Peach County is States Newest Designated 'Entrepreneur Friendly Community
ATLANTA, July 30, 2008 – Central Georgia's Peach 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 Peach County's 884 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.'
Peach County is the 119th community in the state to be named Entrepreneur Friendly by the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD). Previously designated Central Georgia counties include Houston, Macon and Pulaski. Nearby counties in the process of designation include Bleckley and Dooly.
To earn its designation, Peach County completed the Entrepreneur Friendly program with the assistance of GDEcD's regional representative Candice Scott. The county analyzed its entrepreneurial and small business environment and developed strategies to help foster its growth. Peach County also underwent a full-day assessment by a review team composed of GDEcD staff and representatives from the Department of Community Affairs and the Small Business Development Center.
Qualified entrepreneurs and small business owners in Peach 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.
'One cannot overlook the importance of small business in today's economy,' said Perry Swanson, Peach County Chamber of Commerce. 'Large industry can create a large amount of jobs and be a staple of the community, but it is small businesses that define the culture of a region; the flavor of a community. A large number of small businesses in a concentrated area helps diversify the investment in a local economy. Only with that investment can a community hope to survive the many different economic trends occurring over time.'
'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 Peach 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 agency attracts new business, encourages the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, and locates new markets for Georgia products. It also markets Georgia to tourists and promotes the state as a location for film, music and digital entertainment projects. For more information, visit www.Georgia.org.