Oglethorpe County is states newest designated Entrepreneur Friendly community
ATLANTA, October 2, 2007 – Northeast Georgia's Oglethorpe 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-two percent of Oglethorpe County's 237 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.' Oglethorpe County is the 59th community in the state to be named Entrepreneur Friendly by the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD). Previously certified Northeast Georgia counties include Walton, Jasper, Clarke and Wilkes. Nearby counties in the progress of designation include Oconee and Madison. Barrow County received their certification in April. To earn the designation, Oglethorpe County completed the Entrepreneur Friendly program with the assistance of GDEcD's regional representative Ryan Thornton. The county analyzed its entrepreneurial and small business environment and developed strategies to help foster the growth of this critical business segment. Oglethorpe County also underwent a full-day assessment by a review team composed of GDEcD staff and representatives from the Department of Community Affairs and Georgia Tech. Qualified entrepreneurs and small business owners in Oglethorpe 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. 'Through the certification process, the Oglethorpe County Chamber of Commerce and its small business members have developed a very beneficial partnership with GDEcD and our local small business project manager, Ryan Thornton,' said Cary Fordyce, director of economic development with the Oglethorpe County Chamber of Commerce. 'Not only does the chamber have a better understanding of the support needs of our existing business base, we have also tapped into a larger toolbox of resources to aid new and expanding businesses from GDEcD, the SBDC and Georgia Tech's Enterprise Innovation Institute, to name a few. We look forward to expanding our relationships with our resource providers in supporting our local small businesses.' '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 Oglethorpe 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.