Wilkes County is states newest designated Entrepreneur Friendly community
ATLANTA, September 27, 2007 – East Georgia's Wilkes 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 Wilkes County's 404 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.'
Wilkes County is the 58th community in the state to be named Entrepreneur Friendly by the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD). Previously certified East Georgia counties include Oglethorpe. Nearby counties in the progress of designation include Columbia, Warren, Lincoln and Oconee.
To earn the designation, Wilkes County completed the Entrepreneur Friendly program with the assistance of GDEcD's regional representative Adela Kelley. The county analyzed its entrepreneurial and small business environment and developed strategies to help foster the growth of this critical business segment. Wilkes County also underwent a full-day assessment by a review team composed of GDEcD staff representatives from the Department of Community Affairs, Small Business Development Center, OneGeorgia, Senator Isakson's Office, Senator Chambliss' Office and CSRA Business Lending.
Qualified entrepreneurs and small business owners in Wilkes 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.
"Wilkes County Citizens have always worked hard to run small businesses to improve our community,' said Sam Moore, chairman of the Wilkes County Commission. 'The Entrepreneur Friendly program could help us improve small business entrepreneurship and be an asset to our community. This partnership between the state and local governments could benefit us with new jobs and new opportunities."
"The City of Washington has many exciting successes taking place at this time – a new conference center, new industries locating here, movies being filmed here and the creation of new tourism opportunities,' said Mayor Willie Burns. 'All of these are tied to the entrepreneurial spirit. And with our Entrepreneur Friendly spirit we realize that entrepreneurs can take every success we have to a higher level."
'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 Wilkes 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.