Irwin County is states newest designated Entrepreneur Friendly community

ATLANTA, November 15, 2007 – South Georgia's Irwin 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 Irwin County's 230 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.' Irwin County is the 67th community in the state to be named Entrepreneur Friendly by the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD). Previously designated South Georgia counties include Cook, Turner, Coffee and Ben Hill. Nearby counties in the progress of designation include Wilcox and Colquitt. Tift County received its designation last month. To earn the designation, Irwin County completed the Entrepreneur Friendly program with the assistance of GDEcD's regional representative Rhonda Geiger. The county analyzed its entrepreneurial and small business environment and developed strategies to help foster the growth of this critical business segment. Irwin County also underwent a full-day assessment by a review team composed of GDEcD staff and representatives from Cook County, Turner County, Georgia Power Company, Department of Community Affairs and East Central Technical College. Qualified entrepreneurs and small business owners in Irwin 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. 'It is quite an honor to be designated as an 'Entrepreneur Friendly Community,'' said Chris Paulk, chairman of the Ocilla-Irwin Chamber of Commerce. 'We have gained so much knowledge as a result of the surveys and interviews and will build on this information in continuing our work with entrepreneurs. This information is a great tool for the chamber and also for the industrial authority. We understand the role of small businesses in our community, and we are committed to helping them achieve success.' '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 Irwin 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.