Forsyth County is states 30th community designated Entrepreneur Friendly
ATLANTA, December 7, 2006 - Forsyth County has joined the state's ranks of Entrepreneur Friendly communities, an official designation indicating the community is developing an environment conducive to small business and entrepreneurs. 'Homegrown businesses and entrepreneurs create quality jobs that are integral to ensuring prosperity and opportunity throughout Georgia,' said Gov. Sonny Perdue. 'By encouraging and supporting small businesses, we are investing in a stronger future for local communities and the state as a whole.' North Georgia's Forsyth County is the 30th Entrepreneur Friendly community in the state and the 17th community this year to be named Entrepreneur Friendly by the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD)'s Small Business Office. Surrounding counties that have also received the certification include Gwinnett, Cherokee and Fannin. Other metro Atlanta Entrepreneur-Friendly counties are Rockdale, Henry and Douglas. Glynn County received the designation Dec. 5, and Camden and Wilkinson counties are slated to receive their certifications later this month. An Entrepreneur-Friendly community, assisted by GDEcD's regional representative, must complete a program that first analyzes the county's entrepreneur and small business environment. Tailored strategies are then created to use in the county's growth plan. To finalize the process, a review team of GDEcD personnel, representatives from the Small Business and Development Office and the Department of Labor facilitate a full-day assessment to identify and implement entrepreneur and small business development programs. County leaders also survey local entrepreneurs and small business owners to evaluate the current small business environment. 'Supporting and growing our small business population has a direct impact on the Chamber's strategic initiative of economic development in our community,' said Pam Sessions, chair of the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. 'A strong, successful entrepreneurial community complements an array of business segments, including large industry, retail and manufacturing, to build a strong economy in Cumming and Forsyth County.' Of the 4,208 businesses in Forsyth County, 92 percent employ fewer than 20 employees. From 1999 to 2003, Forsyth County experienced a 59 percent increase in small business and entrepreneurial growth for companies this size. 'By taking a proactive approach to supporting small businesses, Forsyth County is ensuring that they will thrive and play an integral role in the community's strategy for local business development,' added Chris Clark, chairman of the Georgia Entrepreneur and Small Business Coordinating Network and GDEcD's deputy commissioner of Global Commerce. 'We congratulate the community for completing these steps necessary for cultivating its future growth.' Georgia's Entrepreneur Friendly communities are: Valdosta-Lowndes; Douglas-Coffee; Fannin; Ashburn-Turner; Adel-Cook; Montgomery; Tattnall; Toombs; Colquitt-Miller; Conyers-Rockdale; Albany-Dougherty; Upson; Gwinnett; Houston; Henry; Bacon; Brantley; Hart; Elbert; Douglas; Burke, Muscogee; Calhoun, Schley; Pulaski; Troup; Sumter; Cherokee; Glynn; and Forsyth. 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. For more information, visit www.georgia.org.