Paulding County joins other metro Atlanta counties as states newest Entrepreneur Friendly community

ATLANTA, April 19, 2007 – Paulding County is the most recent metro Atlanta county to be certified 'Entrepreneur Friendly' by the state. The designation means that the community is strategically building its environment to support small businesses and entrepreneurs. Ninety-two percent of Paulding County's 2,022 companies are small businesses with fewer than 20 employees. 'Homegrown businesses and entrepreneurs create quality jobs that are integral to ensuring prosperity and opportunity throughout Georgia,' said Governor Sonny Perdue. 'By encouraging and supporting small businesses, we are investing in a stronger future for local communities and the state as a whole.' Paulding County is the 43rd community in the state to be named Entrepreneur Friendly by the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD). Other metro Atlanta counties that have earned the designation include Douglas, Cherokee, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton and Rockdale. DeKalb County is in the certification process at the moment. To the west, Polk, Haralson, and Carroll counties are also in line for designation. Paulding County completed the Entrepreneur-Friendly program with the assistance of GDEcD's regional representative Dawn Townsend. Program steps involved analyzing the current entrepreneurial and small business development environment and strategizing options for fostering small business and entrepreneurs. Paulding County also underwent a full-day assessment by a review team composed of GDEcD staff, representatives from the Small Business Development Office, the Department of Community Affairs, and the Department of Labor. Qualified entrepreneurs and small business owners in Paulding 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. Carolyn Delamont, president of the Paulding County Chamber of Commerce, stated: 'Governor Perdue has led Georgia to become a front-runner in entrepreneurship. My personal goal is to continue to follow his example right here in Paulding County by equipping our chamber to stimulate and support the development of small businesses. We are providing opportunities for entrepreneurship never before available.' 'Our volunteer committee has remained committed over the past two years to bringing this honor to our community,' said Dr. Paul Benson of Chattahoochee Technical College. 'Our efforts have resulted in an 'Entrepreneurship Specialization' course within our Marketing/Management department, and a new Entrepreneur and Development Center building at Chattahoochee Technical College.' 'We congratulate Paulding County for taking this proactive approach to supporting its small businesses,' added Chris Clark, chairman of the Georgia Entrepreneur and Small Business Coordinating Network and GDEcD's deputy commissioner of Global Commerce. 'Steps like these ensure growth and development in the local business community.' 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.