Screven County is
State’s Newest Designated
“Entrepreneur Friendly” Community

Screven County has been designated as one of the state’s newest “Entrepreneur Friendly” communities. This designation indicates the community has worked to develop an environment that is welcoming to small business and entrepreneurs. 

“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.”

Screven County is the 80th community in the state to be named Entrepreneur Friendly by the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD). To earn the designation, the county analyzed its entrepreneurial and small business environment and developed strategies to help foster the growth of this critical business segment. Screven County also underwent a full-day assessment by a review team composed of GDEcD staff and representatives from the Small Business Development Center, Department of Labor and the Department of Community Affairs.

Qualified entrepreneurs and small business owners in Screven 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.

”Working on the Entrepreneur Friendly Initiative has allowed us to gain much-needed information from successful local entrepreneurs,” said Gayle Boykin, Executive Director of the Screven County Industrial Development Authority. “We will use this information to craft a user-friendly program designed to assist new entrepreneurs and hopefully make our community an even better place to do business.” Ms. Boykin expressed her appreciation for Ogeechee Technical College’s role in the process.  “We couldn’t have completed this effort without the support and leadership from Ogeechee Tech.”

“We’re very proud of the work Screven County has done to achieve this designation, and we’re pleased to have supported this effort,” said Dr. Ben Thompson, Vice President for Economic Development at Ogeechee Technical College.  “We look forward to working closely with the Screven County Industrial Development Authority and the Screven County Chamber to help small businesses in the County be even more successful.”

Last summer, Ogeechee Technical College began coordination of Entrepreneur Friendly Certification for each of the three counties in the College’s Service Delivery Area.  Evans County has previously completed requirements for Entrepreneurial Friendly designation, and Bulloch County is scheduled for review in the near future.

Contact: Barry Turner
Executive Director for Public Relations
Phone: (912) 688-6958
Email: bturner@ogeecheetech.edu