Georgia County Government - July 2008 - (Page 40)

CountyParade G GDEcD Names Multiple Communities ‘Entrepreneur-Friendly’ eorgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced in late April that with the addition of Putnam County, G e org ia’s E nt repreneu r Fr iend ly program has now welcomed 100 communities. Four other communities designated “Entrepreneur Friendly” during National Small Business Week (April 21-25) included Catoosa, Dawson, Jefferson and Mitchell counties. Governor Perdue created the Entrepreneur Friendly program in 2004 to enable Georgia’s communities to strategically develop an environment in which entrepreneurs and small businesses can flourish. Ninety-two percent of Putnam County’s 741 businesses are considered small businesses. “Coming from a rural community, we’ve always known how important small businesses are to the overall economy of Putnam County,” said Roddie Anne Blackwell, president, Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce. “Last year Putnam County celebrated its bicentennial and this year Eatonton will, so we were especially thrilled to know that we were the 100th community to reach its designation as ‘Entrepreneur Friendly.’” To earn the designation, Putnam 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. Putnam County also underwent a full-day assessment by a review team composed of GDEcD staff and representatives from Department of Community Affairs, Small Business Development Center, Georgia Tech and Georgia REAL. Qualified entrepreneurs and small business owners in Putnam 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 40 GEORGIA COUNTY GOVERNMENT DECATUR Local and State Officials Commemorate Silver Lake WMA Land Acquisition Governor Sonny Perdue joined conservation leaders and Decatur County representatives in late April on the banks of Lake Seminole to announce funding for the second phase of acquisition at Silver Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Decatur County near Bainbridge. Governor Perdue also signed two pieces of legislation to support conservation eff orts. In December 2007, the governor announced the state’s plans to purchase the 8,430-acre property from the Conservation Fund in phases for a cost of approximately $38.6 million. The fi rst phase of acquisition included 3,790 acres at a cost of $19.8 million and included $15 million from the Georgia Land Conservation Program. The second phase of acquisition will include approximately 2,594 acres at a cost of $10.8 million. He also announced that the property would be open to the public on Aug. 1, with public hunting opening with the start of small game season on Aug. 15. Phase 2 funding includes $3.75 million from the Woodruff Foundation, $3 million from Decatur County, $2 million from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and $1 million from a partnership between Southern Company and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation through the Longleaf Legacy Program. DNR Commissioner Noel Holcomb, Decatur County Chairman Palmer Rich and Governor Sonny Perdue commemorate land acquisition at Silver Lake WMA. 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. Entrepreneurs located in “Entrepreneur Friendly” communities enjoy decided advantages. Counties typically establish mechanisms to discover and cultivate entrepreneur growth, such as the Professional Businesses Expo in Pickens County to tout local resources and provide mentoring, a “Buy Local” program in Brooks County and involving students in an adult leadership class in Crisp County. “These are just some of the innovative ways our Entrepreneur Friendly counties have implemented the program,” said Heidi Green, chairman of the Georgia Entrepreneur and Small Business Coordinating Network and GDEcD’s deputy commissioner for Global Commerce. “The success of our small businesses is the greatest foundation for Georgia’s economic strength.” CHEROKEE Sheriff’s Office Wins Child Protection Grant Cherokee County officials recently announced the county sheriff ’s office has been awarded a grant to step up its

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Georgia County Government - June 2008

Georgia County Government - June 2008 Contents President’s Message County Matters Laurens, Treutlen and Wheeler Counties Work Together to Leverage Economic Development 2008 Hurricane Season Forecast to be Active GDEcD: Georgia Is Bolstering International Marketing Efforts U.S. Communities Announces Auto Parts Service Contract Energy Innovation Center Opens in Warner Robins Coweta County Uses Innovative Road Construction Techniques Counties & The Law: An Analysis of Ten Commandments Displays in Georgia Courthouses Georgia’s Grand Old Courthouses: Talbot County Extension News: Youth Summit Teaches Civic Engagement Research Corner: Train Me! NACo News: NACo Seeks Obesity Prevention Programs County Parade Index of Advertisers

Georgia County Government - June 2008

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