Butts County is States Newest Designated 'Entrepreneur Friendly' Community
ATLANTA, June 4, 2008 – Central Georgia's Butts County is now one of the state's newest 'Entrepreneur Friendly' communities. The designation means the community has developed an environment that is welcoming to small business and entrepreneurs. Ninety-two percent of Butts County's 710 companies are small businesses with fewer than 20 employees. 'The economic activity created by small businesses and entrepreneurs brings prosperity and opportunity to every part of Georgia,' said Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue. 'By championing these businesses, we are investing in a stronger future for communities throughout the state.' Butts County is the 109th community in the state to be named Entrepreneur Friendly by the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD). Previously designated Central Georgia counties include Spalding, Upson and Coweta. Nearby Lamar County is currently in the process of designation. Meriwether County received its designation in April. To earn its designation, Butts County completed the Entrepreneur Friendly program with the assistance of GDEcD's regional representative Kristen Miller. The county analyzed its entrepreneurial and small business environment and developed strategies to help foster its growth. Butts County also underwent a full-day assessment by a review team composed of GDEcD staff and representatives from the Department of Community Affairs, Georgia Tech and the Department of Labor. Qualified entrepreneurs and small business owners in Butts County are now eligible for customized market data, such as demographic and business information, to help them become more competitive. The county is also eligible for an Entrepreneur-Friendly Implementation Fund (EFIF) grant to help it implement programs that support their entrepreneurs and small businesses and have a regional impact. The grant must be matched 50 percent in dollars or in-kind value by the community. "Small businesses are the lifeblood of our community. While the tendency is to focus on the large businesses that impact our community, we must never lose sight of the invaluable contributions made to the fabric of Butts County by the hardworking 700-plus small businesses made up of everyday citizens. Butts County is fortunate to be an ideal place for small businesses to thrive,' said Michael Brewer, Deputy County Administrator, Butts County Board of Commissioners. 'Small businesses are the linchpin in all of Georgia's communities. By supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses, 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 congratulate Butts County for making small businesses part of 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.