It’s National Small Business Week and Georgia state government is growing slightly in size to celebrate.
Officials announced Wednesday that a new position in state government has been created “to support and empower Georgia’s small business community.” The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) has established a Director of Small Business Outreach to build on the Department’s current portfolio of services and provide greater direct engagement with this community. GDEcD’s former Director of Creative Industry Partnerships, Allen Fox, will serve in this role.
The new position is a recommendation from Governor Kemp’s ‘Georgians First Commission’ based on Georgia Department of Labor data which reports that 99.8% of Georgia businesses have less than 500 employees. 1.6 million Georgians are employed by these businesses in sectors including manufacturing, retail, arts, hospitality, film production, and more.
“Georgia’s diverse range of small businesses are the backbone of our state’s economy and the driving force behind Georgia’s record-breaking economic momentum,” said Governor Kemp. “As we stay focused on protecting lives and livelihoods, it’s critical that small businesses are aware of the state resources available to help them start up, expand operations, and create good-paying jobs for hardworking Georgians. As Governor and a small business owner for over 35 years, I look forward to what this new position within the Department of Economic Development can do to strengthen Georgia’s reputation as the top state for business and the best place to live, work, and raise a family.”
Director Fox will conduct meetings and events in the state, including coordinating regional roundtables and meetings with small business-related advocacy groups and other relevant stakeholders. This will help Georgia continue to create a positive vision and cultivate support for entrepreneurs.
