Cherokee Celebrates Economic Development Week
Economic Development Week, running from May 6-10, 2024, celebrates the essential work of economic development organizations. Established in 2016 by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), this event promotes awareness of the vital role these organizations play in building community wealth by diversifying the tax base, supporting local businesses and fostering opportunities for employment, education and recreation.
Cherokee Office of Economic Development
The Cherokee Office of Economic Development (COED) casts the vision and lays the foundation for Cherokee County’s long-term economic prosperity by connecting the public and private sectors in a collaborative effort to attract, retain and develop intentional business opportunities and workforce talent to meet Cherokee’s needs.
New & Expanding Industry
COED also plays a critical role in business recruitment and expansion in Cherokee.
Seeking target sectors including Advanced Manufacturing, Commercial Developers, Film & Media, Corporate Operations, Technology and more. In addition, COED offers informative programs like the Cherokee Tech Meetup, the quarterly Cherokee Filmmaker’s Meetup, the annual Cherokee Film Summit, the Cherokee Student Film Festival which further engagement within the technology and film/media target sectors.
Annual events like Movers & Makers celebrate new and expanding industries. COED’s collaborate efforts with statewide partners continue to help attract new industries and support existing ones, boosting job creation and economic growth.
Workforce Development
The Cherokee Office of Economic Development’s strategic plan, Cherokee By Choice 2.0, aims to Attract, Retain and Align Talent to meet the needs of local businesses. Initiatives like the Work In Cherokee campaign and the Cherokee Summer Internship program help connect residents and students with local employment, reducing commutes and enhancing job readiness. The Be Pro Be Proud Georgia initiative, with two touring mobile workshops and a Skilled Professions Signing Day, extends its reach statewide in addition to Cherokee, promoting opportunities within the skilled professions in an innovative way.
COED also facilitates workforce research to share vital information with Cherokee employers and to inform future initiatives. The Cherokee Workforce Collaborative seeks to connect the whole ecosystem of jobseekers, employers and educational systems.
Small Business & Entrepreneurship
Recognizing that small businesses and entrepreneurs form the backbone of a strong economy, the Cherokee Office of Economic Development runs several programs under its Fresh Start Cherokee initiative.
Fresh Start Cherokee supports entrepreneurship with resources like The Circuit, a coworking space in partnership with Chattahoochee Technical College and the Woodstock Office of Economic Development, educational programming like LaunchPad Bootcamp and Fresh Start Mornings, and offer mentorship through the North Atlanta Venture Mentoring Service program.
How Can You Help?
Everyone can contribute to economic development by supporting local businesses and staying engaged with community initiatives. As Economic Development Week underscores the importance of these efforts, it invites broader community participation to sustain and enhance local economic health.
Visit cherokeega.org or more information about COED and economic development efforts.