Morgan County is States Newest Designated Entrepreneur Friendly community
ATLANTA, March 6, 2008 – East Georgia's Morgan 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-three percent of Morgan County's 774 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.'
Morgan County is the 82nd community in the state to be named Entrepreneur Friendly by the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD). Previously designated East Georgia counties include Walton, Athens-Clarke, Jasper and Newton. Nearby counties in the progress of designation include Oconee and Putnam. Madison County received its certification last December.
To earn the designation, Morgan 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. Morgan County also underwent a full-day assessment by a review team composed of GDEcD staff and representatives from the Department of Community Affairs and DeKalb Technical College.
Qualified entrepreneurs and small business owners in Morgan 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.
'Following the state's blueprint for the 'Entrepreneur Friendly' designation enabled our committee to better understand the issues impacting our small businesses in Morgan County,' said Bob Hughes, Economic Development Director for the Madison-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce. 'With this information in hand and with the help of the state, the chamber will be able to design and implement additional programs to better help our small business owners.'
'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 Morgan 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.