The Information Technology (“IT”) sector typically includes companies that provide services such as software support, computer and software systems design, data processing facilities management and data storage.
Information Technology
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More than 50,400 are employed in the IT industry in the Cherokee County market area
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Topping the national average, Cherokee County was one of five Georgia counties named an Innovation Economy
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Georgia offers a sales tax exemption for computer equipment for companies investing at least $15,000,000 annually
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Atlanta was the #1 city for engineering jobs in 2015
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Fresh Start Cherokee provides educational programming and support for startups in Cherokee County
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IT companies in Georgia have connectivity through 500,000 fiber optic lines
Qualified Workforce
- 42 percent of residents in Cherokee County hold an Associates degree or higher and 24 percent of residents hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher.
- Within a 30-minute drive time of Canton (the county seat of Cherokee County), there is a population of approximately 519,000 and within a 60-minute drive time of Canton there is a population of more than 3 million.
- There are an estimated 391 IT establishments located in Cherokee County.
- More than 50,400 workers are employed in the IT industry in the Cherokee County Market Area.
- The IT industry is projected to grow 7 percent between 2017 and 2022 in the Cherokee County Market Area.
- Exponential growth is projected in a variety of occupations in this sector including: Software Developers, Applications; Computer User Support Specialists; Software Developers, Systems Software; and Computer Systems Analysts.
- Georgia leads the nation with more than 225 Health Information Technology companies.
- The nearby Georgia Institute for Technology (Georgia Tech) offers bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in computing and engineering programs.
- The Georgia Tech Institute for Information Security and Privacy offers twelve degree pathways for cybersecurity professionals across electrical and computer engineering, computer science and public policy programs.
- Nearby Kennesaw State University offers degrees through programs in computer science, information technology and software engineering and game development.
- Chattahoochee Technical College offers degrees through programs in computer information systems and digital media technologies.
- Atlanta was the number one city for engineering jobs in 2015 according to SpareFoot.
- The Atlanta region is the number three metro area for STEM professionals by highest quality engineering universities.
Cost of Doing Business
- Georgia has the second lowest cost of doing business, according to CNBC’s Top States for Doing Business.
- Georgia offers a sales tax exemption for computer equipment for company’s investing at least $15 million annually.
Quality of Place
- There are ample cultural, recreational, and entertainment amenities in Cherokee County including:
- Endless hiking and biking trails
- Lake Allatoona
- Chukkar Farm Polo Club
- Pristine golf courses
- The Elm Street Cultural Arts Village
- Falany Performing Arts Center
- Northside Hospital recently completed a $286 million campus in Canton.
- Fresh Start Cherokee provides educational programming and support for startups in Cherokee County.
- The Circuit, located in Woodstock, provides a physical gathering space for entrepreneurs and startups.
Other Highlights
- Cherokee County was one of five Georgia counties named an Innovation Economy that tops the nation average.
- Atlanta has outpaced Austin, San Diego, Research Triangle and Denver/Boulder in attracting private investment funding and total mergers and acquisition deals in the last two years.
- IT companies locating in Georgia have connectivity through 500,000 fiber optics lines including the nation’s two largest fiber-optic trunk routes.
- Georgia’s geographic location makes it less vulnerable to hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters.