of its initial registered office, but such corporation may have branch offices in such other places within the state as may be fixed by the board of directors;

(3) The purposes for which the corporation is founded, which shall include: to promote, stimulate, develop, and advance the business prosperity and economic welfare of the State of Georgia and its citizens; to encourage and assist, through loans, investments, or other business transactions, in the location of the business and industry in this state and to rehabilitate and assist existing business and industry; to stimulate and assist in the expansion of all kinds of business activity which will tend to promote the business development and maintain the economic stability of this state; to provide maximum opportunities for employment, encourage thrift, and improve the standard of living of the citizens of this state; similarly to cooperate and act in conjunction with other organizations, public or private, in the promotion and advancement of industrial, commercial, agricultural, and recreational developments in this state; and to provide financing for the promotion, development, and conduct of all kinds of business activity in this state;

(4) The names and post office addresses of the members of the first board of directors, who, unless otherwise provided by the articles or the bylaws, shall hold office for the first year of existence of the corporation or until their successors are elected and have qualified;

(5) Any provisions which the incorporators may choose to insert for the regulation of the business and for the conduct of the affairs of the corporation and any provision creating, dividing, limiting, and regulating the powers of the corporation, the directors, shareholders, or any class of the shareholders, including, but not limited to, a list of the officers, and provisions governing the issuance of stock certificates to replace lost or destroyed certificates, provided that no provision shall be contained for cumulative voting for directors; and

(6) The amount and number of authorized shares, the par value of each share, and the minimum amount of capital with which it shall do business and, if there is more than one class of stock, a description of the different classes, the names and post office addresses of the subscribers of stock, and the number of shares subscribed by each. The aggregate of the subscription shall be the minimum amount of capital with which the corporation shall commence business, which shall not be less than $100,000.00.

The articles may also contain any provisions consistent with the laws of this state for the regulation of the affairs of the corporation.

(b) The articles shall be in writing, subscribed by the incorporators, and acknowledged by each of them before an officer authorized to take acknowledgments. A copy of the articles so subscribed and acknowledged shall be filed with the department for approval.