Mitchell County now 'Entrepreneur Friendly'

ATLANTA, April 25, 2008 – Southwest Georgia's Mitchell County is one of the state's newest 'Entrepreneur Friendly' communities. The designation indicates the community has worked to develop an environment that is welcoming to small business and entrepreneurs. Ninety percent of Mitchell County's 627 companies are small businesses with fewer than 20 employees. 'Small businesses and entrepreneurs create the kind of economic activity that is integral to ensuring prosperity and opportunity throughout Georgia,' said Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue. 'By encouraging and supporting these businesses, we are investing in a stronger future for our communities and the state as a whole.' Mitchell County is the 101st community in the state to be named Entrepreneur Friendly by the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD). Previously designated Southwest Georgia counties include Miller, Decatur, Dougherty and Calhoun. Nearby counties in the process of designation include Seminole, Clay, Randolph, Quitman and Stewart. Early County received its designation last month and Lee County was designated earlier in April. To earn the designation, Mitchell County completed the Entrepreneur Friendly program with the assistance of GDEcD's regional representative Rebecca O'Neil. The county analyzed its entrepreneurial and small business environment and developed strategies to help foster the growth of this critical business segment. Mitchell County also underwent a full-day assessment by a review team composed of GDEcD staff and representatives from the Small Business Development Center, Agriculture Innovation Center, Albany State University, Moultrie Technical College, Department of Community Affairs and Georgia Southwestern State University. Qualified entrepreneurs and small business owners in Mitchell County are now eligible for customized market data, such as demographic and business information, to help give them a competitive edge.   The county is also eligible for an Entrepreneur-Friendly Implementation Fund (EFIF) grant to help it implement specific, long-term programs that support their entrepreneurs and small businesses. The grant must be matched 50 percent in dollars or in-kind value by the community. 'The Entrepreneur Friendly process has already produced results in our community. The OneGeorgia loan luncheon has opened new channels of resources for our financial community, and we are introducing our small business community to many local service providers and agencies,' said Becky Thorpe, Entrepreneur Friendly Committee chair. 'The potential for future growth and expansion in our area is great and we feel that our county is on the cusp of creating numerous opportunities. The Entrepreneur Friendly designation for Mitchell County is the first step and we plan to progress to the next level of development.' 'Small businesses are the backbone of Georgia communities. By helping entrepreneurs and small businesses grow, we help Georgia grow,' said Heidi Green, chairman of the Georgia Entrepreneur and Small Business Coordinating Network and GDEcD's deputy commissioner for Global Commerce. 'We applaud Mitchell County for incorporating small businesses into its strategic plan for growth.' The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state's sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a location for film, video and music projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development.