Meriwether County is States Newest Designated 'Entrepreneur Friendly' Community
ATLANTA, April 17, 2008 – West Georgia's Meriwether 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 Meriwether County's 653 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.'
Meriwether County is the 96th community in the state to be named Entrepreneur Friendly by the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD). Previously designated West Georgia counties include Troup, Coweta, Harris and Spalding. Nearby counties in the process of designation include Butts and Lamar. Heard County received its designation last month.
To earn the designation, Meriwether 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 the growth of this critical business segment. Meriwether 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 Enterprise Innovation Institute and United States Senator Johnny Isakson's Office.
Qualified entrepreneurs and small business owners in Meriwether 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.
'This has been such an energizing process for our team and our community,' noted Sally Estes, team leader for Meriwether County. 'Small businesses are a strong economic driver in our county and our team has worked diligently to understand our community from their perspective. We look forward to implementing strategies which will enable our community to attract more small businesses and ensure that they flourish.'
'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 Meriwether 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.